Highland Dental Center

TOOTH EXTRACTION: POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

Sometimes, teeth need to be removed due to decay, disease, or trauma. When you get a tooth “pulled,” it’s called an extraction.

It’s natural that changes will occur in your mouth after the procedure. Here are some general guidelines to help promote healing, prevent complications, and make you more comfortable while you recover.

Follow all instructions from your dental team. This will help make sure that your mouth heals properly after your tooth is removed. These instructions will also help to lower your risk of having any problems while your mouth heals.

BLEEDING

Your dentist may place a gauze pack on the extraction site to limit bleeding. This will also help a blood clot to form, which is necessary for normal healing. This gauze pack should be left in place for 30 to 45 minutes after you leave the dentist’s office.

Do not chew on the pack. There may be some bleeding or oozing after the pack is removed.

If so, here’s what to do:

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR MOUTH AFTER YOUR TOOTH IS REMOVED

Day of procedure:

Day after procedure:

TAKE PAIN MEDICATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DENTIST

SWELLING AND PAIN ARE NORMAL AFTER A TOOTH IS REMOVED

To help reduce swelling and pain:

CALL YOUR DENTIST RIGHT AWAY IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES

If you cannot reach your dentist, go to a hospital emergency room.

EATING AND DRINKING

Day of procedure:

Day after procedure:

OTHER THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

DO NOT DISTURB THE BLOOD CLOT THAT FORMS IN THE TOOTH SOCKET!

The blood clot that forms in the tooth socket is an important part of the normal healing process. You should avoid doing things that might disturb the clot. If the blood clot is disturbed and breaks down, you can get a dry socket. Dry sockets can be extremely painful. To lower your risk of a dry socket, be very careful to not do anything that can disturb the clot.

For the first 24 hours, do not suck, spit, slurp, or any other action that creates suction in your mouth and puts pressure on your blood clot. This means:

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