As specialists in tooth extractions, we at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania regularly give patients local anesthetic. This has the advantage of having the fewest side effects, but there is one common complication, which is the swelling that occurs if the patient bites their lip shortly after the surgery.
Because of how the nerves of the mouth are structured, numbing the extraction site requires numbing most of the mouth. Regardless of what kind of anesthetic is used, the effect may last for several hours. Because of this, it is easy for patients, especially children, to bite down on their numbed soft tissue. When this happens, the tissue commonly swells up to several times its normal size and turns white.
While the swelling is unpleasant to look at and may be uncomfortable, it is usually something that goes away after a few weeks without causing any lasting harm. Over-the-counter painkillers are usually all that are necessary or appropriate. However, if the patient continues to chew on the ulcerated tissue, it could develop an infection, which would result in a fever. This is why it is important for the caregivers of children undergoing wisdom tooth or other extractions to do their best to make sure their child knows not to chew their numb lip.
Drs. Bahram, Richman and Dieu operate at the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania at 2546 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145. To schedule an appointment, call 215-463-4141 or visit OralSurgeryPA.com and fill out a contact sheet.
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