Dental Extraction Post-op Instructions

Call if you have problems or questions 24 hours a day.

Medication:

  • If you are prescribed an antiseptic mouth rinse (Chlorhexidine or Peridex) use it for a week.
  • Start taking pain medications and eat something within 30 minutes after the procedure. Narcotics (oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine) can cause nausea if you take them on an empty stomach.
  • If you have a reaction to any medicine that Alaska Center for Oral and Facial Surgery (AOFS) gave you, stop taking it immediately and call the office.
  • Usually you should also take 400 mg Ibuprofen or 325 mg Tylenol every 6 hours in addition to your other pain medicine. Ask the AOFS team or your pharmacist if you should not be taking this in addition.

Diet:

Do not chew on the affected site for 2-3 weeks and have a soft diet (smoothies, eggs, well-cooked pasta).

Other:

  • Bleeding – Place gauze on that site and apply constant pressure for 30 minutes. Repeat 2 times if necessary.
  • If the bleeding continues, replace the gauze with a black tea bag for 10 minutes (set a timer). Tanins in the tea help clot blood. Repeat for 10min intervals as necessary.
  • Avoid spitting, hot beverages and carbonated beverages after surgery, it encourages bleeding to continue.
  • The sutures may dissolve or may need to be removed. Just ask the team if you are unsure.
  • Swelling is normal – Use an ice pack for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 24 hours.

Taking Care of the Surgery Site:

  • 1st day after surgery: Do not rinse your mouth. Clean the other teeth as you would normally. Do not brush around the extraction site.
  • 2nd to 4th day after surgery: Gently brush your other teeth and use a salt water rinse (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of water).
  • 5th day – 1 month after surgery: If you had a lower tooth extraction, AOFS will give you a syringe to irrigate the site. Use it twice a day by filling the syringe with warm water, put the tip near the extraction.

Download this file by clicking here » Dental Extraction Instructions without Bone Grafting Procedures