The Process of Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is typically a very fast process—we will use anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable. The most critical part of the process is recovery. We need to ensure we control the bleeding and encourage a proper healing process immediately following the tooth extraction. This involves having you bite down on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes to form a blood clot—you must be extremely careful not to disturb the blood clot for the next 24 hours. To manage the swelling, we recommend an ice pack on the outer cheek, and once the swelling has gone down, a warm compress to the same area for comfort. Gentle rinses with warm salt water also help keep the extraction area clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you have a tooth extracted, you develop a blood clot shortly after the surgery to begin the healing process. If this blood clot becomes dislodged before your mouth has fully healed it can cause pain, this is called dry socket.
Six tips for helping prevent dry socket are:
- Avoid straws or anything that creates a suction movement of air and cheek muscles.
- Avoid smoking tobacco as fast inhalation can dislodge your blood clot and the chemicals may prevent healing or cause an infection.
- Eat soft foods only like applesauce, yogurt, and mashed potatoes for the first one or two days.
- Inquire about any medicines you’re taking to ensure they don’t interact with the healing process.
- Use proper oral hygiene to keep your mouth clean and consider an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on proper oral care to improve recovery time.
Welcome to Park View Family Dental
Park View Family Dental was formerly known as Benchmark Dental of Greeley. We pride ourselves on the highest degree of professionalism across all of our 13 staff members. We have offices in Greeley and Fort Collins, Colorado, and we strive to provide quality, affordable and comprehensive dental care for your entire family. We serve Greeley and the surrounding communities including Evans, Lucerne, LaSalle, Eaton, Galeton, Loveland, and more.
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Why Choose Us
- Cosmetic Dental Care For You To Have A Picture-Perfect Smile.
- Pain-Free Root Canal Treatments
- Flexible Dental Financing Options To Choose From.
- Clean And Comfortable Office Environment!