Tooth Extraction : What Should I Expect?

Tooth extraction is a simple and minor surgical process done under local anesthesia. Commonly performed when there is no hope to save the tooth such as in grossly tooth decay with root fracture, severe bone resorption around the tooth, and impacted tooth. After extraction, you can feel moderate pain, tenderness, and discomfort that lasted 1 to 3 days. Avoid taking food immediately after extraction, and wait for at least 2hr for complete bleeding control and recovery from the anesthesia effect. For bleeding control place gauze tightly with finger pressure at the tooth removal site. Avoid eating hard food, brushing at the extraction site, smoking, and frequent spitting in the initial 24 hr after tooth pulling out.

INTRODUCTION

A dental extraction is the removal of teeth from the socket. After pulling out of the tooth, the empty socket filled up new tissue growth through a natural healing process. Following all the precautionary measures after tooth extraction helps in controlling pain, bleeding, and infection of the extraction site such as a dry socket. Complete healing of the extraction required 3 to 4 weeks, Infection can complicate the healing process and delay the closure of extracted tooth socket.

HOW LONG DOES PAIN LAST AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION?

You can feel pain at the extraction site normality 1 to 3 days after tooth extraction. The natural healing process started after the tooth extraction with clot formation that releases some chemicals for the growth of new tissue that closes the extraction socket, this chemical also causes pain as an immune response. The intensity of pain is high in the initial 48 hours after the extraction. The dentist prescribed pain killer to control this pain. After 24hr of extraction, rinses with lukewarm water or normal saline (salt water) help in controlling pain and infection. After 3 to 5 days mild tenderness and discomfort at the extraction site that remains for at least a week if you still feel pain after 7 days you should schedule an appointment with your dentist.

WHEN TO EAT AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION?

Avoid eating just after the extraction, you can hurt and bite your own lips, tongue, and cheek due to the numbness of anesthesia. It will take 1 to 2 hours to completely recover from the anesthesia effect. After two hours you can remove the gauze and can take soft food and drinks. In the initial 24 hours, take a soft diet, avoid eating hot food, and chewing at the tooth removal site. A thin blood clot is formed at the extraction site that controls bleeding, protects the socket from infection, and initiates the early healing process. Hot and hard chewing food dislodged this barrier and can infect the socket.

HOW TO STOP BLEEDING AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION?

After tooth extraction, the dentist placed the surgical gauze at the extraction site to control bleeding, and pressed the gauze tightly for 20 minutes, if the gauze is filled with blood you can change it. Place gauze over the bleeding site, and hold it with pressure for 40 to 60 mint, to control bleeding.

Avoid frequent spitting and rinsing of the mouth, it will disturb early blood clot formation at the extraction site. Mild bleeding is normal within 24 hours after extraction, but if the condition is severe and you have to change the gauze multiple time then you should visit the clinic or take the dentist’s advice on the phone. Before extraction, inform your dentist about any medicine, or vitamins that you have taken for any medical condition. Some medicine and medical condition especially hemophilia, platelet deficiency, or any liver disease can affect clot formation and prolong bleeding after the extraction.

WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION?

Never remove the gauze immediately after extraction.
Avoid frequently rinsing and spitting after extraction, it will cause dislodged early clots that cause delayed healing.
Avoid drinking hot soup and water immediately after tooth pulling.
Avoid the usage of straws for drinking and sucking the socket.
Avoid eating hard food. Always use other sit for biting and chewing after extraction.
Avoid smoking and alcohol after tooth removal.
Avoid exertional activity like exercise sports, as it will increase blood pressure and prolong bleeding time.

WHEN I CAN BRUSH AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION?

You can brush your teeth after the next day of the extraction but avoids brushing at the extraction site. After 24hr you can restore your oral hygiene routines such as brushing, mouthwashes, and flossing but be soft and gentle around the extraction socket.

Vigorously brushing at the extraction site can remove the clot, initiate bleeding and expose the underlying tissue and bone. Exposed tissue can infect the socket, which complicates the healing process. The most common complication after extraction is a dry socket which delays the healing of the socket. Uses of mouthwashes after 24 hours of extraction can prevent dry sockets.