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What to do after
Extraction of a Tooth |
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ANESTHETICS |
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While your mouth is numb,
you'll want to be careful not to bite your cheek, lip or tongue.
The numbness should subside
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within a few hours. |
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HEALING |
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A gauze pack has been placed on
the extraction site to limit bleeding and confine the blood while
clotting takes place. |
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This gauze
pack should be left in place for 2-3 hours, until the bleeding
stops. Do not chew on pack. |
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BLEEDING |
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To Stop Bleeding
Follow this Procedure: |
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· 1.
Fold a piece of clean gauze
into a pad thick enough to bite on, and place it directly on the
extraction site. |
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2. Apply moderate pressure by
closing the teeth firmly over this pad. Maintain this pressure until
bleeding stops. As the |
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pad becomes soaked, replace it
with a clean one. |
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3. Do not suck on the extraction
site. |
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4. If heavy bleeding
continues, call our office.
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BLOOD CLOT |
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After an extraction, a blood
clot forms in the tooth socket. You should avoid activities that might
disturb the clot. |
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Here is how to protect it: |
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1. Do not smoke, or rinse your
mouth vigorously, or drink through a straw for 48 hours. These
activities create suction in |
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the mouth, which could dislodge the clot and delay healing.
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2. Do not clean the teeth next to
the healing tooth socket for the rest of the day. You
should, however, brush and floss you |
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other
teeth thoroughly.
Gently rinse your mouth
afterward. |
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3. Limit strenuous activity
for 24 hours after the extraction. This will reduce bleeding and help
the blood clot to form.
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SWELLING |
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You can help reduce
swelling & pain by applying cold compresses to the
face. Use an ice bag or a cold, moist cloth on and |
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off for several hours. |
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MEDICATION |
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Use prescribed medication only
as directed. If the medication prescribed does not seem to work, do
not increase the dosage. |
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If you have prolonged or
severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever, call our office
immediately. |
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DIET |
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After the extraction, drink
lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods. Avoid alcoholic
beverages and hot liquids. |
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Begin eating solid foods
the next day or as soon as you can chew food on the side opposite the
extraction site, and stay |
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away from hard, crunchy
foods (nuts, etc.) that could get caught in the socket. |
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RINSING |
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The day after the
extraction, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water (half
teaspoon of salt in a 8 oz. glass of water). |
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Rinsing after meals is
important to keep food particles out of the extraction site, but
remember not to rinse your mouth vigorously. |
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Avoid using a mouth rinse or mouthwash during this early healing period. |
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