Extraction

Pain

When the anesthesia wears off after one to three hours, it is normal to feel pain. It is wise to take a painkiller as soon as you notice that the anesthesia is wearing off.

Post-bleeding

The wound may bleed slightly. A trace of blood, processed with saliva, is normal. If the bleeding has not stopped after two hours, place a double-folded gauze dressing on the wound. You bite on this for about 15 minutes, or press the wound firmly closed with your thumb. If the bleeding does not stop, contact your dentist or oral surgeon. 

Fever

A little fever after an extraction is normal. 

Swelling

Sometimes the jaw will swell. To prevent this swelling, you can cool the face a little immediately after pulling. Put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and put the bag in a washcloth. Hold the washcloth against the face, at the site of the extraction. 

Eating, drinking and rinsing

Once the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel free to eat and drink again. You must NOT Rinse your mouth on the day of the extraction ! This will flush the blood clot from the mouth and may cause the wound to bleed again. From the next day on, you may rinse again. If we have prescribed a rinsing agent, you should even rinse on the second day. 

Toothbrushing

After pulling a tooth, you can brush normally again, but be a little careful at the exact spot where it was pulled. 

Smoking, alcohol

It is better not to smoke or drink for the next few days. This can actually slow down wound healing.