After Exposure Of An Impacted Tooth

Surgical packing may be placed inside the wound to keep the tooth exposed and promote healing. Leave this material alone, and do not disturb the wound. If the packing gets dislodged or falls out, don’t panic, but do contact our office for instructions.

 

Bleeding or redness in the saliva will likely continue for about 24 hours. Profuse bleeding, where your mouth fills rapidly with blood, can be slowed by biting down firmly on a gauze pad placed directly over the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. Repeat this process as many times as you need to. If bleeding continues, please call our office for further instructions.

 

Ice packs can help minimize swelling. If the exposed tooth is on the roof of the mouth, there will be minimal to no swelling and no need for an ice pack. If the exposed tooth is anywhere else, apply the ice pack for 24–48 hours after surgery.

 

Liquids are all that should be consumed on the day of surgery. Starting the first day after surgery, eat a soft diet for 3 to 4 days. Return to your normal dietary routine as your comfort level dictates. 

 

As soon as the local anesthetic begins to wear off, start taking your pain medication. Over the counter Ibuprofen in 200 mg tablets, with 2–3 tablets taken every 4 hours, usually suffice for mild to moderate pain relief. If your pain is more severe, take the prescribed medication, as per the directions on the label. 

 

Good oral hygiene is essential to proper healing. After each meal, clean your mouth thoroughly, starting the day after surgery.  Rinse with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three or four times daily, and continue doing, so your mouth is completely healed. Brush your teeth as you normally do, just tread lightly around the surgery site.

 

Physical activities should be kept to a minimum following surgery, so your body can devote its resources to healing. Exercise can cause throbbing or bleeding, which will only delay recovery. If this occurs, stop exercising. Your normal nourishment intake is already reduced. This isn’t the time to start a fitness regimen.