Important Notes:
● Tenderness/Soreness are normal following any surgical dental treatment. Ibuprofen is usually best for this.
● Tylenol can be used safely in addition to Ibuprofen for enhanced pain relief.
● Minor bleeding is normal for up to 72 hours following tooth extraction. One drop of blood can turn your saliva pink – this is normal and nothing to worry about.
● Our main goal is to avoid Dry Socket. This is a painful condition that can occur following tooth extraction if the blood clot is lost.
● To avoid Dry Socket, we want to avoid any pressure changes in/out/around the mouth for the first 4 days following tooth extraction.
● Actions to avoid include: swishing, rinses, spitting, drinking through straws, smoking.
● Smoking is the #1 cause of Dry Socket following tooth extraction. It is very important to avoid smoking for at least 4 days.
Immediately Following Surgery
1. If you are prescribed pain medication, take it immediately or as soon as you begin to feel discomfort. This will usually coincide with the local anesthetic wearing off after the procedure.
2. Do not suck on a straw, spit, or swish with fluid for at least 4 days.
3. DO NOT SMOKE for at least 4 days.
4. Restrict your activities the day of surgery, and resume normal activity when you feel
comfortable.
5. Place ice packs on the side of your face where surgery was performed for the first 24 hours to address any residual swelling. Switch to a warm pack after 24 hours. Do not continue to use an ice pack after 24 hours of use. Refer to the section on swelling for an explanation.
6. For mild discomfort, use Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). DO NOT take more than 800mg every 4-6 hours. If you are allergic, use Acetaminophen (Tylenol). DO NOT take more than 1000mg every 6 hours. Use medication as directed.
7. Vigorous mouth rinsing or touching the affected area following surgery should be avoided. This may initiate bleeding caused by dislodging the blood clot that has formed. Do not rinse your mouth for the first four days following surgery.
8. After four days, you can begin gentle rinses. Do not swish vigorously or spit. Allow the water to gently flow in and out of your mouth.
9. Restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods which are comfortable for you to eat.
Bleeding
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following a surgical procedure. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon for 3-4 days after the surgery. Bleeding is best controlled by the use of pressure. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for thirty minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding has not decreased in 3-4 hours, bite on a dampened tea bag placed directly over the surgical site. The tannic acid in the tea helps the blood to
clot.
When bleeding is a concern:
Mild bleeding/oozing is normal and nothing to be concerned about in the first few days following a tooth
extraction.
If bleeding occurs at a rate where you are having difficulty speaking: mouth is quickly/constantly filling
with blood, take the following actions:
-Dampen a piece of gauze or even better a Black Tea Bag. Bite and hold with pressure for 10 minutes.
-Time yourself. Do not chew on the gauze/tea bag, but continue to bite with pressure.
-If after 10 minutes bleeding has not slowed down, call the office: 813-536-7766
-If it is after hours and bleeding cannot be controlled, drive to an urgent care or emergency room.
-If bleeding is out of control and you can’t drive, call 911 immediately.
Swelling
The amount of swelling that is normally expected after an extraction depends on the type of surgery. Swelling around the mouth, check, eyes, and side of the face is not uncommon. The swelling sometimes may not appear immediately, and it may occur up to 2-3 days post-surgery. You can help to
minimize the swelling by applying ice packs to the affected area. For the first 3 hours, apply the ice
packs directly to the area, alternating on for 20 minutes then off for 20 minutes. Applying ice after 24
hours has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. If the swelling is significant, you may use a moist heat compress to help suppress it.
Pain
Post operative pain will be the most severe the first day after surgery. It is beneficial to take your pain medication before your numbness wears off. For moderate pain, 800mg of Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) may be taken every 4-6 hours. For severe pain, take the prescribed medication that was
provided. DO NOT take ANY medication on an empty stomach as nausea may result. The prescribed medicine may make you drowsy. DO NOT drive an automobile or operate machinery, and AVOID alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more each day. If pain persists, it may require attention, and you should contact our office.
Antibiotics
If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the medicine as directed. Antibiotics may be
prescribed to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction.
Nausea and Vomiting
In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, DO NOT take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medication. You should then sip on water, tea, or juice. Sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides, you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medication.
Sutures
If any sutures were required, they may dissolve naturally depending on the type used. We will let you
know if you need to come back for suture removal. Often times, no sutures are required following tooth
extractions.
If sutures were placed, try to avoid playing with them with your tongue/fingers as they can easily become dislodged.
If a suture does become dislodged, do not worry – it is not an urgent situation. Call or Text the office to
let us know that this has occurred.
Activity
Over-exertion may start or intensify your pain. AVOID excessive work or play. It is not
necessary to stay indoors following uncomplicated surgery. However, rest and minimal activity will help to minimize pain, swelling, and bleeding. Normal activity may be resumed the following day as tolerated.
Cleaning
Do not rinse or spit vigorously for the first 4 days following surgery. You can gently brush your teeth the day after surgery, but do not spit. Instead allow the excess toothpaste to gently fall out of your mouth. If food gets packed into the socket where the tooth used to be, DO NOT try to pick it out. Your body will resolve the problem on its own.
Diet
It is advisable to eat only soft, non-spicy food for the first few days following surgery. AVOID
hot food or liquid that could agitate the already inflamed area. AVOID rice, grits, and foods that are
very small that may become lodged in the area.
**Special Considerations- Trismus (stiffness) in the face muscles may cause difficulty in opening your
mouth for a period of days. Moist heat compresses can minimize this condition. You may experience
aching from other teeth. This discomfort is caused by referred pain and is a temporary condition. It is
not unusual to develop bruising in the area of the extraction. There may be a slight elevation in
temperature for 24-48 hours. If the fever persists, please contact our office.
Dry Socket
A “dry socket” is the loss of the blood clot in the socket. This condition creates a delayed
healing at the extraction site and presents symptoms such as pain in the ear, chin, adjacent teeth, and
jaw. The discomfort usually begins about the third or fourth day after the surgery and can last for many
days. The cause of a dry socket is the loss of the blood clot in the extraction.
The best option is to avoid dry socket in the first place. This can be done by avoiding pressure changes
in/out/around the mouth for the first 4 days following tooth extraction.
Activities to avoid for the first four days include:
● Spitting
● Smoking
● Swishing/Rinsing
● Gargling
● Drinking through straws
How to Contact Us
During Office Hours (Most Mondays-Fridays) – Call: (780) 987 1046
Email: [email protected]
