The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction the doctor will need
to numb your tooth, jawbone and gums that surround the
area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process you will feel a lot of
pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking
the tooth in order to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic
has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain,
yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly
affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction
please let us know right away.
Sectioning a tooth
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common
procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in
its socket or the root is curved and the socket can't
expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the
tooth into sections then removes each section one at
a time.
After Care
Bleeding
Some bleeding may occur. Placing a piece of moist gauze
over the empty tooth socket and biting down firmly for
45 minutes can control this.
Blood clots that form in the empty socket.
- Avoid rinsing or spitting for 24
hours after the extraction.
- Avoid use of a straw, smoking or
hot liquids.
This is an important part of the healing process and
you must be careful not to dislodge the clot.
Swelling
If swelling occurs you can place ice on your face for
10 minutes and off for 20 minutes. Repeat this cycle
as you feel necessary for up to 24 hours.
Pain and Medications
If you experience pain you might use non-prescription
pain relief medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Eating
For most extractions just make sure you do your
chewing away from the extraction site. Stay away from
hot liquids and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A
liquid diet may be recommended for 24 hours.
Brushing and Cleaning
After the extraction avoid brushing the teeth near the
extraction site for one day. After that you can resume
gentle cleaning. Avoid commercial mouth rinses, as they
tend to irritate the site.
Beginning 24 hours after the extraction you can rinse
with salt water (1/2 teaspoon in a cup of water) after
meals and before bed.
Dry Socket
Dry socket is when a blood clot fails to form in the
socket where the tooth has been extracted or the clot
has been dislodged and the healing is significantly
delayed.
Following the post extraction instructions will reduce
the chances of developing dry socket. Dry sockets manifest
themselves as a dull throbbing pain, which doesn't appear
until three to four days after the extraction. The pain
can be moderate to severe and radiate from the extraction
area. Dry socket may cause a bad taste or bad breath
and the extraction site appears dry.
Dr. Tannis will apply a medicated dressing to the dry
socket to sooth the pain.
Healing
After a tooth has been extracted there will be
a resulting hole in your jawbone where the tooth was.
In time, this will smooth and fill in with bone. This
process can take many weeks or months. However after
1- 2 weeks you should no longer notice any inconvenience
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