Wisdom teeth are by far the most commonly extracted of all teeth. Our wisdom teeth are the very last adult teeth to erupt, usually coming through during our mid to late teenage years, although some people find that it isn’t until their mid-twenties that their wisdom teeth are all the way through. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in the very back of each of the corners of their mouth.

Unfortunately, as the last to erupt, wisdom teeth are the most prone to problems. In many cases, there simply isn’t enough space for them at the back of the mouth, and this can lead to them only erupting partially, or remaining covered by tissue and/or bone. When this happens, they are referred to as being impacted. Infections are also common and occur when bacteria that is present in the mouth get trapped under the split gum tissue. Wisdom teeth infections are very painful and can cause bleeding and swelling, and make it difficult or impossible for the patient to eat.

The good news is that most wisdom tooth problems can be dealt with by extraction. This process involves the total removal of one or all of the patient’s wisdom teeth. While countless wisdom tooth extractions are performed every year, things can still go wrong. Accidents and injuries occurring as a result of improper practice in wisdom tooth extraction are rare, but when they do occur, they can be serious and have consequences that affect the patient’s day to day life. If you have had a wisdom tooth extraction gone wrong, you could be entitled to compensation for the problems that have occurred if they are a direct result of negligent care or practice. Here is what you need to know about wisdom tooth extractions gone wrong.

Common complications after wisdom tooth extraction

Here are some of the most common complications that can occur as a result of a wisdom extraction gone wrong.

Dry socket

Dry socket is a very painful dental condition that occurs when a blood clot fails to develop at the site of the extraction, or the blood clot becomes dislodged or dissolves before the wound has fully healed. When this happens, the underlying nerves are exposed which can cause extreme pain. The socket can also fill with food debris, adding to the pain and putting the patient at risk of infection. The pain of dry socket can rarely be managed with over-the-counter pain medication alone. Dry socket is more likely to occur if your extraction was lengthy or difficult and if you don’t receive the proper care and attention during your procedure.

Damage to adjacent teeth

Most dentists will take every precaution to ensure that they don’t damage the teeth that are adjacent to the wisdom tooth being removed. However, sometimes mistakes can occur which means that the teeth next to the extraction site are inadvertently damaged, leading to further complications and subsequent treatment being required.

Nerve damage

The mouth and gums are packed with important nerves and a skilled and experienced dentist should be able to negotiate around these when extracting your wisdom teeth. If your procedure is not planned and executed with precision, there is a high risk of damage to the nerves that are positioned close to the roots of the wisdom teeth, particularly in the lower jaw. If these nerves become damaged in any way, it can result in a series of unpleasant symptoms, ranging from temporary tingling or numbness in the tongue, lips, chin, and jaw to the permanent loss of senses. Your ability to eat, taste, speak, smell or even breathe could be adversely affected.

Although countless wisdom tooth extractions are performed without a problem every year, if you are one of the few people who have experienced complications that you believe have arisen as a result of the negligence of your dentist, you could have a case for dental malpractice. Contact our offices today to arrange your free case review.