Home Dental Care Instructions

Post Operative Instructions For Extractions

Bleeding – Your bleeding should essentially be stopped by the time you get home. After you get home and take out the gauze, it is usually not necessary to place more gauze in your mouth, unless there is still bright red blood running out or you are losing blood clots. To have blood present in your saliva is normal for the first day following an extraction. If you do need to place more gauze, be sure it is placed directly over the extraction site while biting down with constant pressure (it should be slightly tender if your are applying enough pressure). Leave this second gauze in for about 30 minutes while resting and biting firmly. If you should fall asleep with gauze in your mouth, try not to bite down hard as this will cause a wicking effect and draw out blood from the extraction site.

Infection – The best way to prevent infection is to keep your mouth clean. This should be done by brushing your teeth in your usual manner after each meal.

Pain – Pain may be the most severe the first day, and then should start to diminish each day thereafter. Pain that goes away after two to three days, especially if they were third molar removals, and then comes back is not normal. This could be a dry socket.

Swelling – Swelling is normal following a surgical procedure, and is not from infection. There may be swelling present the day following surgery. Swelling should begin to go away by the third day. If you have no swelling for 2 – 3 days, then suddenly swell up, or if your swelling is present for more than 5 – 6 days following surgery, this may represent the development of an infection and our office should be notified.

Eating – The day of surgery, keep to a soft diet. Starting the next day, eat as well as you can, even if this means relying on a liquid diet. A well balanced diet is essential for rapid healing.

Medication – If medications have been ordered for you, take them as directed on the label with a full glass of liquid. When taking medication, you should not drink alcohol, drive a motor vehicle or work machinery.

Do’s – You may use an ice bag to reduce swelling, discomfort and possibly bleeding over the first twelve hours following surgery. Do not leave the compress against the skin for more than 15 minutes at a time (this could cause frostbite on your skin). Six hours after your surgery, you may rinse and soak the area with mouthfuls of water.

Don’ts – Avoid vigorous rinsing, sucking on the wound, spitting, smoking and exercising until bleeding has stopped.

**Expect moderate discomfort (even with the pain medication), some swelling, and minor oozing of blood for the next 24 hours following surgery. However, if severe pain, swelling or bleeding occur, please call our office at (208) 377-0410.