Four important tips after a tooth extraction

Southern Georgia Oral Surgery
Hinesville and Statesboro locations
WWW.SouthernGeorgiaOMS.com
Roger L. Myers DMD

Tooth extraction post-op management

1)  Prolonged bleeding
     Once a tooth has been extracted it is important to control post operative bleeding.  I always compare an extraction to a laceration on the skin.  Direct pressure will tamponade the bleeding and therefore create a clot.  Biting on guaze simulates this comparison and is effetive in most cases.  However, there are some instances where bleeding is prolonged.  In this case I always encourage patients to bite on a wet tea bag and the tannins(component of tea leaves) in most cases will stop the hemorrhaging.  This scenario has even been effective for patients on anticoagulants( i.e. coumadin, aspirin).

2)  Pain Control
      NSAIDS such as motrin are very efficacious in cotrolling pain and inflammation post extraction.  Of course time, level of difficulty and trauma incurred during and after the extraction influence how your body is going to respond.  It is also recommended to take antibiotics and stronger analgesics when warranted.  Thereby reducing the incident of pain and subsequent infection.

3)  Swelling
     The most profound swelling for any surgical procedure occurs 72 hours post-op.  The critical time to reduce the level and progression of swelling is 24 hours after the procedure.  Ice should be applied for the first 24 hours and then warm heat for a least three more days post-op.  This should in effect reduce the level of swelling evident after a toothe extraction.  I find that there is a considerably high correlation between the amount of swelling and level of pain one experiences.

4)  Dry Socket
      Dry socket is a circumstance that occurs after an extraction has been performed and a blood clot has not formed.  This results in bone exposure and leads to susequent radiating pain to the jaw.  There appears to be no effective remedy with the exception of strong analgesics.  Otherwise a visit to your dentist is warrantedto adress the issue of pain.  Dry socket paste(Eugenol) based paste is applied to the extraction site and acts as a medicament that coats the area and helps alleviate pain.