After Extraction Instructions

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR MOUTH AFTER EXTRACTIONS

At Harvest Dental, Our Dentists are committed to providing the same quality of care following your procedure as you experienced during your visit. Please read over these general guidelines and aftercare instructions. Faithful compliance to these instructions will help insure proper healing after your extraction in Farmersville and Van Alstyne, Texas. By all means, CALL our dentists at any hour of any day to report a problem.

To Control Bleeding:

1. For one hour, bite firmly on gauze placed at the extraction site.
2. After one hour, remove the gauze and wait for a moment or two. Look at the extraction site. If the site continues to bleed, repeat step 1. If there is no bleeding, you will not need to continue to use the gauze.
3. Episodes of slight oozing are common for several days after the removal of teeth. Should bleeding restart, place a new gauze pad at the extraction site and repeat the steps described above.
4. If you run out of gauze, moisten a tea bag with water and bite on it. Tea is very helpful at stopping extraction sites from bleeding.
5. Do not rinse your mouth or spit on the day of surgery. This may break up or loosen the blood clots and cause the extraction site to bleed again.
6. After surgery, refrain from heavy lifting or strenuous physical activities. Avoid bending over and placing your head below your heart. These activities increase the blood pressure in your head and can cause the blood clot to dislodge from the extraction site. This will complicate the healing process and cause unnecessary pain.
7. Avoid drinking through a straw or smoking, as the sucking action of these activities can make bleeding persist.

To Control Swelling:

1. A cold compress should be applied as soon as possible after your surgery. A good cold compress can be made by placing ice and water in a Ziploc bag. Cover the Ziploc bag with a washcloth before applying to your face. Place the cold compress on your face for 20 minutes, and then take it off for 20 minutes. This works well for the first 24 to 36 hours after surgery.
2. Never use a hot water bottle or heating pad during the first 36 hours, as this will increase the swelling.

To Control Pain:

1. A prescription for pain medication will usually be given. The first dose should be taken before the local anesthetic wears off. Prescribed pain medication will typically have acetaminophen (Tylenol) in it. If you are taking your prescribed pain medication, do not take any additional acetaminophen products.
2. You can take 800 mg of ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) every 6 to 8 hours for 7 to 10 days after surgery. You can safely take ibuprofen while taking your prescribed pain medication. If you are not taking your prescribed pain medication you may take acetaminophen (Tylenol) instead of ibuprofen. The acetaminophen dosage is 500-1000 mg every 6 to 8 hours. These over-the-counter pain relievers will help minimize inflammation and reduce the amount of prescription pain medication needed. Do not take the above medications if you are allergic to them or your physician has instructed you not to take them.
3. Antibiotics, if prescribed, should be taken as directed until completely gone.
4. If you take prescription medications for medical reasons, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., please continue taking them as normal unless you are otherwise directed.

Smoking: Nothing causes more problems to a healing extraction site than smoking.

1. Smoking is known for causing “dry sockets.” A dry socket is a minor but extremely painful complication after an extraction. People who smoke have the highest frequency of dry sockets.
2. Therefore, DO NOT SMOKE at all for the first 48 hours after an extraction. NO EXCEPTIONS!
3. During the first 14 days after an extraction follow this simple rule: “If your mouth hurts at all, don’t smoke!”

Eating:

1. Sometimes a cool, soft diet may be necessary for the first few days following surgery. Most patients are able to resume regular food intake within a short time.
2. Proper nutrition is vital to healing and should be started as soon as practical after surgery.
3. Do not drink carbonated beverages, such as soda, beer, or champagne, for the first 48 hours after surgery. The bubbles may interfere with the blood clotting and complicate the healing process.

Oral Hygiene: Please do not rinse your mouth out on the day of surgery

1. After 24 hours you may rinse your mouth out with a solution of ½ tablespoon of salt diluted in 8 ounces of warm water.
2. Rinse thoroughly at least three to four times per day, especially after meals. Remember to start rinsing the day after surgery and continue to rinse for two to three weeks thereafter. Make sure that food debris is not trapped in the extraction site.
3. Regular brushing and flossing may resume the day of surgery. Avoid the surgical site with special caution.

Post-Anesthesia Instructions: There are special instructions for those patients who underwent surgery with an intravenous anesthetic, or for those who have took an oral sedative before surgery:

1. Do not drive a car or operate any potentially dangerous machinery or equipment for 24 hours after surgery.
2. Please refrain from strenuous activity and rest for 24 hours after surgery.