Tooth Extractions

Although your permanent teeth can last a lifetime, teeth that have become damaged or decayed may need to be removed or extracted. Have them carefully and safely extracted at Rasmussen Dental.

Other reasons for extraction can include:

• A crowded mouth
• Gum disease
• Infection
• Risk of infection

Do not remove the bandage from your mouth in under an hour after surgery. Change the bandage if saturated. Pay particular attention to areas marked with an asterisk(*).



• Mouthwash * – Do not rinse for the first 48 hours as it may stimulate or prolong bleeding. Use ¼ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse gently.
• Bleeding – Naturally, bleeding will increase when the anesthetic wears off. Infected tooth or tooth extracted from infected gums may bleed more-- don't be alarmed. The best bleeding control is pressure and patience. If the gums are uncut, then all bleeding will probably stop after 6 to 8 hours. If the bleeding exceeds one half (1/2) cup, notify the office at once. Don't be alarmed by a red tinge to the saliva. Use gauze pads provided as long as you are bleeding.
  Bleeding is rarely a problem after the extraction of baby teeth. Children may play when fully alert. If there is any pain, use the same dose of Tylenol the child usually takes
  to control prolonged bleeding.
  - If there are any clots hanging down or bulging out of a wound, grasp them with a bandage and pinch them off.
  - Place a roll of gauze bandage or a ball of cotton over the wound and bite or hold firmly. If possible do not change bandage more often than once every 30 minutes. You may spit out excess blood and saliva.
  - Bite on a wet tea bag in the same manner if above is not effective.
  - Don't go to sleep with a bandage in your mouth.
• Broken baby teeth roots – Usually, small pieces of root break off when baby teeth are extracted. As baby tooth roots are normally irregular and may look as if they are broken even when they are not, this may go unnoticed. If it looks as if efforts at the removal of the root tips may damage the underlying permanent tooth, they may be left in place.
• Children only – They should bite on gauze for 45 minutes. During the 45 minutes, they should be still and not run around.
• Smoking * – Do not smoke for 4 days after surgery, as this may stimulate bleeding.
• Diet * – A balanced diet is the most important factor in wound healing. A soft and liquid diet is advisable during the following 2-6 hours. You may eat two hours after surgery taking care not to bite your numb lip or tongue. Drink plenty of liquids (milk; water; bland juice that is not acidic, such as tomato, orange, grapefruit; ice cream shakes). Diabetics and patients with stomach ulcers may eat as soon as they wish. Avoid hot liquids, spices, and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours. A white covering on the gums is merely food debris and can be wiped off. Do not drink through straws
  - Diet for day of surgery: cool liquids (i.e. malted milk or milkshakes), ice cream, Jell-O, pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, apple juice and applesauce
  - Next day following surgery: soft diet (i.e. scrambled eggs, mashed potato, cooked vegetables, soups (not tomato), pasta, pancakes and chicken)
• Swelling * – This is to be expected after difficult extractions and surgery. To prevent some of it, place an ice bag or ice cubes in a plastic bag and towel over the affected area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 12 hours. Swelling should be expected to increase and change its location due to gravity
  Your swelling will gradually disappear in about a week.
  Apply warm moist pack to the affected area after 48 hours. Use intermittently for comfort and to reduce swelling until sutures are removed.
• Hygiene – Good oral hygiene is essential to uncomplicated wound healing. Begin brushing with plain water and swallow. Repeat after each meal and at bedtime
  - Do not spit for the first 48 hours
  - Do not use toothpaste
• Pain* – It is normal to have mild throbbing pain for about a day after a simple extraction. Before the anesthetic wears off, go ahead and begin the medication issued to you. If no prescription was given to you, take two Tylenol and two ibuprofen (at the same time) every four hours. This is almost as strong a pain control as a narcotic
  If you develop an upset stomach from your painkiller, we recommend frequent small meals when taking medications
  * Use a Vaseline lip balm for any soreness caused by stretching the corners of your mouth or lips
• Extraction during infection – The extraction of a tooth when the face is swollen establishes drainage and removes the cause. The swelling should start to recede and you may start to feel better within a day. It may take a few days for the swelling to disappear completely
  * Any marked increase in swelling, pain, or temperature may be an extension of infection and should be reported
• Bony edges – After teeth are extracted, the patient may feel hard projections in the wound and think they are tiny pieces of tooth. This is jawbone which held the teeth. It will be covered by gum as healing progresses
  After single or multiple extractions, the bone which held the teeth will shrink. The shrinkage process lasts from 3 to 4 months until the jaw reaches its final shape. In some cases where the mouth is being prepared for dentures, this bone is cut off to speed up the process. The shrinkage can be irregular so that sharp spots or chips will appear where there were none before. If a bone chip or sharp spot is very uncomfortable, or if you are going to get a denture soon, call for an appointment.
• Stitches – If not self-dissolving, they will be removed painlessly without the need of anesthetic within two weeks
• Impacted wisdom teeth – Following their removal, it may be difficult to open the mouth fully for a few days. The tightness normally increases overnight. There may also be swelling, difficulty in swallowing, and pain which may feel like an earache
  After removal of lower impaction, a small piece of swollen cheek will frequently project between the last upper and lower teeth. Do not bite it and it will eventually shrink away
• Do not scuba-dive for two weeks after the surgery

* - In case of uncontrollable bleeding, a sudden rise in temperature, or marked increase in pain or swelling, call us.

Regular daily activities may be followed. Avoid excess exertion of any type. Do not bend over. If you need to lower your body, bend your knees keeping your head upright. Athletics and long exposure to the sun should be avoided for the first three days after surgery. Also, no swimming.