I’ve had my tooth out – What should I do now?
Take it easy for the rest of the day. Take as little exercise as you can, and rest as much as you can. Keepy your head up to avoid any bleeding.
What precautions should I take?
Avoid hot food and drinks until the anesthetic wears off. This is important as you cannot feel pain properlt and may burn or scald your mouth. Also be careful not to chew your cheek. This is quite a common problem, which can happen when there is no feeling.
If you do rest, try to keep your head higher for the first night using an extra pillow if possible. It is also a good idea to use an old pillowcase, or put a towel on the pillow, in case you bleed a little.
Should I rinse my mouth out?
Do not be tempted to rinse the area for the first 24 hours. It is important to allow the socket to heal, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot by eating on that side or letting your tongue disturb it. This can allow infection into the socket and affect healing.
Is there anything else I should avoid?
Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours, as this can encourage bleeding and delay healing. Eat and drink lukewarm food as normal but avoid chewing on that area of your mouth.
When should I brush?
It is just as important, if not more so, to keep your mouth clean after extraction. However, you do need to be careful around the extraction site.
What do I do if it bleeds?
The first ting to remember is that there may be some slight bleeding for the first day or so. Many people are concerned about the amount of bleeding. This is due to the fact that a small amount of blood is mixed with a large amount of saliva, which looks more dramatic than it is.
If you do notice bleeding, do not rinse out, but apply pressure to the socket. Bite firmly on a folded piece of cotton material such as a handkerchief for at least 15 minutes. Make sure this is placed directly over the extraction site and that the pad is replaced if necessary.
If the bleeding has not stopped after an hour or two, contact us at the office.
How soon can I have a cigarette?
It is important not to do anything which will increase your blood pressure, as this can lead to further bleeding. We recomend that you avoid smoking for as long as you can after an extraction, but this should be at least for the rest of the day.
Is there anything I can do to help my mouth?
Different people heal at different speeds after an extraction. It is important to keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, making sure that the sockets is kept clear of all food and debris.
Don’t rinse for the first 24 hours, and this will help your mouth to start healing. After this time use a salt-water mouthwash, which helps to heal the socket. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water gently rinsed around the socket twice a day can help to clean and heal the area. Keep this up for at least a week or for as long as your dentist tells you.
It is important to keep to a healthy diet; and take a Vitamin C supplement, which help your mouth to heal.
I am in pain, what should I take?
There will usually be some tenderness in the area for first few days, and in most cases some simple pain relief is enough to ease the discomfort. What you would normally take for a headache should be enough. However, always follow the manufacture’s instructions and if in doubt check with your doctor first. Do not take aspirin, as this will make your mouth bleed.
Are there any medicines I should avoid?
As we have said, it is important not to use anything containing aspirin as this can cause further bleeding. This happens because aspiring can thin the blood slightly. Asthma sufferers should avoid Ibuprofen-based pain relief. Again check with your chemist or dentist if you are worried or feel you need something stronger.
I am still in pain, what could it be?
Sometimes an infection can get in the socket, which can be very painful. This is where there is little or no blood clot in the tooth socket and the bony socket walls are exposed and becoming infected.
This is called a dry socket and in some cases is worse than the original toothache! In this case, it is important to see your dentist, who may place a dressing in the socket and prescribe a course of antibiotics to help relieve the infection. You may also feel the sharp edge of the socket with your tongue and sometimes small pieces of bone may work there way to the surface of the socket. This is perfectly normal.
Will my dentist need to see me again?
If it has been a particularly difficult extraction, the dentist will give you a follow-up appointment. This could be to remove any stitches that were needed, or simply to check the area is healing well.
Your dentist will also want to discuss the options available to you for replacing your lost tooth.
DISCOMFORT AND MEDICATIONS: Oral surgery, like other surgical procedures, may be associated with varying degrees of discomfort. this depends on the procedure involved and individual differences.
All medications should be taken strictly as perscribed. Take the first dose of painkillers (if perscribed) while the surgical site is still numb. Antibiotics (if perscribed) should be taken as directed until all are finished, as long as there are no adverse reactions or discomfort (itching, redness, etc.). Start rising gently (no swishing) with the prescribed mouth rinse only the day after the surgery. This rinse will keep the surgical area clean while it is healing. Rinse twice daily for one minute (very gently).
BLEEDING: Slight bleeding from the surgical site for one or two days is not unusual and is not a major concern. Should excessive bleeding occur, apply a moistened tea bag (not herbal tea) to the bleeding site with firm, but gentle pressure for 15 minutes; let rest for 15 minutes, then repeat for a second time only. If bleeding persists, please call our clinic immediately.
