Care Instructions after an Extraction/Gum Surgery At Mission Peak Dental Care

Patients experience two types of discomfort; dull aching pain that comes from working around the bone, and sharp discomfort that comes from working around the skin. These are normal sensations; it is your body's way of telling you to be careful. We want your body to form a clot in the extraction site, and the less we do to disturb the clot the better the chance of normal healing. The gauze acts like a compression bandage. Keep the gauze in place for approximately one-half hour, if needed the gauze may be changed by taking a gauze 2x2 (provided) folding it over moistening it with tap water, and applying it over the affected area. Hold firmly in place for another one-half hour. DO NOT SMOKE for 24 hours (or as long as you can). Do not suck on a straw to drink fluids. The suction action will cause you to loose the clot, and interrupt the healing process. Do not rinse your mouth until the following morning. In the morning rinse the mouth GENTLY using a glass of warm salt water (one-half tsp. of salt to glass of water). Repeat as needed. In the event that you have no discomfort after the first few days, then you notice pain or discomfort from the extraction site, call the office. You may be developing a dry socket. Follow your natural inclination as to diet, but for your comfort, soft foods are recommended for the first 24 hours. For discomfort, you may use whatever you would for a headache; Aleve, Advil, or Tylenol, as directed on the bottle to relieve the discomfort. Use the prescribed medication only as directed.