It is normal for your lip, cheek and tongue to feel numb for a few hours after wisdom tooth removal, because of the local anaesthetic. Occasionally, however, numbness or tingling lasts longer. This is usually caused by irritation of a nerve near the lower wisdom teeth and, in most cases, improves with time. Understanding why it happens can ease anxiety during recovery.
Local anaesthetic used for extractions typically wears off within a few hours. During this time, your lip, chin, cheek and tongue on the treated side may feel heavy or swollen. Avoid hot drinks and chewing until normal feeling returns, so you do not burn or bite yourself. This type of numbness is expected and resolves completely once the anaesthetic has worn off.
The lower wisdom teeth sit close to two important nerves. The inferior alveolar nerve runs through the jawbone beneath the roots and supplies feeling to the lower lip and chin. The lingual nerve runs along the inner side of the jaw near the tongue. When wisdom teeth are deeply impacted or their roots lie close to these nerves, removal can occasionally bruise or stretch them, causing altered sensation.
Patients may notice numbness, tingling, pins and needles or a burning sensation in the lower lip, chin, gums or tongue on one side. Some people notice changes in taste. The sensation can range from very mild to more noticeable, and it does not affect the ability to move the lip or tongue, only how they feel.
Lasting altered sensation is uncommon, and most cases are temporary. Many people notice gradual improvement over weeks to months as the nerve recovers. A small number of cases take longer, and rarely some change may be permanent. Your dentist will assess the risk for your specific teeth before surgery using X-rays or a 3D scan and discuss it with you.
Careful planning with imaging allows the dentist to see how close the roots are to the nerve. In higher-risk cases, techniques such as removing only the crown of the tooth and leaving the roots, called a coronectomy, may be considered. Choosing an experienced clinician and following aftercare instructions also helps.
If numbness or tingling continues after the first day, contact your dentist. They will record the area affected and monitor your recovery with follow-up visits. Avoid biting or burning the numb area while eating and drinking, and take care when shaving or applying lip products. Report any changes, whether improvement or worsening, at each review.
Nerve-related numbness is much less common after removing upper wisdom teeth, because the main sensory nerves are not located as close to them. The usual considerations for upper teeth relate more to the sinus. Your dentist will explain the specific risks for each tooth being removed.
Numbness from anaesthetic for a few hours is normal. Numbness lasting beyond a day should be reported to your dentist.
Most cases of nerve-related numbness improve over weeks to months, though recovery varies.
Yes. X-rays or a 3D scan show how close the roots are to the nerve.
Contact us if numbness persists after an extraction.
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