ORAL SURGERY
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Simple extraction involves local anesthetic, which numbs the area around your tooth, so you will feel only pressure, not pain, during the procedure. The dentist then uses an instrument called an elevator to loosen the tooth and forceps to remove it.
Surgical extraction involves a more invasive extraction procedure. The general dentist or oral surgeon will cut into your gum with a small incision. They may need to remove bone around your tooth or cut your tooth before it can be extracted. Sometimes suturing and medicated packs are needed to secure the extraction site.
It normally takes a few days to recover after a tooth extraction. The following steps help ensure that your recovery goes smoothly:
Apply an ice pack to your cheek directly after the procedure to reduce swelling. Use the ice pack for 10 minutes each time.
After the dentist places the gauze pad over the affected area, bite down to reduce bleeding and to aid in clot formation. Leave the gauze on for three to four hours, or until the pad is soaked with blood.
Take any medications as prescribed, including over-the-counter painkillers.
Rest and relax for the first 24 hours. Do not jump immediately into your regular routine the following day.
Do not use a straw for the first 24 hours.
Do not smoke.
Do not rinse for 24 hours after the tooth extraction, and spit only gently.
Use pillows to prop your head up when you lie down.
Brush and floss your teeth like normal but avoid the extraction site.
The day after the procedure, eat soft foods, such as yogurt, pudding, and applesauce.
As you heal over the next few days, you can slowly reintroduce other foods into your diet.
If you are experiencing pain that is not going away after several days or signs of an infection —including fever, pain, and pus or drainage from the incision — make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible.
Usually after a tooth extraction, a blood clot naturally forms in the socket — the hole in the bone where the tooth has been extracted. However, if the blood clot does not form or dislodges, the bone inside the socket can be exposed — referred to as “dry socket.” These complications can also occur if patient chewed food and the food gets dislodge in the extraction site and an infection form. If this happens, go in, and see your dentist to remedy the dry socket. The dentist will protect the area by putting a sedative dressing over it for a few days. During this time, a new clot will form.