Home Care

Care immediately following surgery:

• Keep pressure on the gauze pad that your doctor placed over the surgical area by gently biting down. Try to maintain constant pressure in intervals of 1 hour, repeating gauze placement until bleeding lessens. 
• Keep your head elevated and try to lower your activity level as much as possible.
• 48 hours after surgery, rinse your mouth very gently with warm salt water as needed. Do not use mouthwash containing alcohol as it can irritate the wound.
• Keep your mouth clean by brushing areas around the surgical site, but be sure to avoid sutures. Touching the wounded area should be prevented.
• For the first 24 hours you may use an ice pack to reduce swelling.  Place the icepack on the outside of your face near the extraction area.  Keep it in place for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes and repeat as needed.  After the first 24 hours an ice pack is not necessary nor beneficial. 
• Take all prescribed medications accordingly. If any itching or swelling occurs, contact the practice immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room.
• For the first 3 days, only eat soft foods, preferably high in protein.  A food is 'soft' enough if you can pinch your fingers through it without resistance. 
• Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, but do not drink through a straw for the next 5-7 days.
• If you are a regular tobacco user refrain from smoking for the next 3-4 days as smoking increases your chances of getting a dry socket as well as an infection.

Complete healing takes time. Within 24 hours to 14 days, your sutures should fall out or dissolve (this depends on the type of sutures which were placed). For sutures that are non-resorbable, we will schedule a follow-up appointment to remove the stitches for you. The empty socket will gradually fill in with bone over time and smooth over with adjacent tissues.  Soft tissues heal and close within weeks and bone takes months to heal. 

Possible complications after a tooth extraction

Bleeding – Bleeding after a tooth extraction is entirely normal. A pinkish tinted saliva and subtle oozing is fairly common during the first 3 days. If bleeding gets excessive, control it by using gauze pads and biting down to keep pressure on the area. As an alternative to gauze pads, a moistened tea bag can be used, as the tannic acid helps blood vessels contract. Apply pressure to the gauze or tea bag by gently biting down for 30 minutes. Please remember that raised tempers, sitting upright, and exercise can all increase blood flow to the head, which can cause excess bleeding. Try to avoid these factors as much as possible. If your bleeding does not reduce after 48 hours, please call the office.

Bone sequestra (dead tooth fragments) – Some patients have small sharp tooth fragments that were unable to be completely removed during surgery. During the recovery period, these dead bone fragments, or bone sequestra, slowly work themselves through the gums as a natural healing process. This can be a little painful until the sequestra are removed so please call our practice immediately if you notice any sharp fragments poking through the surgery site.

Dry socket – In the days that follow your tooth extraction, pain should gradually subside. Rarely, patients report that pain increases to a throbbing unbearable pain that shoots up towards the ear. Often this is a case of dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the blood clot becomes irritated and comes out before healing is complete. Food and debris can then get into the socket causing irritation. Tobacco users are at a higher risk of getting dry socket. Dry socket is not an infection but does require a visit to our office. If you think you may be suffering from dry socket, please contact the practice immediately.

Lightheadedness - Because you may have been fasting prior to surgery, your blood sugar levels may be lower than normal. Until your body has had the chance to catch up and process some sugars, you should remember to stand up slowly when getting up from a relaxed position. For somewhat immediate relief, try eating something soft and sugary, stay in a relaxed position, and reduce the elevation of your head.

Numbness – Many patients report still feeling numb hours after their tooth extraction procedure. An extended lack of feeling around the mouth is normal and can last 10-12 hours after surgery.

Swelling – Swelling should subside almost entirely within 10 days after surgery. Immediately following your tooth extraction, apply an ice pack to the facial areas near the extraction. Continue using the ice in 15 minute intervals for the first 36 hours. After 36 hours, ice will no longer be beneficial in reducing swelling and moist heat should be used instead. To decrease swelling, apply a warm damp cloth to the sides of your face.

Trismus (difficulty opening and closing mouth) – If you experience a sore jaw and difficulty chewing or swallowing, do not be alarmed. Occasionally patients’ chewing muscles and jaw joints remain sore 3-5 days after surgery. This soreness can also make it difficult to open and close your mouth. Soreness should eventually subside.

If you have any worries, or are experiencing any complications not mentioned, please contact our practice immediately so that we may address your concerns.