You are here looking for the no BS answer to the question: How Long Does It Take For Wisdom Teeth Holes To Close?
How long does it take for wisdom tooth holes to close? There are many factors on which the time period depends. These can be the size of your tooth and the kind of surgery. Depending on these factors, the closing of holes may vary from a few days to a few weeks or months.
How Long Does It Take For Wisdom Teeth Holes To Close?
The type of surgery determines the time of recovery. For example, there are two kinds of tooth removal surgery:
Simple Extraction: This type of extraction is performed with visible teeth. These are the teeth that have erupted out of your gum. They require removal due to:
- Gum infection
- Overcrowding of teeth
- Tooth Cavities
A larger tooth has deep roots, which leave a bigger groove after extraction. The holes may appear to close after three weeks, but complete recovery takes place after a few months.
Surgical Extraction: This is a more detailed method, and the grooves created by this are larger than the former one. This method is adopted for a partially erupted tooth or for those teeth which have not erupted at all.
This involves cutting of gums and tissues and requires a longer period for the holes to close. This period may range between 3-4 weeks or even months. However, complete recovery may take few months. Forgiving anesthesia, a doctor may choose between local or general anesthesia or both.
Read a related post: How to Get Rid of Numbness After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Different Stages Of Healing
Healing is an extensive process but starts just after your surgery.
- First 24 To 48 Hours: This is when blood clotting starts, and blood clots get formed. Blood clots safeguard our mouths against bacteria and do not allow the food debris to get stuck at the extraction site. Gum tissues start to form again. Bleeding gets slow and stops. However, swelling may not go away.
- 1 To 3 Weeks After Surgery: This period involves the removal of stitches (of requires). The holes start to close due to growing gum tissues. A large extraction requires more time to heal.
- 1 To 4 Months After Removal: The hole in your teeth and jawbone gets wholly closed.
Risk Factors During Healing
No blood clotting or disrupted blood clotting may lead to dry sockets. However, exposure to the jawbones and tissues leads to dry sockets. It is a painful situation and causes unbearable pain in your teeth.
The chances of dry sockets increase if you:
- An infected tooth holes
- Faced with dry sockets earlier as well
- Take nicotine-containing items like cigarettes, tobacco, etc.
- Have an injury at the extraction site during the process
- Don’t maintain proper oral hygiene.
All these can cause severe damages and dental problems. Avoid these for long-term healthy and white teeth.
Summary
How long does it take for wisdom tooth holes to close? This will depend on which type of surgery you’ve undergone. Larger extraction takes more time to heal up. Usually, this time may vary for 3-4 weeks or even a month. You need to avoid certain things like smoking to have a faster recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Wisdom Teeth Holes Close With Food In Them?
After the surgery, it takes a few days for the gum tissues to develop and close the holes. Till that time, the food that you eat might get stuck in the holes. Clean your holes by using adequate measures to avoid bacterial growth due to the food debris.
Can You Sleep On Your Side After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
No, it is advised to sleep on your back for at least a week after your wisdom teeth removal. Sleeping on your stomach or one side can put pressure on the extraction site. This will cause pain and more blood flow due to gravitational force.
How Do I Know If My Tooth Extraction Is Healing Properly?
The going away of the swelling of the gums shows that your tooth extraction is healing properly. You can notice the change in the swelling after 3-4 days from the day of the extraction. Gradually, the opening of the extraction area will get closed, and you would be fine.
