Why Does My Bite Feel Off After Wisdom Teeth Removal? Post-Wisdom Tooth Surgery

Your wisdom teeth have been extracted – that’s an excellent move. However, there’s an issue; now your bite just isn’t quite right. Perhaps your upper and lower teeth are not coming together like they used to, or maybe chewing has changed. Don’t worry because it’s not all in your head, and there are many others out there feeling the same.

At Shine Dental Cranbourne, this problem is one that we see often within our office post-wisdom teeth extraction. Thankfully, in most instances, the issue resolves itself without any further problems. Yet, some situations call for a different kind of solution.

Here’s how everything works.

Is It Normal for Your Bite to Feel Different After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Yes, definitely. Your mouth has undergone surgery recently, and there are quite a few occurrences in your mouth that may alter your bite in the meantime.

These are the main causes of a change in your bite following wisdom tooth extraction:

1. Swelling and Inflammation:

All oral surgical operations result in some swelling of your gums and jaw bone. This swelling will slightly change the placement of your jaw and cause it to be positioned differently than usual, thus, causing your bite to seem abnormal. Your bite will return to normal in about 3-7 days as the inflammation goes away.

2. Jaw Muscle Stiffness (Trismus)

The trismus, or tightness of the jaw muscles, is a common occurrence following the extraction of wisdom teeth, especially if you had your lower wisdom teeth extracted. When your jaw muscles become tight due to surgery, they may be unable to move your jaw smoothly and symmetrically. This makes you think that your bite is off balance.

3. Temporary Tooth Sensitivity and Shifting

If your teeth right next to where your wisdom teeth were (second molars) become sensitive and sore, then you tend to try and avoid biting down with them when eating. This will create a feeling that your bite is misaligned.

4. Changes in Jaw Joint (TMJ) Position

Some people’s bite shifts because their jaw joint, known as the temporomandibular joint, shifts after all four wisdom teeth have been removed.

When Does a Bite Return to Normal After Wisdom Teeth Removal?

In most cases, the bite will return to normal after:

1–2 weeks: Most swelling and pain will subside, and improvement in the bite will be evident.

2–4 weeks: Stiffness of the jaw muscles will go away, and most will regain their biting ability.

6–8 weeks: Full recovery of the tissues; your bite will feel normal.

After 4-6 weeks, if you don’t feel that your bite is right, it might be a good idea to make an appointment at Shine Dental Cranbourne.

Warning Signs That Your Bite Problem Needs Dental Attention

Even though bite change following wisdom teeth extraction is usually temporary and not something to worry about, these warning signals suggest that you should head to your local Cranbourne dentist to get a proper checkup:

• The feeling of an unbalanced or lopsided bite more than 4 weeks post-surgery
• Pain in your jaw or difficulty opening or closing it
• Inability to open your mouth completely after 2 weeks
• Pain during mastication that hasn’t improved
• Misaligned teeth
• Headaches or ear pain

These may be the signs of bite alignment problem, dry socket, or TMJ dysfunction, among other oral problems, but your Cranbourne dentist will help you identify them.

Can Wisdom Teeth Removal Cause Permanent Bite Changes?

This is something that is quite common in our dental clinic, and it is perfectly understandable to be concerned about bite changes.

The following cases should be kept in mind, however:

• Where wisdom teeth have been severely impacted and affecting adjacent teeth, their extraction can cause some slight tooth movement
• In adolescents and young adults, the process of jaw growth continues after the extraction of wisdom teeth
• Where orthodontic treatment is ongoing, wisdom teeth extraction can affect the patient’s bite; the dentist or orthodontist will inform you of the situation

For most people, bite becomes completely normal in just a couple of weeks.

How to Help Your Bite Recover After Wisdom Teeth Removal

• The following steps should be taken at home to promote easy and quick recovery:
• Adhere to your after-surgery recommendations: Take pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs according to the directions. Do not miss the dosage in the first 48 hours.
• Use ice packs: Prevent excessive swelling by applying ice packs in the first 24-48 hours for 20 minutes on/20 minutes off.
• Eat easily digestible food: Include yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and smoothies into your menu. Refrain from eating hard, crunchy, or chewy foods that put strain on the jaw.
• Hydrate: Consume sufficient amounts of water; however, do not use straws because they might dislodge the clot and lead to dry socket.
• Perform gentle jaw exercises: Open and close your mouth several times per day after several days following the extraction to maintain movement of the joint.
• Rest: It is easier for your body to heal itself when you are not engaging in strenuous activities.
• Schedule appointments: Follow-up visits will help to identify and solve any issues.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Cranbourne and Lyndhurst — What to Expect at Shine Dental

We offer complete wisdom tooth extraction services Cranbourne, Lyndhurst, and nearby areas. You will be in safe hands right from the beginning with our gentle treatment methods and a full pre-op assessment.

Prior to the removal process, our dentists will take detailed radiographs, including the OPG panoramic radiographs where necessary. This helps to understand the position of the wisdom teeth better and plan an appropriate removal process.

Our clinic will provide you with proper post-surgical instruction in writing and allow direct contact with our specialists if you face any difficulties after the surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1:How long will my bite feel off after wisdom teeth removal?

The bite should begin feeling better in a week to two weeks due to reduction in swelling. Complete normalization of the bite would normally take place in 2 to 6 weeks.

Q2: Can all four wisdom teeth be removed at once in Cranbourne?

Normally it is possible to extract all four wisdom teeth in one sitting in Cranbourne. Your dentist in Cranbourne will recommend based on the condition of your case.

Q3: What is dry socket and how do I know if I have it?

The phenomenon of dry socket occurs when the blood clot in the empty space where the tooth was located becomes dislodged or disintegrated. Dry socket is characterized by intense and sharp pain that radiates to the temple area and occurs several days after removal of the wisdom teeth. Consult Shine Dental Cranbourne without delay.

Q4: Will I need time off work after wisdom teeth removal?

Most patients take between 1 to 3 days off after wisdom teeth removal depending on the degree of the complexity of the surgery and how they feel afterward.

Q5: Is wisdom teeth removal covered by health insurance in Cranbourne?

Yes, most private health funds that offer extras cover have some contribution for wisdom tooth extraction. The contribution level depends on your particular health insurance plan. Our team is ready to help you find out about your cover.

Q6: I’m in Lyndhurst — can I come to Shine Dental Cranbourne?

Yes, our clinic is easily accessible and we provide services to residents not only of Lyndhurst but also of Cranbourne, Cranbourne west, Cranbourne East, Clyde, Clyde North, and many other locations.