Dental Extraction:
Post-Surgery Instructions
A dental extraction can be a nerve-wracking time. If you’ve never had a tooth extracted before, you may be wondering about how it works. Dr. Sonny Kim will answer all your questions in a relaxed environment, and help you to prepare for post-surgical recovery.
Home Care After Dental Extraction
Part of good home care after dental extraction involves taking it easy on the extraction site. Try to avoid using straws and eating spicy foods or foods high in citrus content. It’s also a good idea to limit physical activity, since it can raise blood pressure and stress the site.
It may be necessary to apply some firm pressure to the area for several hours after the extraction. Ice packs can help to reduce any swelling. Keep the head elevated to avoid excessive blood flow to the site.
Dr. Kim may recommend rinsing with warm salt water for several days after the surgery.
Side Effects
Some swelling after dental extraction is to be expected. The site may also bleed or “ooze.” Generally, patients will have numbness for a while as the anesthesia wears off. The sutures that are placed in the mouth will ultimately dissolve in several days.
In the first few days after the procedure, it’s normal to have some pain and discomfort. However, patients who feel like recovery is not proceeding steadily can seek medical follow-up to make sure that the site is healing correctly.
Diet After Dental Extraction
Basically, after a dental extraction, patients will want to limit extremely hot or cold foods, as well as spicy foods or stringent foods such as those mentioned above that might be sour with lemon or other strongly flavored ingredients.
For extra comfort, stick to relatively soft foods and avoid sticky or gooey foods that can get stuck close to the site. Dr. Kim and other qualified medical professionals will also recommend not smoking directly after one of these procedures.
Medications
For a tooth extraction, doctors may prescribe antibiotics or pain medications. Take these exactly as prescribed, and ask a doctor if you experience any side effects that may be signs of a drug interaction or allergy.
Every patient is different, and Dr. Kim will consult with you prior to your tooth extraction about any questions or concerns you may have. Advanced Family Dentistry will create a customized recovery plan for you based on your health history, existing medications and other factors. With Dr. Kim’s office, you can go into one of these procedures with confidence, knowing that you’re in good hands.
Saves me valuable time
I went to Dr. Kim last week to have a root canal. My current dentist only did cleaning and recommended that I go to a specialist to get a root canal. This was an inconvenience since I had to search for a specialist and take time off work for another appointment. The professional office staff scheduled me within a week and also got me started on the antibiotics – which helped me with my tooth pain and infections. I also liked the fact that Dr. Kim performed all facets of dentistry – from routine cleaning to root canal – one stop shop. I was nervous about the pain but I must say that after Dr, Kim explained to me the procedure, I felt I could trust his skills and judgement. I trusted him to the point that I actually fell asleep during the procedure (totally embarrassing). Except for the novocaine, I did not feel pain during and after the root canal. Even after the day of the procedure, I felt normal (gone was the throbbing pain I had felt for about a month). I also liked the high tech office equipments, professionalism of the office staff and their personal touch of the phone call the next day to make sure I was fine. I would highly recommend Dr, Kim to all patients looking to get any dental work. No more need to go to multiple specialists – that saves me valuable time!!
