1. Retained Root fragments / Retained Root tips:
Occasionally tooth roots are extremely long, curved or fragile and a small piece may break off during surgery. Typically the fragment is removed but if it is close to a nerve or the sinus cavity or if its removal would jeopardize adjacent teeth, the surgeon may decide to leave the fragment in place. It is better to leave the fragment in place rather than risk nerve or sinus injury. Long term problems are rare and the fragment can be monitored by X-ray.
One of three scenarios usually play out over time: your body will push the root fragment out of the gums, the root fragment may dissolve and be replaced by bone or sometimes the fragment will fuse to the bone and just become part of your jaw bone.
2. Nerve damage, numbness or altered sensation: In some cases, major sensory nerves are located near wisdom teeth and it is possible that one or more of these nerves could be irritated during surgery. If this happens you may experience altered or total loss of feeling in the lip, tongue, cheek, chin, gums or teeth depending on the nerve that is involved. Although numbness beyond a relatively short period of time in any location is uncommon and usually temporary, however it may be PERMANENT in rare instances.
3. Infection: Any infection should be taken seriously and reported to your surgeon who will prescribe appropriate antibiotics to treat the problem. Signs of infection include; fever, abnormal swelling with pain, salty or prolonged bad taste and /or pus formation. If the infection is severe, hospitalization may be necessary.
4. Dry socket: If a blood clot prematurely dissolves or does not form properly in the empty socket, the socket remains "dry" for a period of time and heals more slowly than usual. Smoking and food impaction are common causal factors contributing to Dry Socket. The pain attributed to Dry Socket is because the bone in the socket is exposed to air, food and fluids. If you experience increased pain 72 hours after surgery, contact your doctor. Steps can be taken to reduce discomfort while healing takes place.
5. Adjacent tooth damage / lip injury: Neighboring teeth, lip damage/stretching, filling material, crown or bridge work located near the wisdom teeth may be damaged during extraction.
6. Sinus complications: Upper wisdom teeth are sometimes located near the "large maxillary sinus" and the roots may even penetrate into the sinus cavity. The roots of these teeth when removed, can leave an opening in the sinus that will usually heal without problems. Rarely, drainage or sinus pain may occur following tooth removal. If these complications develop, contact your oral surgeon.
7. Jaw fracture: In very rare cases if the jaw is thin and the teeth are severely impacted, the removal of wisdom teeth can weaken the jawbone. If a fracture occurs, an X-ray will reveal the location and your surgeon can treat the problem. Care should be taken to avoid foods and activities that place undue stress on the jawbone until healing is completed.
8. TMJ / Jaw joint pain or abnormal jaw function: While this is a rare occurrence, further treatment may be necessary if you experience such pain. Prior to surgery, be sure to inform your oral surgeon about any pre-existing joint problems in your jaw.