After tooth extraction

, the patient's recovery speed is heavily conditioned by the complexity of the intervention and by the respect of some precautionary rules, very important to reduce the risk of complications. dental.Subsequently, we will try to list a series of valuable precautions to be taken into consideration to avoid the risk of "running into unpleasant inconveniences after a" dental extraction.

or a canine does not matter: the risks that occur after the extraction of a tooth are almost the same.
First of all it is good to remember that a healthy tooth requiring extraction for reasons of dental misalignment or malocclusion - a typical condition of wisdom teeth - is subject to fewer dangers or complications after surgery than a tooth severely damaged by deep caries, pulpits, granulomas. , dental abscesses or anything else. Even any morbid conditions can heavily affect the post-dental extraction course: patients affected by systemic diseases (eg diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic renal failure, etc.), as well as subjects undergoing chemo / radiotherapy or who must take corticosteroid drugs , they can present significant recovery difficulties after tooth extraction.
Inevitably, after the avulsion of a tooth, the patient accuses an unpleasant sensation of swelling and gingival pain, often accompanied by a slight bleeding that should resolve within 24 hours after the operation. Within certain limits, these side effects can to define oneself as "normal." Remember that, despite being relatively simple, dental avulsion always remains a "surgical operation in all respects, so it is understandable how the body can react after the forced" removal "of an integral part of the body.
If the general rules of post-extraction prophylaxis are not respected, the patient's clinical profile can dangerously degenerate. In this sense, the most worrying post-surgery complications are dental infections such as:

• Alveolitis: infection of the alveolus (the bony cavity where the roots of the teeth are lodged)
• Dental abscess: accumulation of bacteria, white blood cells, plasma, and cellular debris (pus) confined in the tissues surrounding a tooth
• Dental granuloma: chronic inflammation of the root apex and surrounding tissues
• Dental cyst: rounded cavities that progressively expand into the bone, destroying it. This is a typical complication after the extraction of an impacted wisdom tooth.

Among the possible complications resulting from dental extraction we must not forget the temporary loss of sensitivity of the lip and tongue on the side where the operation was performed.

acute, infections or other post-extraction complications. Some general suggestions are summarized in the table.

What to do after tooth extraction ...

Suggestions

... to prevent pain after the first 24 hours after tooth extraction

• Take painkilling-anti-inflammatory drugs before the effect of the anesthesia wears off. Ibuprofen (eg Brufen, Moment) is particularly indicated to keep pain at bay.
• Place an ice pack (wrapped in a soft cloth) on the outside of the jaw, in line with the surgery site. Remove the ice after 10 minutes and apply it again after another ten minutes
• Prefer a predominantly liquid-semi-solid diet. Avoid chewy and hard foods.

... to prevent or limit bleeding immediately after tooth extraction

• Press and hold an absorbent gauze on the tooth extraction site for at least 30-60 minutes, without removing it or touching it with your fingers
• Sleeping with your head raised on a pair of pillows: by doing this it is possible to soothe gum pain and bleeding after a tooth has been extracted
• Check the degree of gingival bleeding only after 30 minutes from the placement of the sterile gauze on the wound left by the extraction of the tooth
• When necessary, blow your nose gently to prevent exertion from promoting gum bleeding
• Do not take drugs containing salicylates (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid)

... to prevent pain in the days following the extraction

• Take an antibiotic as a precaution or in case of confirmed infection: follow the instructions given by the doctor. The antibiotic (eg. Metronidazole, Amoxicillin) can only be taken with a medical prescription
• You can support normal mouth hygiene with salt and water rinses (dissolve a pinch of salt in a cup of warm water). Do not ingest
• Take pain relieving-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

... prevent infections

• Gently rinse your mouth with disinfectant mouthwashes (eg chlorhexidine 0.2%) only 12-24 hours after tooth extraction. Continue rinsing for at least two weeks after the operation
• Proceed with normal oral hygiene with extreme delicacy in the dental extraction site (do not force the toothbrush, prefer those with soft bristles). Do not use an electric toothbrush.
• Stop smoking
• Do not suck into the extraction site: such behavior slows down recovery times

... promote recovery and speed healing

• Avoid driving immediately after extraction: it is advisable to be accompanied by a family member or friend, especially if the tooth extraction operation was invasive or complicated (eg. Tooth included)
• An adequate rest in the days following the extraction favors complete recovery in less time
• Not smoking
• Don't drink alcohol
• Do not use an electric toothbrush or a manual one with hard bristles
• Do not chew gum or gummy candies in the 3 days following tooth extraction
• Do not engage in sports or other strenuous physical activities for three days after tooth extraction
• Do not suck in the extraction site: such behavior extends the healing time of the wound

... if the pain persists

• Contact the dental office if the pain persists even after 3 days from the dental intervention
• Take a pain reliever

... if the bleeding doesn't stop

• Keep calm
• Bite vigorously on a sterile gauze pad, keeping it pressed into the surgery site
• Apply ice packs externally
• Gently remove any blood clots present in the mouth, following the directions suggested by the surgeon to the letter

... in the presence of fever

• Take antipyretic drugs (eg paracetamol) in the doses established by the doctor
• Contact your dentist immediately if your body temperature exceeds 39 ° C and cannot be lowered with medication

and rich in water. In particular, in the 24-36 hours following the avulsion, a mainly liquid or semi-solid diet is suggested, therefore consisting of soft foods such as mashed potatoes, warm soups, warm soups, smoothies, minced or pureed meat, baby food, puddings, meatballs, fish boiled etc .. The residues of solid food, in fact, tend to get stuck in the sores on the gum - still painful and not completely healed - left by the operation. By trapping themselves in these wounds, the bacteria, greedy for carbohydrates and food, wedge themselves into the injured gum, triggering a series of dental infections, even serious ones.
In conclusion, it is good to reiterate that the observance of these precious advice is extremely important for the purpose of prophylaxis from infections or complications after a dental extraction operation.