Gentle Tooth Extraction

How does it work?

Our #1 priority with any extraction is your comfort.

We first manage the pain with thorough and profound numbing of the tooth and surrounding area to make the process painless.

Once we have verified that you are completely numb, we work gently to remove the tooth out of the mouth, clean the area, and give you simple instructions on how to ensure a smooth recovery.

More information:

Extractions can be scary, and we understand. We have several types of numbing medication to ensure that your experience is as smooth as it can be and that your pain is kept to a minimum.

We will always send you home with instructions on how to keep the area clean and stable while it heals, and you can find that information on this page as well as follows.

1. IMMEDIATE POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Go directly home from the office.  Attempt to eat soft food (soup, milkshake, mashed potatoes) and take your pain medications as soon as possible (taking pain-meds on an empty stomach will cause nausea).
• Day of surgery only, use ice packs on the side of the face (15 minutes on and 15 minutes off) to reduce swelling.
• Consuming plenty of fluids and nutrition is important and to minimize risk of nausea/ vomiting.
• Do not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours. 
• Do not consume alcohol or take any over the counter pain medication unless prescribed or discussed with you dentist.

2. DIET:

• Utilize a soft diet only for seven days (pasta, yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup).
• Drink plenty of liquids from the start, but avoid the use of straws for 2 weeks.

3. MEDICATIONS:

• Take pain medications as directed on the bottles or as stated by Dr. Matthew Lee. 

4. SURGICAL SITE CARE:

• Bite on gauze packing over the extraction site(s) for at least 20 minutes. Apply constant firm pressure, do not chew. I
• If bleeding persists, place new gauze on the extraction site(s) and continue applying pressure.  It is better to continually bite on the gauze than to keep changing it every few minutes.  If the extraction site(s) are still bleeding after 1 hour, bite down on a moist tea bag.
• Slight bleeding may occur following extraction of teeth and is expected for the first 24 hrs.  If excessive bleeding occurs, consult the clinic. 
• Day of surgery only, use ice packs on the side of the face (15 minutes on and 15 minutes off) to reduce swelling.
• Use an extra pillow under your head while resting.  You may want to cover the pillow with a towel.
• Rinse your mouth very gently only after eating during the first 24 hours.  Rinsing may dislodge blood clots and interrupt the normal healing process. 
• Following the first day, rinsing can be slightly more vigorous and it is generally a good idea to rinse with a warm diluted salt solution (1/4 teaspoon in 8 oz water).  Avoid the use of commercial mouthwashes, as they may contain alcohol, which can delay initial healing.
• Resume brushing your teeth thoroughly after meals starting the night of the surgery.
• Two days after surgery, you may apply warm compresses on the side of the face to aid in healing. 
• Avoid the use of tobacco products for at least seven days.
• Normal swelling will reach a peak on the second to third day after surgery. It is normal to have bruising in the area of the surgery. 

5. ACTIVITY:

• Do not engage in sports, aerobics, heavy work, or heavy lifting for seven days.

6. SYMPTOMS TO REPORT TO YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY:

• Temperature greater than 101.5°F.
• Increasing pain or pain that does not resolve with medication. Typically the most discomfort and swelling is expected on the third day after surgery.
• Persistent or recurrent nausea and vomiting after the day of surgery. 
• Bleeding beyond what your doctor told you to expect.