Surgical extraction of teeth

After treatment

Pain

• It is likely that there will be some discomfort and swelling both on the inside and outside of your mouth after surgery. This is usually worse for the first three days but it can take up to two weeks before all the soreness disappears.
• You will have been given painkillers in theatre during the operation and may be given some to take home.

Bleeding

• When you have any teeth removed you are left with a hole (tooth socket) in your jawbone. At first a blood clot forms, before healing over completely.
• If bleeding occurs when you go home, apply pressure on the tooth socket with a clean, rolled piece of cotton cloth. Try this for the first 10 to 20 minutes. If bleeding does not stop, repeat applying pressure but please contact the on call maxillofacial surgery SHO on the number below if the bleeding continues.

Eating and drinking

• For the first 12 hours (after the numbness has worn off) avoid hot drinks (which can re-start any bleeding). Take only lukewarm liquids and soft foods.

Smoking

• It is advisable not to smoke for at least 48 hours after the operation. Smoking can prevent healing and cause bleeding to start.

Oral hygiene

• It is important to keep the extraction sites as clean as possible for the first few weeks after surgery. It might be difficult to clean your teeth around the sites of the extraction because it is sore.
• The day after your operation you can start rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash or warm salt water (dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) to help reduce the risk of infection. You can do this after every meal or two to three times a day.

Infection

• It is uncommon to get an infection, particularly if good oral hygiene is maintained after surgery.
• If you are worried about infection, the signs would be:

o raised temperature

o nasty discharge or taste in the mouth

o increased pain and severe swelling around the operation site

If you experience any of these, it is important to contact the on-call maxillofacial surgery SHO on the number below.

Further information

If you are worried about your condition, call the on-call maxillofacial surgery SHO via the Addenbrooke’s Hospital switchboard on 01223 245151.