POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR EXTRACTIONS
- Leave gauze in place for at least 30 minutes
- Do not chew on the gauze
- There may be some bleeding after the gauze is removed, if so:
- Fold a piece of provided sterile gauze enough to bite on, apply pressure by biting for 30min
- Replace every 30 minutes as needed until heavy bleeding stops
- IF heavy bleeding persists for >1hr, moisten a bag of tea with warm water and bite down on tea bag for 30 minutes
- DRY SOCKET PREVENTION
- Do not smoke
- Do not spit
- Do not use a straw
- Do not suck on the extraction site
- Do not clean the tooth/teeth next to the extraction site or the extraction site for the rest of the day; brush and floss the other teeth as usual. Brush your tongue.
- Do not use mouth wash for any reason for at least 1 week following the extraction
- Gently rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day starting the next day with 8oz of warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in 8oz of warm water)
- Gently tilt your head to rinse, lean over a sink and let the water dribble out; do not spit
- Do not perform any strenuous activities or exercise for 48hrs
- For pain or swelling, place an ice pack on your face alternating 10 minutes on and then 5 minutes off for 3-4 hours
- Food/drink: Drink lots of fluids and eat soft nutritious foods; eat solid foods when you can chew comfortably
- Suggestions: Yogurt without fruit on the bottom, protein shakes, apple sauce, pudding, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, foods that generally do not have grains/small particles
- Avoid (for ~1 week): alcohol, hot liquids, and carbonated drinks; avoid spicy and acidic foods
- Pain management
- Take 3-4 tablets of 200mg over the counter ibuprofen every 8hrs (total of 600-800mg ibuprofen every 8hrs)
- Wait 2 hours after taking the ibuprofen, take 1-2 Tylenol (325mg) over the counter as needed for pain; taking 1 extra strength of Tylenol (500mg) is an adequate alternative
- For any questions or concerns, please call our office at 860-779-1053 or visit our website killinglydentalcare.com for more information