Post Extraction Care

Speed up recovery following a tooth extraction.

At The Dental Centre Bedford, it is our aim to always try to save a patient’s teeth wherever possible.There are many procedures available to help us to do this, from general dental fillings right through to advanced procedures such as root canal treatment.

In some cases though, a tooth may be too badly damaged to save, or may offer such a poor prognosis that it is not in the patient’s best interest to do so. At this stage, tooth extraction is needed.

We have covered how we extract a tooth at our Bedford practice in a previous blog, and, today, we take a look at the recovery period following the extraction.

Blood clot

The immediate recovery period from an extraction starts with the formation of a blood clot in the extraction area. This is encouraged, immediately after the tooth has been removed, by applying some sterile gauze to the area. The dentist will check this until they are satisfied that a clot has formed and you will then be able to leave the practice.

Put your feet up

Ideally, you should have someone with you when you have a tooth out that can drive you home. This isn’t essential but does reduce the stress, especially if you are using public transport and may be conscious about somebody accidentally coming into contact with your face.

When you get home, try to rest where possible. This will allow the area to start to heal and it’s also a good time to catch up on your favourite TV programmes or books!

Eating and drinking

You will be advised to avoid both food or drink for a few hours following the procedure. This is to allow the clot to form and to avoid dislodging it. Should you accidentally dislodge it in the early stages, the wound is still likely to bleed and you should apply some spare gauze which the dentist will give you, and repeat the process until a clot has formed again. Should the clot come out at a later stage, there is a risk of a ‘dry socket’ and you should contact your Bedford dentist for further advice.

When you do eat, you should avoid the area of the procedure when biting and chewing, in order to not dislodge the blood clot and to allow the area to heal.

Cleaning the wound

You should not smoke for a period of time following the procedure as smoking slows down the blood flow to the area, thereby slowing down healing times. It also increases the risk of infections which may cause complications.

You should continue to clean the rest of your teeth as normal, taking care not to catch the wound with the toothbrush. The wound itself should be cleaned using a warm saline solution which is gently ‘tipped’ onto the area. Do not swill this around the mouth and do not spit afterwards, simply allow the solution to fall gently from your mouth. This should be done until healing is more advanced and a little light brushing can be introduced.

Our dentists are always happy to address any questions or problems that you may have following an extraction by one of our Bedford dentists. Simply call us at The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.