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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Paralysis Feeling On The Left Side Of Lip A Week After Lower Wisdom Tooth Extraction. Cause?

Hello, the left side of my lip is in a sort of paralysis , I can only half smile, half inhale on a cigeratte, I went to the densit because I had one of my right lower wisdom tooth pulled last Tuesday, this is on the Opposite side tho, he said this shouldnt be affecting my the lower left side of my lip, plus this happened yesterday And I had the tooth pulled a week ago, I have not eatten anything unusual or Been exposed to any differnt sort of chemicals, so my question is what could cause the left lower side of my mouth to be like this..?
posted on Sat, 1 Dec 2012
Twitter Tue, 11 Dec 2012 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 14 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on
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Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,  's  Response
Hello there...this is a frequent complaint we have from few of the patients following third molar removal. In those patients who have the wisdom tooth located very near to the mandibular canal experiences more of these symptoms. At the time of removal there is some pressure (neuropraxia) exerted over the canal that lodges the nerve that supplies your teeth and lip and chin on that side of the face. Owing to degree of compression over the nerve sensation of that side of the lip and chin is lost for some time. We call this transient paresthesia. Few patients get back to normal within week's time and few it might even take an year. Its a subjective feeling. This nerve is purely sensory in function. This nerve mediates all kind of sensation such as pain,touch,cold, warmthness and so on... this has got nothing to do with the muscles responsible for smile and any other functions. The facial muscles are supplied by another nerve (facial nerve) which doesnt come into way while operating on third molars. Owing to the numbness you have on the right lip, you are unable to appreciate the movement of the same. As your doctor told you it has nothing to do with the third molar removal.
There are times when parotid infections on the left side would also cause transient palsy. This would be a concurrent clinical manifestation along with third molars...Visit a Maxillofacial Surgeon for further clinical evaluation and management.
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Dentist,  Dr. Khushboo Bhatia's  Response
Don't worry.The lower wisdom tooth is supplied by a nerve on each side called the mandibular nerve that supplies the tooth and the lower lip and chin on each side.There has been some trauma to the mandibular nerve that supplied the teeth , tongue, and lip on that side. This can range from a tingling to total numbness of these areas. Healing of nerve tissue is a slow process but in almost all cases comes back. It can take from a few days to few months. Tingling is a good sign and the damage is not as severe as total numbness.Waiting, at this time, is your only recourse. There are surgical procedures to reattach the nerve if injured, but with your dentist the only one who might know the extent of injury,I would suggest that you wait and see if the numbness does resolve.Be patient and time should take care of the problem. Good luck.
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Dentist,  Dr. Gunjan Gupta's  Response
Hello,
Thanks for writing in.
I read your query,i would like to tell you that it is not related to your wisdom tooth removal because it is on the opposite side of the tooth removal.
It could be because of any infection in that side of tooth which is compressing the underlying nerve or can be that side parotid gland infection which is affecting facial muscle.
Facial muscle is responsible for the functions of muscles of facial expressions Or sometimes stress can also cause facial nerve palsy.
This is not normal and will take time to resolve.
So i will suggest you visit an oral surgeon as soon as possible to find out the cause and take a proper treatment accordingly if needed.
Nothing to get worried.
Take Care
Dr. Gunjan Gupta
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Dentist,  Dr. Neha Sumra's  Response
Hello
Welcome to HCM
I would like to tell you that it has no role with wisdom teeth extraction because its on opposite side.
Symptoms indicate Bell's Palsy & its facial nerve paralysis.It might be due compression of facial nerve or some nerve near parotid gland.
Its better to consult your oral surgeon & get diagnosed properly.
Don't worry its a curable disease.

