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What can you expect after a tooth extraction? What should you follow after this procedure? Your dentist will provide aftercare instructions that you need during your healing process. On the other hand, if you have oral concerns, book a consultation with Boutique Dental Care Chatswood today. The clinic’s environment is truly relaxing. Please go and check them out!

Tooth extraction

It is a dental procedure wherein your dentist has to pull out your tooth/teeth. Tooth extraction can be a little frightening to some.

However, if you have an idea about it, you may have a change of heart for it. Later on, we will discuss more details, including what you have to do after a tooth extraction.

An individual can undergo either a simple or surgical extraction, depending on their condition. A simple extraction involves the removal of a visible tooth.

Additionally, this procedure will not take much of your time. On the other hand, a surgical extraction covers teeth already broken in the gum line or has not erupted yet.

During your consultation, your dentist will know which type of extraction you need to remove your tooth. But then again, do you know why you need a tooth extraction? Here are the typical causes why you need to say goodbye to your teeth.

• Tooth decay or infection
• Suffered trauma or injury
• Teeth overcrowding
• Baby teeth don’t fall out
• Pre-requisite of orthodontic treatment
• Wisdom teeth issues

Tooth extraction is necessary to keep an excellent oral health condition. Your dentist will work out to complete the extraction process the best way possible. Given that you have already completed an extraction, we will now discuss what you can expect after the procedure.

Expectations after a tooth extraction

Like the other dental procedures, there would be after-effects. However, these effects are minor only. But then again, you have to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions relative to your healing process.

In general, a dentist will expect you to do the following to ensure your quick recovery. Otherwise, not following these instructions can cause complications and prolonged recovery.

Your dentist will initially put a clean gauze pad to bite on near the extraction site after your extraction. The gauze pad will help stop the bleeding.

What to do?

• The first thing you have to do is take a rest. Avoid doing exercise or massive activities for the first 24 hours.
• While you are in the healing process, a blood clot will form in the extraction site. The gauze pad will help in the blood clot formation, as it serves as protection to the treatment site. You have to replace the gauze regularly to ensure better blood clot formation.
• If you notice swelling or inflammation, try placing an ice pack at the face’s side near the extraction site.
• Additionally, it would be best not to use a straw in the meantime, for at least 24 hours.
• Furthermore, it would be best if you did not smoke, as it can hinder your recovery. It would be best if you quit it permanently.
• Meanwhile, eat soft foods while you are still in your healing process. You have to let the blood clot form well and heal before returning to your usual diet. Otherwise, it can lead to a dry socket.
• Do not poke your extraction site using your tongue or toothpick. It can also lead to a dry socket due to delayed healing.
• Moreover, you may also take pain relief medicines based on your dentist’s prescription.
• Lastly, you still have to continue your usual oral hygiene routine. However, you only have to avoid the extraction site to prevent infection.

What is a dry socket?

After a tooth extraction, you might encounter a dry socket if you did not follow the aftercare instructions above.

As this Coopers Plains dentist explains, a dry socket happens if the blood clot after a tooth extraction failed to form. The following symptoms can signify that you have this dental condition:

• Severe pain at the extraction site
• Missing clot at the treatment site
• Bone visibility
• Foul odor coming from the mouth
• Bad taste

Your dentist often does treatment for a dry socket inside the dental clinic and recommends pain management at home.

However, a dry socket usually requires follow-up checkups with the dentist to ensure that it is healing correctly.

Overall, it is natural to feel pain or discomfort after tooth extraction. However, if the pain or discomfort becomes severe and symptoms are unusual, it would be best to meet your dentist and seek help.

You may also consider watching this short video to know more information about this dental condition and to help you prevent it in the first place.

When to contact your dentist

Once these symptoms occur after extraction, you will need immediate medical attention from your dentist.

• Nausea or vomiting
• Redness and severe swelling
• Fever and chills
• Excessive bleeding at the treatment site
• Breathing difficulties
• Chest pain

These symptoms may be signifying an infection. For this reason, your dentist has to see it as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can spread and affect other parts of the body.

Recovery period

Typically, you will have to rest for about 24 to 48 hours, depending on the type of extraction you had. Afterward, you can return to your daily activities.

However, if you had a surgical extraction, your dentist might require you to rest for a week to ensure healing. Recovery will also be a little longer as compared to a simple extraction.

The healing process is usually a short period only. Mostly, the patient’s soft tissue can heal in about 3 to 4 weeks or longer. The length of your recovery period depends on how you care for the extraction site.

If you did not follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions, you should already expect that the healing time is longer. The choice is yours. That is to follow the instructions, heal quickly, or don’t follow and prolong your recovery period.

Conclusion

In general, the journey of tooth extraction does not stop the moment your dentist removes your affected tooth. You still have to do things after the extraction.

The aftercare instructions will be beneficial to you. That’s why you have to follow them. Furthermore, you have to look after the extraction site to ensure that it’s healing well.

Otherwise, it might lead to infection and other oral health concerns. In the final analysis, your complete recovery depends on your actions after tooth extraction.

Bottom line

For a quicker recovery, the secret lies in following the aftercare instructions. The more you kept following them means, the sooner you’ll heal from your tooth extraction.

Your dentist knows the best things to do to achieve excellent overall dental health that can last for a lifetime.