Bite gently on the gauze pack over the wound for 30 minutes to allow a clot to form (this is important to form bone where the tooth has been removed, and to allow correct healing to occur)

Some blood will ooze from the socket for several hours, this is normal, and can mix with saliva to appear to be a lot of bleeding

If the socket start to bleed excessively:– fold the sterile cotton gauze (provided) or a clean handkerchief and bite firmly for another 30 minutes.– If prolonged bleeding occurs, contact Brisbane Smile Boutique on 07 3391 2504 or your local hospital

Swelling and bruising is normal and a common reaction to any oral surgery, and its severity differs from person to person. 

Swelling and bruising may take 3 days to reach a maximum, and up to 10 days to subside. 

If you are experiencing swelling or bruising, apply an ice pack to the affected area (20 minutes on/20 minutes off) for the first 1 to 2 days.  A bag of frozen peas wrapped in paper towel can be used if an ice pack is not available.  

Continue to move your jaw by gentle talking & chewing will also help to minimise swelling & any jaw stiffness.

Do not eat, drink or rinse for the first 4 hours (Briefly sipping water to take pain relief tablets is the exception and allowed in the first 4 hrs)

Rest for a few hours, but do not lie flat. Keep your head elevated with pillows

Start brushing and cleaning your teeth like normal within 12hrs, but do not brush directly on to the socket space

Avoid sucking or spitting for 24 hours

Excessive activity is best avoided for 24 hours

After 24 hours it is best to use warm salt water, or a Curasept mouth rinse after each meal for a fortnight, or until healing is complete, to wash food away from the wound, which might disrupt healing.

A saltwater mouth rinse is made by dissolving a level teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. The salt water solution should be held in the mouth for 2 to 3 minutes to bathe the wound, and flush out food debris.

Avoid smoking or alcohol for at least a week

Smoking and alcohol both cause the body to not heal properly, due to harmful chemicals

Healing can become delayed and painful, if smoking and alcohol is not avoided for a week  

For a week, eat soft, nutritious foods such as:

Finely chopped meat or cheese, avocado, bananas, yoghurt, soft boiled eggs, soups, mashed potato, pasta and porridge

Chew on the opposite side of your mouth to the socket

Avoid foods that can get lodged in the open socket like nuts, seeds and grains 

Avoid spicy foods like chillies, very salty foods and acidic foods like lemon juice etc

Avoid Alcohol

Pain is normal after a tooth extraction or oral surgery and can last for up to a week.  If mild, choose Panadol, or Nurofen/Ibuprofen. If pain is severe, take Panadol and Nurofen/ibuprofen together at the same time.

(Do not take Nurofen/ibuprofen if you have been told in the past by a doctor or pharmacist that it is medically not suitable for you, if you have gastric or stomach problems, or asthma)  

DO NOT take Aspirin for pain relief, as this will increase bleeding

Take pain relief medication approximately 4 hours after your extraction, then every 6 to 8 hours on the day of treatment. 

Continue taking pain relief for 7 to10 days if pain persists and is necessary  

Your Pain Relief Schedule:

Mild pain: Take Panadol only, as directed by the packaging

Moderate Pain: Take Panadol and Nurofen/Ibuprofen TOGETHER at the same time, as directed by the respective packaging

(DO NOT TAKE NUROFEN/IBUPROFFEN IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC/HAVE STOMACH PROBLEMS/ASHTMA)

Severe Pain: Contact Brisbane Smile Boutique on 07 3391 2504 or your local GP.  

If stitches were placed, these will self-dissolve usually after a few weeks. Usually you do not need to return to get the stitches removed.  

You should still brush your teeth as normal 12hrs after the extraction, but be careful to be gentle around the stitches by being gentle with your toothbrush.  Heavy handed toothbrushing may damage the stitches and prevent the tissues from healing normally

Numbness from the local anaesthetic will last around two to 8 hours.  Bbe careful not to have anything too hot or cold, as you will not feel pain with an accidental burn

Avoid biting your soft tissues like your lip, cheek and tongue as you may cause a soft tissue injury

The gum takes 3 to 4 weeks to completely close over the socket.  During this time, you will notice the socket opening appear smaller

The bone cavity where the tooth used to be, takes 3 to 4 months to fully fill in with new bone

A Dry socket occurs 3 to 5 days after surgery, and most commonly occurs because the blood clot is washed out of the socket, or if food has lodged in the wound, or if there is disruption of normal healing. Instead of pain subsiding, it will increase. 

If you follow these instructions, you will minimise your chances of developing a dry socket.  Even with the best post surgery care, on average a dry socket may occur in 2% of all extractions, by chance.  Additionally, smoking increases the risk of dry socket by 10 times, so avoid smoking for a week, otherwise the chance of a dry socket becomes very high  

If pain increases after a few days or for further advice, please call Brisbane Smile Boutique on 07 3391 2504