WHAT TO DO AFTER AN EXTRACTION

After an extraction you can expect some pain, bruising, swelling, a bad taste in the mouth and sometimes limited jaw movements.

FOR BLEEDING: Bite on a rolled up gauze pad for 20minutes.
Apply constant pressure onto the extraction site or wound and repeat if necessary. It is pressure that controls bleeding.

If you can not apply enough biting pressure onto the wound, due to other missing teeth in the area, roll gauze around the handle of a spoon and apply pressure to the wound using the spoon.

In an emergency, wrap a tea-bag in gauze and bite on the tea-bag. The tannins in the tea will help stop bleeding.

 If bleeding continues and will not stop, you will need to return to Bondi Junction Dental as you may need stiches and/or special packs placed into the socket to stop the bleeding.
Call 9369 3973 to make an immediate appointment.

FOR NUMBNESS: Numbness from local anaesthetics may last between 1 to 8 hours depending on the anaesthetic used. Be careful not to bite your lip when eating and with hot food and drink while you are numb.
Contact Dr Deutsch if you are still numb the next day.

 
FOR PAIN: Take pain tablets before numbness goes away.
Take 2 Panadols about one and a half hours after your injection, before the numbness starts to go away.

For more sever pain relief and provided you do not have any bleeding disorders add 2 Nurafen to the Panadol to a maximum of 4 Nurafen and 2 Panadol at the same time. -Repeat 4 hourly for 2 days.

For very severe pain use the medicine  prescribed as directed or call the surgery for a prescription for stronger pain relief.

FOR A DRY SOCKET CAUSING PAIN
Occasionally the blood clot may wash out of the extraction socket leaving raw bone patients prefer exposed to the mouth. The condition is very painful and most people will not be able to sleep at night. This complication may occur around two or three days after and an extraction and usually affects the lower jaw more than the top. You will need to return to the practice to have medicine placed into the socket.
Contact Dr Deutsch if you have severe pain or you cannot sleep at night.

FOR SWELLING:  Apply ice: 10-15minsutes every half hour for the first 24 hours. After 36hours, you can use alternate hot and cold packs to help take any swelling away.

FOR INFECTION: A firm, hard, swelling very tender to touch may be an infection.
Usually a very firm, hard, swelling very tender to touch, may or may not be oozing pus may mean the area may be infected. If you are not sure it is better to call Dr Deutsch as you will need to be placed on anti-biotics if the wound becomes infection.

DO’S and DON’Ts

DO RINSE WITH HOT SALTY WATER
Rinse with one teaspoon of salt in a glass of hot water only after all bleeding has stopped. Wait about 8 hours after the extraction as you do not want to wash out the blood clot with too much rinsing too soon. Keep rinsing four to six times a day for the first 4 days tapering off over the week.

DO NOT SMOKE: Do not smoke while after an extraction.

DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL: Do not drink alcohol until the bleeding has completely stopped. Wait at least 12 hours.

DO NOT EXCERCISE and LIFTING: Do not perform any strenuous exercise or lifting as it may promote further bleeding. Wait 24 hours before exercising.

CALL 9369 3973 : if excessive bleeding, pain, swelling or cannot sleep