What To Do If You Develop A Fever After Dental Surgery

Complications from dental surgery are uncommon, but that doesn't mean they're unheard of. If you or a loved one have recently undergone dental surgery and have since developed a fever, it's something to take seriously. Here's what you must do in order to protect your health.

Take Measurements

If you think you have a fever, make sure to check your temperature first. Sometimes people can have hot flashes or flushing periods that feel like a fever when they're not. If your thermometer reveals that you do have a fever, make a note of what your temperature was and at what time. This will be useful information for your dentist to have.

If you have a fever, this most likely indicates that you've developed an infection in your incision. This isn't necessarily a serious problem, but it's important to get the infection drained and under control before it can get worse.

Contact a Dentist

If you've found yourself suddenly in this situation, the most important thing is to get help, even if it's not from your original dental surgeon. It's not a good idea to try and wait until your dentist is able to take you, or until their office opens. Instead, seek emergency dental care to get your oral care.

Bring the Fever Down

Until you get to the dentist's office, there are steps you can take to make the feverish person more comfortable and to help bring their fever down to a lower level.

First of all, drape a cool cloth over their forehead and their major pulse points, like the neck and wrists. You can also offer them cold beverages or ice pops if they feel up to taking it.

Secondly, if they don't have any directions from their doctor otherwise, you can give them a pain reliever that will help to bring down their fever. In this case, acetaminophen is likely best, as it doesn't thin the blood which can potentially interfere with your dentist performing emergency surgery to drain the incision.

Remember, people with fevers often experience sudden violent chills. Be prepared to take the cooling cloths off at a moments notice, and have a towel or blanket nearby for the person to use when they're shivering.

Like with any infection, getting medical help as soon as possible is a necessity. Contact an emergency dentist and get to their office as soon as possible to ensure that you don't develop a serious infection.