When will I be able to smile again after wisdom tooth surgery?

Have had tooth extractions, so understand the procedure and how unpleasant the healing process can be at the beginning.

As healing begins, the patient should notice a lessening of their pain from the extraction by the second day after the surgery, but this can vary with each individual because some dental extractions are more difficult. Sometimes the removal of a tooth requires the dentist to apply pressure along the jawline, which can often result in swelling and even bruising to your face. As you are currently experiencing, the resulting swelling, pain, and jaw stiffness can be more intense the first few days after the surgery. Although it has been one week since the surgery, you might try applying moist heat along the jawline, to help ease any soreness and the jaw stiffness being experienced. With mouth closed, you can also gently massage the tight jaw while trying to relax the joint.

Try the suggestions above to lessen the stiffness in the jaw, and if trying to smile or open your mouth wide (or wider) still is uncomfortable after another seven days, contact the dentist and get their input. It usually takes gum tissue at the extraction site between three to four weeks to heal. The bone at the extraction site can take as long as six months to heal completely.

Wishing you a quick recovery from you dental surgery.