Take Care
Regards
Dr.Neha
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  Anonymous's Response
Anonymous's  Response
hiii
its nothing to do with your wisdom tooth extraction....as extraction was done of the opposite side.

it seems that there might me some sort of infection on your left side of the oral cavity which is causing the compression of the nerve which is resulting in these symptoms. the neural tissue takes time to repair....from days to months & some times even years

well it may also be bell's palsy.....it is facial paralysis of half side of the face.....its pretty much treatable condition.

i would suggest that you should consult a dentist as soon as possible for the correct diagnosis & prompt treatment.
Dentist,  Dr. Qazi Ammara's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for aksing the query,

After reading your history i suppose that it is not related to wisdom tooth extraction as it was done on the opposite side.
There can be chances of some oral infection on the left side which is causing nerve compression, healing of neural tissue takes time from few days to months.
Other than this it can also be due to facial nerve palsy.
I would suggest you to visit an Oral Surgeon and get the checkup done to find out the cause and start with proper treatment accordingly.

Hope this helps out.

Regards..
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Dentist,  Dr. Bindiya Bhaskar's  Response
Hello and welcome to hcm,

The paralysis feeling post extraction of wisdom tooth is due to-
Overdose of local anaesthetic solution injected.
Improper method of local anaesthetic solution injected.
LA solution injected at the facial nerve resulting in damage to facial nerve causing facial palsy.
I would suggest you to apply cold packs frequently.
Facial nerve has to be examined by your dentist and if paralysed,has to be treated accordingly.
Physiotherapic exercises has to be done.
Avoid lip biting as it can injure your lips.
Hope this helps.
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Dentist,  Dr. Farah Hussain's  Response

Hello there ,

Thanks for writing your query,

pain on the left side of the jaw t is not related to your wisdom tooth removal because it is on the opposite side of the tooth removal.

It could be because of any infection in that side of tooth which is compressing the underlying nerve .

facial nerve palsy is one of the reasons for such symptoms

exact diagnosis can be made only after clinical examination and evaluation by a dentist.

please approach an oral surgeon and consider getthing the treament done as soon as possible.


i hope this helps ,

take care.
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Dentist,  Dr. Shefali Gupta's  Response
Hi ,
Thanks for asking query,
According to your explanation wisdom tooth extraction has nothing to do with it as it is done on the right side and your having problem on the left side.
There could be many resaons for this like trauma , infection , facial palsy, i suggest you to go to the dentist get it checked .
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Dentist,  Dr. Yogesh Tripathi's  Response
hello
as you say that you had your right side wisdom tooth extracted and now you have problem in your left side ,so it is not related to tooth extraction because left and right side of lower jaw have different nerve supplies of facial and mandibular nerve
now as per your symptoms what i suggest is that you may have any of the following
1.parotid gland infection
2.facial nerve palsy
3.any infection in teeth of left side that has been left undiagnosed
to confirm that you may pay a visit to to MDS oral medicine
if its 1st or 3rd of the above than proper treatment and medication will do the needful
if its a nerve palsye .which is more likely to be the case. than it will take time but will be back to normal in a few weeks time
in the mean time you can take metylcobalamine tablets 1500 mcg twice daily which has very good results
hope this helps
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Paralysis Feeling On The Left Side Of Lip A Week After Lower Wisdom Tooth Extraction. Cause?

Hello there...this is a frequent complaint we have from few of the patients following third molar removal. In those patients who have the wisdom tooth located very near to the mandibular canal experiences more of these symptoms. At the time of removal there is some pressure (neuropraxia) exerted over the canal that lodges the nerve that supplies your teeth and lip and chin on that side of the face. Owing to degree of compression over the nerve sensation of that side of the lip and chin is lost for some time. We call this transient paresthesia. Few patients get back to normal within week s time and few it might even take an year. Its a subjective feeling. This nerve is purely sensory in function. This nerve mediates all kind of sensation such as pain,touch,cold, warmthness and so on... this has got nothing to do with the muscles responsible for smile and any other functions. The facial muscles are supplied by another nerve (facial nerve) which doesnt come into way while operating on third molars. Owing to the numbness you have on the right lip, you are unable to appreciate the movement of the same. As your doctor told you it has nothing to do with the third molar removal. There are times when parotid infections on the left side would also cause transient palsy. This would be a concurrent clinical manifestation along with third molars...Visit a Maxillofacial Surgeon for further clinical evaluation and management.