Post Extraction Care Instructions

Is a tooth coming out today?

Please sign our Post Extraction Care Instruction form below. If you have any questions call us on (615) 348-1008.

1. Local anesthetic: Refrain from eating until feeling returns or eat a soft diet until the anesthetic has worn off. This will help prevent accidentally biting or chewing lips and cheeks
   
   
2. Do not rinse, do not spit, and do not use straws after oral surgery. These actions dislodge the clot that has formed and cause additional bleeding.
   
   
3. Smokers: to prevent complications such as dry socket or infection, DO NOT SMOKE for at least 4 days following an extraction.
   
   
4. Keep fingers and tongue away from the extraction site to prevent irritation.
   
   
5. Types of foods to eat: Soft food diet (i.e. apple sauce, pudding, mashed potatoes, soup, yogurt, oatmeal, smoothies and shakes by spoon only). Do not eat very hot foods for at least 48 hours, because it can dissolve the healing clot that has formed.
   
   
6. Bleeding is normal up to 24 hours. Use pressure by biting down on gauze to stop bleeding following an extraction. If excessive/unusual bleeding, bite down on wet gauze or a damp tea bag over extraction site and hold in place for 30 minutes. For severe bleeding, please call us. 
   
   
7. Inflammation: use an ice pack or a frozen vegetable bag wrapped in a soft towel and alternate 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for first 24 hours to reduce inflammation.
   
   
8. Keep extraction site clean, but wait 24 hours prior to brushing with abrasive toothpastes.
   
   
9. After 24 hours, rinse with warm salt water 1-2 times a day.
   
   
10. After some time, sharp projections may be present in the surgical site. These are usually small fragments of bone that will work themselves out of the gum over time. If they cause discomfort, please contact us to have patient return for surgical removal.
    
    
11. Note to caregivers regarding pain: If patient experiences post-operative discomfort and has not been prescribed any medications, patient can be given PRN pain medications listed on MAR such as Ibuprofen and/or Acetaminophen (DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN FOR PAIN UNLESS ADVISED TO DO SO). If patient does not have approved PRN pain medications, then please contact us at with an appropriate pharmacy to order a prescription.
    
    
12. If you experience any complications, please call our office at 615-915-6090 during office hours. If you are calling outside of office hours, leave us a voice message and we will return your call as soon as possible.