After Dental Tooth Extraction instructions, 2024 onwards...
After a dental tooth extraction of teeth or roots, there are several sensible precautions you can take, to allow nature's healing to work best for you.
Some people are surprised how big the roots of teeth are, usually bigger than the visible Crown of the tooth visible above the gum. Please see a picture below of a tooth Dr.Kilcoyne extracted in such a careful way that not only was the whole tooth with it's 3 roots removed in one piece, but also the abscess sac attached to the back root was removed whole too, to help remove the bad tooth with its infection, which should allow healing after the extraction to be as comfortable and quick as possible. However, the skill of the extraction technique is just one important factor.
CORONA VIRUS & SAFETY UPDATES Autumn 2024 : Thank you for your continued patience as there are still occasional outbreaks of Covid, 100 day cough and things like Monkey Pox to monitor, as people mix and travelled more and frankly, most don't clean hands as well as they used to.
So please wash your hands often (a common spread disease contact with people and handles), especially before eating snacks or fast foods, pizza etc.
See this Video link below showing a Tooth after our careful extraction, where we managed to keep fractured roots intact AND still remove the infection abscess sacs forming in the jawbone at the end of the roots too:
Click this link here to go to the Extracted tooth Video
After an extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That's why your dentist will ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 5 minutes or so, after an extraction. Pressure stops bleeding - If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad on the area and bite firmly for another 15 minutes. You may have to do this several times. Do NOT dab the pad on and off as this stops a clot forming, keep the pressure on constantly.After the blood clot forms, it's important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours.
It's also important to:
NOT Smoke at all
NOT Suck through a straw
NOT Rinse your mouth vigorously
NOT do heavy exercising or lifting
These activities would dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. It's a case of "Walk rather than Run". This keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces new bleeding, and helps the healing process to get a good start after an extraction.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice pack (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours and is normal if you had a difficult extraction or say 4 wisdom teeth out.
To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. Don't take medication on an empty stomach or nausea may result. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
Drink lots of fluids
Eat only soft, nutritious foods on the day of the extraction
Don't use alcoholic beverages
Avoid hot and spicy foods
You can begin eating normally the next day, or if not by then, as soon as it's comfortable. Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water three times a day (put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, gently rinse-swish-spit). Also, rinse gently after meals. This helps keep food out of the extraction site. It's very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your breath and mouth fresh. Call your dentist right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days, satisfactory healing can happen, however, if you have any concerns we'd be pleased to help you.
The Importance of good Aftercare and Maintenance!
Unless you want Extractions to become a regular event for you, there is a better way so as well as regular check-ups to your Dentist to prevent problems (or at least catch them very early on), please follow your aftercare advice and don't neglect your Toothbrushing and Flossing Techniques that reduce Dental Plaque attack on your teeth, gums and dentistry work.
Want to know more about brushing and Flossing techniques that prevent bad breath and keeps your Mouth and Dentistry Healthier too?
Please click on these links for Tooth Brushing Information or Dental flossing techniques or Preventing Gum Diseases links.
You can also use the above website menu or just click-a-link here for Specialist or Advanced aspects of Tooth Veneers, Tooth Whitening, Dental Tooth Implants and smaller Mini-Implants, Dental Ceramic Crowns, Gum Diseases and Bad Breath or Root Canal treatments are just some of the subjects you can learn more about here on our award winning dental website www.smilespecialist.co.uk.
*Dr.Kilcoyne is a UK registered Specialist in Prosthodontics (GDC No.58373) which includes The Functional and Cosmetic Dentistry aspects of Crowns, Dental Implants, Bridges, Veneers, Fillings, Dentures, Bonding etc. Please go to our MAKE an APPOINTMENT page if you'd like to access his Expertise.
Wishing you good Dental Health AND a Smile to be proud of, from all at the SmileSpecialist® Team.