POSTOPERATIVE CARE:
Bite firmly on the cotton gauze pack provided for 10-20 minutes.
If bleeding reoccurs later, use a spare cotton pack or roll up a handkerchief and bite hard in the area of the extraction. Sit down quietly and wait for bleeding to stop.
Avoid alcohol, smoking and physical exercise for 24 hours as this may increase the chances of infection or more bleeding.
Avoid rinsing the area for 24 hours as this may lead to loss of the blood clot from the tooth socket (which aids healing) and increases the risk of infection.
24 hours after the extraction, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to four times a day, for a week. This again will reduce the chances of infection.
If you require painkillers e.g. ibuprofen, paracetamol, you may find if you take them before the anesthetic wears off, the symptoms will be less severe.
For some procedures it can be normal to have some degree of swelling and bruising after the extraction. Anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce these symptoms.
Following extraction the tooth socket will heal and change shape until it becomes smooth over a period of 3-6 months. If symptoms persist for several days after extraction, please contact the office.