Instructions after Tooth Extractions

We don’t remove teeth without a good reason, but extractions are a routine procedure that can usually be completed without a problem. To ensure that patients understand the importance of following instructions, we at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists wanted to explain a little bit about why we take certain precautions.

Our main concern after removing a tooth is that the socket does not dry out. After a tooth is removed, healthy blood will form a clot that seals off the socket and the exposed jaw bone. But if the clot does not form or does not stay in place, not only will the socket become painfully dry, it will also become a way for bacteria and other harmful substances to enter the body. In the worse cases, tissue of the jaw bone could become necrotized.

Patients are advised to avoid sucking on straws or eating sticky foods after getting an extraction, because these could dislodge the clot. Smoking could also prevent a clot’s formation or create a suction that would dislodge it. Some medications also interfere with clotting, which is why patients should make sure to disclose all of them to us. A dry socket is a greater risk when removing the lower wisdom teeth, so those patients especially should be on guard against the bad taste and smell that could indicate a problem. If a dry socket does develop, we’ll be able to treat it with a pain-relieving, antibacterial dressing.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Post-Operative Swelling

We do a lot of restorative work and extractions at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Some of our procedures can get pretty involved, but tooth extractions are usually a simple process. Following any kind of surgery, some swelling is expected, which is why patients should know what to expect and how to handle it.

The body’s inflammatory response rushes white blood cells and nutrients to the site of an injury. It will usually be more severe following complicated procedures. However, even a simple extraction will result in noticeable swelling within twenty-four hours. Patients should minimize this by using cold-packs. A cold pack can be held against the skin for fifteen minutes at a time, and then removed for fifteen minutes. If all goes well, swelling will peak within thirty-six hours, and patients can then work to reduce it by applying the same procedure with hot packs.

If the swelling continues to get worse forty-eight hours after the procedure, the patient should inform us. We also need to know if the skin turns black or white, as that could indicate infection. For many procedures, patients’ lips are anesthetized. Biting down on them when they are in this state could lead to a lot of swelling, but swollen lips will usually get better on their own unless the skin is broken and they become infected.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

Dry Socket Dangers

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists are some of the best in the business of oral surgery. We not only are skilled in advanced techniques, we also care deeply about our patients’ recovery. As part of our prevention efforts, we want everyone undergoing extractions to be familiar with the dangers of dry sockets.

Although a dry socket is always possible, it is more likely to result from difficult extractions which require the surgeon to make incisions and leave sutures. It is necessary for a blood clot to form for the socket to be protected from infection and drying out. Therefore, patients are advised not to take birth control or other medication which is known to interfere with clotting, or to sip from straws, smoke, or otherwise create pressure in their mouths which could cause clots to come loose.

If a socket does dry out, a patient will know it by their severe pain. They should request an immediate emergency appointment so we can provide them with painkillers and antibiotics. One of our doctors will use a vacuum to clean the wound and dress it in gauze or paste. Dressings will be changed every few days until the socket closes to guard against further complications.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit OysterBayDentists.com and fill out a contact sheet.