How Do I Know if My Tooth Extraction Area Healed Properly?

Do you need a tooth extraction in Ridley Park or have recently gotten one? Then you likely have lots of questions about how the area will heal and what you can do to properly care for it.

A tooth might need to be extracted for a variety of reasons:

  • Severe damage
  • Root canal therapy
  • Crack
  • Improper placement (such as wisdom teeth)

While you won’t feel any pain during the extraction thanks to the anesthesia, you can expect some uncomfortable symptoms in the following days. Here’s an overview of a tooth extraction healing process so that you know what to expect!

1. First Day of the Extraction

After the tooth has been pulled, a blood clot will begin to form and the tissue will immediately kickstart the whaling process. You’ll likely notice some mild bleeding and pain during the first 24 hours following the extraction, which is completely normal.

Your dentist may prescribe some pain medication and provide other at-home tips to manage your symptoms. During this time, it’s important to follow their recommendations religiously, which could include:

  • Gently cleansing the mouth with saline water
  • Not brushing directly over the extraction site
  • Chew on the other side of the mouth
  • Eat softer foods, etc.

2. Next 2-3 Days

While you may still experience some mild pain and even notice a pink hue in your saliva, this is also perfectly normal. Your mouth is continuing to heal, so you should still take care of the extraction site by following your dentist's recommendation.

3. First Week after the Extraction

By this point, the extraction site should appear healed on the outside, even if it will still need a bit more time. By this point, you should not experience any more pain or bleeding, but you should still try to maintain the post-extraction care.

How to Tell If Your Extraction Site Isn’t Healing

Your body will let you know right away if something’s wrong and the extraction site isn’t healing. If you experience severe pain, swelling, and bleeding that don’t go away with the tips the dentist prescribed, then you need to reach out to your dentist right away. The blood clot may have burst, or you have another dental health issue the dentist might have missed.

As time progresses your symptoms should lessen, not get worse. So pay attention to your body and if you notice any concerning signs, opt for emergency dental services as soon as possible.

Need an Extraction? We Can Help!

Think you may need an extraction? There’s nothing to worry about! Dr. Julia Winter can help you restore your dental health and provide you with all the at-home extraction care tips you need to help the site heal properly.

To get started, you can book an appointment with a Ridley Park dentist at Kite & Key Dentistry online.

For more information or emergency dental care, please call us right away at ​​484-240-7741.

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