Aftercare
Extractions of teeth and molars
Here are some instructions and advises for at home, that might help you to have a uneventful recovery after your treatment.
1. After removal of a tooth or molar we'll let you bite down on some gauzes for about 30 minutes to ensure
that any bleeding will stop spontaneously.
2. If sutures have been placed, they will resorb automatically after about 10-14 days.
3. Do not rinse the mouth with force to prevent bleeding from reoccurring.
4. You can prevent any swelling by applying pressure and a coldpack against the cheek. Nevertheless,
some swelling can always occur
5. After your treatment you can eat and drink normal. Be careful with hot food and beverages as long as the
anesthaesia is still working.
6. Follow the instructions from your surgeon concerning any prescribed medication.
7. The day after treatment you can start rinsing the wounds thoroughly to prevent infection of the sockets.
You can use the curved syringe (monoject) to clean the socket with some salted water. You can make
this yourself at home by adding a teaspoon of salt to a cup of lukewarm water
8. After your treatment you might experience some stiffness of your masticatory muscles. If that it the
case it is advised to prevent chewing on hard foods and take a soft diet for a few days as the stiffness
will subside spontaneously.
9. If you follow the above mentioned advises and instructions, you will notice that the postoperative effect
of pain and swelling will subside spontaneously after 4-5 days on average.
What to do in case of problems and/or complications?
Bleeding
Some blood loss in the first few days after the procedure is normal, often appearing as slight blood mixing with saliva. However, if there is continuous bright red bleeding from the wound, this is considered a postoperative bleed.
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Rinse the wound thoroughly to remove any visible clots.
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Bite on a piece of gauze for 30 minutes.
In most cases, the bleeding will stop on its own. If necessary, repeat the process. If the bleeding does not stop despite these measures, please contact us.
Pain
Some pain after the procedure is normal. If needed, you will be given a prescription for pain relief after the treatment. You may also take additional paracetamol if required.
If pain and/or swelling do not decrease or worsen after 4–5 days, please contact us, preferably in the morning so we can arrange to see you the same day if possible.
You can reach us at the following phone number: (076) 205 0608
NB:
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Outside office hours you will be transferred to the emergency number of the dental surgeon on duty.
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The emergency number is only intended for serious complaints, not for complaints that can wait until a normal working day.
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The emergency line is only for patients who have undergone treatment with us within 2 weeks.
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As a patient, you must contact us yourself and not have someone call for you.
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The costs of a telephone consultation (€69.48) will be charged for calling the emergency number.