SUTURES: Sutures are placed to hold the tissues in the proper position for ideal healing. If sutures were placed, your surgeon will usually want you to return after a week or two so that they can be removed. Do not disturb the sutures with your tongue, toothbrush or in any other manner since displacement will impair healing. If you notice that a suture has come out or come loose, notify your dentist or surgeon during regular office hours.
DRESSING: A periodontal dressing is often used to cover the surgical site. The dressing is placed around your teeth to protect the surgical area and should not be disturbed. If the dressing should become loose or fall off, and there is no increase in the level of discomfort, it is okay to leave it off.
DIET: A soft diet is recommended. Avoid chewing in the area of surgery. Avoid hard, fibrous, or “sharp” foods (such as crisps) as these may be uncomfortable and can dislodge the periodontal dressing. Drink plenty of liquids.
it is important to maintain as normal a diet as possible that is high in protein, minerals and vitamins, to support post-operative healing. Now is not the time to start dieting, since this can have detrimental effects on healing and lessen the chances of success of the surgical therapy.
ORAL HYGIENE: Continue to brush and floss the teeth that were not involved in the surgery (or covered by the periodontal dressing). The surgical area should not be disturbed for the first week post-operatively. However, you may rinse gently with salt water or with a mouthwash if prescribed by your dentist. After your sutures have been removed, you should lightly clean the teeth using a soft toothbrush or as instructed by your dentist.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: After leaving the surgery, if possible, relax as much as possible for the remainder of the day. No strenuous activity for several days.
SWELLING: Some swelling is normal and may begin immediately after surgery. To minimise swelling, apply an ice pack to the outside of the face in the operated area, 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for a period of 4 hours. The ice should be placed in a plastic bag and then wrapped in a thin cloth towel. You should always keep your head elevated above the level of your heart during the first 24 hours after the surgery. This may necessitate the use of several pillows to support your head and upper body while sleeping.
If swelling occurs, it usually disappears after several days, Any unusual or large swelling should be reported to our clinic at once.
SMOKING AND ALCOHOL: All smoking should be stopped until after your sutures have been removed to ensure the best healing and success. Healing results are significantly worse in smokers than in non-smokers.
Why should I consider white fillings?
Most people have fillings of one sort or another in their mouths. Nowadays fillings are not only functional, but can be natural looking as well. Many people don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile because they are more conscious about the way they look.
Are they expensive?
Costs can vary from dentist to dentist. Costs usually depend on the size and type of white filling used and the time it takes to complete the treatment. As a guide, white fillings start from JDs 40 each, but your dentist will be able to give you an idea of the cost before you agree to treatment.
Are they as good as a silver amalgam filling?
White fillings have always been considered less long lasting than silver amalgam fillings. But there are now new materials available with properties comparable to silver amalgam, and these are proving to be successful. The life expectancy of a white filling can depend greatly on where it is in your mouth and how heavily your teeth come together when you bite. Your dentist can advice you on the life expectancy of your fillings.
Is it worth replacing my amalgam fillings with white ones?
It is usually best to change fillings only when your dentist decides that an old filling needs replacing. If so you can ask to have it replaced in a tooth-coloured material.
What are tooth-coloured fillings made of?
This can vary, but they are mainly made of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient. Your dentist should be able to give you more information about the particular material that they use.
Where can I get them done?
Most dental practices offer white fillings as a normal part of the treatment they give you.
Are there any alternative to fillings?
Adhesive dentistry is another form of this treatment. This involves bonding the filling to the tooth. The dentist has to remove less of the tooth, which is obviously better.
As we have already said, there are alternatives such as crowns and inlays although they can cost a lot more. Veneers can be used on front teeth instead of crowns or fillings.
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Adults can have up to 32 teeth. The wisdom teeth are the last to come through, right at the back.
They usually appear when you are between 17 and 25, although sometimes they appear many years later.
Nowadays people often have jaws that are too small for all 32 teeth- 28 is often the most we have room for. So if all the other teeth are present and healthy there may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through properly.
Do they always cause problems?
No. If there is enough room they will usually come through into a useful position and cause no more problems than any other tooth.
Often there is not enough room, the wisdom tooth may try to come through, but will get stuck against the tooth in front of it. The wisdom tooth will be at an angle, and will be described by the dentist as ‘impacted’.
What problem should I be prepared for?
If part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum and part of it is still covered, the gum may become sore and perhaps swollen. Food particles and bacteria can collect under the gum edge, and it will be difficult to clean the area effectively.
