After having wisdom teeth removal some patients like to know if it is okay for them to fly on an airplane. Depending on whom one turns to for advice it is possible to receive mixed messages regarding if it is safe to fly or not after wisdom teeth surgery.
According to one article titled “Cabin crew reveal the one thing you should NEVER do before flying” by Elly Blake appearing in the Express (Feb. 15, 2018) having any sort of dental work 24 to 48 hours prior to a flight could be dangerous according to airplane cabin crew. They said that in horror stories some passengers have reported unimaginable pain caused by changes in air pressure due to altitude changes which impact small pockets of gas trapped in teeth. However, in other cases people have reported feeling just fine flying shortly after dental work. Several experts interviewed suggest avoiding flying for 24 to 48 hours after having wisdom teeth extraction.
However according to an U.S. based oral surgeon it is completely safe to travel after having wisdom teeth surgery in an article titled “Facts About Flying After Teeth Extraction or Dental Implants,” published Dec. 26, 2011. He suggests that airplanes have pressurized cabins and further bleeding or discomfort will not be caused by changes in altitude due to flight. He also suggests that if you do fly after wisdom teeth removal it is best to get an aisle seat near one of the bathrooms so that you are able to rinse with water and change any gauze pads regularly if still bleeding. However, this same article also suggests that patients who just had wisdom teeth removed often bleed, require ice to be placed on their mouths, and are taking medications. For those who are self conscious this could be a bit embarrassing to have to deal with in a small confined place like an airplane. Surely the flight attendant and people who are sitting close by might notice. You also will have to reject any pretzels or nuts or other snacks you might be offered by a flight attendant because you will have to be on a soft diet or all liquid diet depending on how long it has been since surgery.
Some patients are interested in knowing about flying shortly after wisdom teeth removal because of dental tourism. See for example the thread “Can I board a plane 24 hours after I get my wisdom tooth removed?” submitted on Feb. 16, 2012 on AskMetaFilter. Perhaps you may live in an area where it is very expensive to have wisdom teeth removal performed and you want to fly to somewhere where it is much cheaper to have the surgery. In this same thread several individuals share their experiences with flying after wisdom teeth removal.
One user says
“I flew from DC to Boston about 36 hours after I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth removed.”
Another user says
“I had all four wisdom teeth out under general anesthesia and flew the very next day. Not only was I completely fine, but I got bumped up to first class…and ate a steak…I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”
So it appears that if you are fortunate enough to lead a very busy lifestyle and the only time you have to schedule wisdom teeth removal is just hours before a flight you should be okay to do so as long as you are prepared. However, to play it safe you should probably wait at least 24 hours and preferably 48 hours before taking flight after any tooth extractions. If you are worried that any changes in the cabin pressure might cause a change in the pockets of gas trapped in the teeth that could cause increased pain and potential for more bleeding this is probably the safer way to go. Furthermore you never know if you may suffer a complication from wisdom teeth removal such as dry socket. I also suppose that in even rare instances if you have a life threatening complication the flight you are on may have to make an emergency landing depending on the length of the flight to immediately treat your condition.