Instructions after wisdom tooth removal

CARE TO BE TAKEN AFTER WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION

                 Wisdom tooth removal is a very common procedure and traumatic one for the patient, wisdom teeth are either removed as a preventive measure for future impending complications when the tooth is not erupting in the correct position or when the wisdom tooth are impacted or get decayed that lead to pericoronitis or periapical infection. Following any diagnostic methods recommended by the dentist is IOPA or an OPG will help in deciding “when to remove impacted wisdom tooth”.

          Depending on the type of impaction, the wisdom tooth removal is planned. There is simple wisdom tooth removal which is less traumatic but in case 3^rd molar is covered by bone and is impacted, it requires bone trimming to remove the tooth. After wisdom tooth removal swelling starts on 2nd & 3rd day and subsequently it reduces. The patient might also encounter difficulty in mouth opening which is also common.The dentist will give you the instructions or you can read ahead the instructions to follow to help manage wisdom tooth removal.

Care to be taken after wisdom tooth removal in an organized time based manner – 1^st hour after wisdom tooth removal, 1^st day, care for 2^nd and 3^rd day.

CARE/INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW FOR THE FIRST HOUR AFTER WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL:

Immediately after removal of wisdom tooth and after leaving the dentist’s office the main thing you need to follow is

• Bite down on the cotton or gauze  piece firmly for 1hour.
• Do not remove the cotton from the site of extraction.
• Make sure your tongue doesn’t inspect the extraction site.
• Do not spit or gargle for 1 hour, swallow the saliva or blood which fills your oral cavity.
• Do not smoke and do not drink with a straw.
  
• If the cotton or gauze is dislodged from the site, replace it with a moist or wet piece as a dry piece might dislodge the blood clot.
• Apply ice pack from outside the oral cavity.
• Never apply or have anything hot.

ICE PACK APPLICATION

CARE/INSTRUCTIONS TO FOLLOW FOR THE FIRST DAY AFTER WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL:

Once proper care is taken for the 1^st hour after extraction, there will be formation of a organized blood clot and bleeding will be controlled and once that is achieved you have to follow the steps, that are divided into 2 categories –things to do and things not to do after wisdom tooth removal.

NOTE: If you are seeing constant bleeding after 6-8 hours after extraction call up your dentist and get it checked.

THINGS NOT TO DO 1^ST DAY AFTER WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL –

• Do not gargle aggressively till the 2^nd to 3^rd day after extraction.
• Do not brush on that site for one day after extraction.
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  DON'T BRUSH ON 1ST DAY AFTER REMOVAL

• Do not touch the extraction site with your tongue or fingers or any other object.
• Do not smoke as it will lead to dry socket and it delays healing as well which is a very painful condition caused due to exposed bone and needs immediate attention.
• Take rest for the first day after extraction and avoid any stress inducing work or even driving for long hours.
• Avoid hot food and drinks and never drink anything with a straw as this will dislodge the blood clot as well due to the increased  negative pressure created.
• Swelling is normal after surgery which might start after 6-8 hrs. Never apply anything hot or apply pain balms outside the extraction site as this will aggravate the swelling and pain considerably.
• Do not chew on hard substances for 1^st day and  avoid chewing gums or popcorn or the substances which can get stuck in the extraction sockets.
• Do not try to open your mouth wide forcefully on the 1^st day after surgery.

THINGS TO DO FOR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD DAY AFTER WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL—

• It is important to maintain good oral hygiene, so you need to gargle gently and not aggressively – this has to be done after 24 hours of the surgery.
• Making a solution of lukewarm water with salt in it is the best way to keep your mouth clean after surgery.
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  MOUTH CLEANING WITH SALT WATER

• You can start brushing on the second day after extraction but take utmost care at the extraction site, avoid vigorous brushing and brushing in a slow and organized manner is needed to keep the surroundings of the extraction site clean and neat.
• The swelling will be at its highest intensity for the second and third days after extraction and it will gradually keep decreasing from 3^rd day onwards.
• With swelling and due to opening of mouth for a prolonged time, you will be facing difficulty in mouth opening. Slow stretching exercise by opening and closing the mouth for several times from 2^nd day on wards help in loosening up the muscles.

DIET AFTER WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL:

•       Do not eat any solid food till the local anesthetic wares off (you might injure your tongue).
•       Take nourishing food which is not hot or hard.
•       Liquid or soft diet which doesn’t need chewing is recommended for the 1^st day after extraction.
•       From 2^nd day onwards solid foods can be taken but not hot and spicy oily foods.
•        Do not skip meals on 2^nd and 3^rd day as there is swelling and restricted mouth opening it will be better to take liquid or semisolid diet till mouth opening is improved.

CONCLUSION:

No two patients are the same  and no two wisdom tooth removal surgeries panout in the same manner, so if you have any doubts regarding increased and prolonged bleeding and persistent pain after day1 contact your dental office for expert opinion as there might be post extraction infection which should be dealt with in the dental office immediately.

Rootz Dental Care and Implant Center has specialists with proven expertise in oral and maxillofacial surgery.This offering from Rootz is primarily to benefit patients from OMR, Thoraipakkam, Perungudi, Neelankarai, Palavakkam, Injambakkam etc .For more information regarding treatments contact us today.

                         Rootz Dental Care and Implant Center, 

                                                No:2/2, First Floor, Sakthi Nagar,

                                                Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thuraipakkam,

                                                Chennai - 600 097,

                                                Phone :- 9786688755,044-49504825

                                                              Email :- rootzdentalcare@gmail.com