Recovering From a Tooth Extraction

Cartoon of someone recovering from oral surgery
Image by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Most dental teams strive to preserve your natural teeth and only recommend a tooth extraction if it’s absolutely necessary. If an extraction is the best choice for your oral health, this blog will help you get an idea of what you can expect after your tooth extraction procedure.

What to Expect During A Tooth Extraction Procedure

Many patients receive dental sedation before tooth extractions as well as local anesthetic around the extraction site. During your extraction, the most you should feel is a slight pressure. Before you know it, your extraction will be complete! After your procedure, our dentists will give you a detailed set of aftercare instructions to help you have a smooth, speedy recovery process.

Dietary Guidelines

After your extraction, your food options will be limited. The dietary restrictions are put in place to ensure you don’t injure the extraction site while it’s healing. We recommend staying away from any foods that are difficult to eat. Stick to soft foods to safeguard your healing smile and prevent injury to the extraction site. You should also avoid using straws for two to three weeks post-op to prevent dry socket.

Pain Management

During your recovery, you can expect to feel some slight pain and discomfort. Take your medications as prescribed, or if you did not receive any, you can use over-the-counter medications to help with pain management. Ice packs and salt water rinses can also help ease discomfort. After a week and a half, you should start to feel more comfortable as your mouth heals.

Problems? Call Immediately

If an issue arises after your extraction such as dry socket, call Hillstream Dental immediately. You don’t want to risk infection or damage to the gums. The sooner you see your dentist, the better. If you don’t know if what you’re feeling is normal during the recovery process, call anyway. It’s better to check and make sure than let a serious problem go untreated and slow down your recovery.

Gentle Tooth Extraction at Hillstream Dental

Our dental professionals take great pride in performing stress-free extractions for our patients. Our goal is for patients to recover quickly and get back to enjoying their lives. If you have any questions about tooth extractions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our Hillstream Dental team is dedicated to helping patients enjoy excellent oral health. Please contact either our Rochester Hills or St. Clair Shores office to schedule a consultation or dental exam!

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Hillstream Dental

Hillstream Dental