- 1. Do Not Rinse Mouth for 12 Hours.
- Begin rinsing tomorrow, gently, every 3-4 hours (especially after meals) using 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Continue rinses for several days.
- 2. Bleeding
- Following extractions some bleeding is to be expected. If persistent bleeding occurs, place gauze pads over bleeding area and bite down firmly for 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary until bleeding stops. If patient took 81mg Baby Aspirin or blood thinner, the blood coagulation takes much longer time. Usually, bleeding stops within 10-15 minutes after the surgery. The most cases, a small amount of blood mixed with the patient's saliva and it looks bleeding a lot, but the most case, it is not. If the bleeding is constant then you have to contact my front office for the immediate post-op consultation with doctor.
- 3. Swelling
- Ice pack wrapped in a towel should be applied to affected area for five minutes and off for 5 minutes for the next 5 hours. Swelling is common after the surgery. If you think that your face and jaw is too swellen, you have to contact our front office for more help.
- 4. Pain
- For mild to average pain use any non-aspirin type of medication you like. If you are given a prescribed medication take only as the Doctor has directed.
- 5. Antibiotics
- It is all depend on the extent of the surgery. For example, if the wisdom tooth has no current infection around the bone and soft tissue, the doctor would not prescribe the antibiotics; however, if the surgery area has the current infection with pus and granulation tissues, the patient must take antibiotic as the doctor prescribed. The patient must complete taking antibiotic to eradicate the bacteria.
- 6. Eating & Drinking
- Only after the bleeding stops and the anesthesia wears off, you may have a soft diet only for the first 24 hours. Your diet is very important for the recovery, you need the nutrients for your body. You have to eat regular meals after 24 hours.
- 7. Bony Edges
- Small sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums during healing. These are NOT roots, if annoying please return to the office for their simple removal.
- 8. Questions
- If you have any questions regarding your treatment or post-op instructions, DO NOT hesitate to call the office immediately.
Extractions
When do I have to remove my wisdom tooth?
Typically, our patients begin the wisdom tooth positions at around 14-15 years old with a panoramic radiographs...
There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth has misshapen or long roots that prevent it from falling out as it should, and the tooth must be removed to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt.
At other times, a tooth may have so much decay that it puts the surrounding teeth and jaw at risk of decay, so your doctor may recommend removal and replacement with a bridge or implant. Infection, orthodontic correction, or problems with a wisdom tooth can also require removal of a tooth.
When it is determined that a tooth needs to be removed, your dentist may extract the tooth during a regular checkup or may schedule another visit for this procedure. The root of each tooth is encased within your jawbone in a "tooth socket," and your tooth is held in that socket by a ligament. In order to extract a tooth, your dentist must expand the socket and separate the tooth from the ligament holding it in place. While this procedure is typically very quick, it is important to share with your doctor any concerns or preferences for sedation.
Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift, causing problems with chewing or with your jaw joint function. To avoid these complications, your dentist may recommend that you replace the extracted tooth.
Post Operative Instructions