Numb Tongue after Wisdom Teeth Extraction

vivien

Had my 4 wisdom teeth extracted last Tuesday, 8th June under general anaesthetic.

Since then, I've had the usual healing process, trismus (not being able to open my mouth much) which is almost better, bit of bleeding, swollen face, lots of pain, but that I can handle because I know it will all eventually go away and that will be the end of it.

I was advised of possible complications, one of which is nerve damage which results in numbness in parts of your mouth. Anyway, I have a numb tongue to the left front part of it since the operation. It generally has no feeling, but sometimes is sore, other times don't know if I imagine it, but there might be feeling of something in it. I'm scared I'll be left like this.

Has anyone any info on this? Or even how I can deal ith it?
My post op appointment is tomorrow week, but this is doing my head in so hoping for some advice!
Thanks

Big_G

I'm sure your surgeon discussed the risks of wisdom tooth removal before the procedure, but that does nothing to ease your mind now.

I am open to correction, but damage to the lingual nerve which supplies sensation to the tongue happens in about 1 in 400 cases of lower wisdom tooth removal. Because of the anatomical closeness of the nerve to many wisdom teeth it can get stretched or even cut during the procedure to remove the wisdom teeth.

If it is stretched it results in paraesthesia which is tingling and sometimes anaesthesia which is numbness, or sometimes if there is significant swelling in the area the nerve can be compressed and can also display tingling or total loss of sensation.

The good news is that a significant number of those patients that lose sensation regain it between a few days and a few months later. This is because the cause (swelling, stretching) resolves and the nerve recovers. In more severe cases where the nerve is severed it can repair itself if the two ends are close (sensory nerve grows about 1.8cm a year - again open to correction). If the two ends are not close enough, your surgeon may opt to surgically reposition the two ends to aid in the repair process.

I had 3 days of paraesthesia in my lip after my wisdom tooth removal and was literally sh*tting myself. But it went away, and I regained full sensation.

So chin up, its likely that your alteration of sensation is temporary. You may have to endure it for up to 18 months. It doesn't sound severe ( in severe cases an entire half of the tongue or both halves of the anterior 2/3rds of the tongue are numb).

I am not offering a diagnosis here, it is imperative that you talk to your surgeon about this at your follow up and are assessed correctly to see exactly what the level of damage is.

In an exceedingly small proportion of cases the damage is permanent. But don't worry about it, it is unlikely to be so in your case. Again, ask your surgeon. It's important to know that even if it is permanent it doesn't cause any deformity or paralysis as it is not motor nerve damage. Rarely does it cause a speech issue.

Good luck and keep us updated.

vivien

Thanks Big_G for your reassuring information. I will post a reply after my follow up appointment. I hope your right and it goes away soon or in the near future.