“Even pearls are dark before the whiteness of his teeth – William R.Alger”
Tooth extraction is inevitable if the tooth has decayed completely. With growing age also one removes one’s teeth. Extraction can be painful if one is not given anesthesia. Many patients prefer local anesthesia. After the tooth has been extracted, there is much bleeding.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Below are some of the methods for after care of extracted teeth:
- Simple extraction procedures of teeth do not cause much discomfort. One can take off the counter anti – inflammatory non- steroidal drugs such as ibuprofen for a few days. There is no need to take pain killers.
- Surgical extraction of teeth can cause much pain as it is very complicated. Of course, the discomfort would depend upon the intensity of conducted surgery. The dentist usually prescribes painkillers for a while till the pain goes away.
- Tooth extraction through surgery is not all that easy. Incision within one’s mouth causes bleeding as compared to incision on the surface of one’s mouth. The former does not get a chance to dry out and forms into a scab. After the tooth has been extracted one has to bite with a piece of gauze for about 30 minutes so that one applies pressure on the wound and allows the blood to clot. It might of course continue to bleed for another 24 hours. The cloth covering the wound must not be removed.
- One can make use of icepacks to reduce the swelling on the face caused on account of the surgery. The swelling and bleeding will stop after 1 or 2 days of surgery. Initial healing will be there for about 2 weeks time.
- After the surgery one must not spit or smoke or use a straw. These can actually stimulate the blood clot and thus might get pulled out of the socket where the tooth is present. This would cause further bleeding and also dryness of the socket, which happens in the case of 3 to 4 of the extracted cases.
Risks of tooth extraction
One can experience infection as the wound is exposed. Also dryness of the socket is there in case no formation of blood clot is there. In the case of the dry socket, the bone is exposed to air and food. It is indeed very painful and can cause bad breath. Such cases require immediate treatment and no doubt medicated dressing in order to avoid pain and also to allow the wound to heal quickly.
Other possible risks of tooth extraction :
- A fracture can occur on account of an accident whereby the teeth close to the area of the surgery get affected.
- The jaw can get fractured on account of the pressure exerted on one’s jaw. Usually elderly people who suffer from oestoporosis are affected by this condition.
- One may experience soreness in the muscles or joints. One may not be in a position to open one’s mouth completely.
- One feels numbness in the lower lips as well as the chin.
A visit to the dentist may not be something that one most desires. What to do? One has no choice but to face his or her drill.
