A tooth extraction may be necessary if you have extensive tooth decay, gum disease, dental trauma, or impacted teeth. While we will only perform this type of oral surgery in Glastonbury when necessary, it’s important that you closely follow aftercare and healing instructions to avoid infection and a painful condition known as dry socket.
This occurs when a blood clot never forms or is dislodged from the extraction site. Read on in this blog from PS Dental to find out how to prevent dry socket after an extraction.
TIPS FOR AFTERCARE
To prevent extraction, you must form and protect a blood clot at the site of the extraction. You will be given gauze after your extraction to bite down on for about 30 to 60 minutes. Replace the gauze with fresh dampened gauze as necessary.
If bleeding persists, bite down on a damp caffeinated tea bag instead, which encourages blood clotting. Bleeding can continue for up to 72 hours but should not be excessive and shouldn’t continue beyond this point.
Try to chew on the other side of your mouth and stick to soft foods for the first week of your healing. Take it easy in the first 24 hours. You should mostly just rest.
WHAT HABITS SHOULD I AVOID?
Do not smoke while you are healing from an extraction. The sucking action can dislodge the blood clot and smoking will prolong healing and increase inflammation. Smoking is also generally unhealthy for you and increases your risk of oral health problems.
You will need to avoid all forms of suction for the first 24 hours. Do not drink through a straw, spit, or swish around anything in your mouth. Wait 24 hours before rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution and brushing and flossing your teeth.
When you do clean your teeth, be careful to avoid the extraction site. You will not be able to brush at the extraction site for at least 3 or 4 days. You should avoid strenuous exercise for at least the first few days and up to a week. Do not eat hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that can dislodge your blood clot or get stuck in the extraction site.
DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY MISSING TOOTH?
You shouldn’t wait too long before replacing a missing tooth. This will help prevent complications from bone loss such as facial sagging, changes to your bite and facial structure, and orthodontic problems.
Without replacing a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth will shift and lean into the space where your tooth used to be. Dental implants are the only option that will fully restore the appearance, function, and structure of the tooth from root to crown.
They preserve the jaw bone by stimulating the jaw when you chew since the titanium post is implanted into the jaw. You will need to have sufficient bone support or you can undergo bone grafting to create this support. Contact us at PS Dental today to schedule a consultation with our Glastonbury dentist to find out if dental implants are right for you.
