Healing After Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is rarely, if ever, a dentists first choice for dental treatment. In most cases, tooth extraction is a treatment only used when other treatments are either not effective or are no longer an option. However, the tooth extraction procedure is common and experienced by millions of Americans each year. If you have recently been told by your dentist that you need to have a tooth extracted, it may help to be prepared and know a bit more about the procedure and the procedure recovery period.
Why tooth extraction?
But why do you need to have your tooth extracted? There are numerous reasons why a dentist may recommend a tooth extraction. It is important to keep in mind that your dentist is using the extraction as a technique to preserve your future oral health. A good example is the case of an infected or decaying tooth. Your dentist may be extracting that decaying tooth in order to stop the spread of infection to other teeth and throughout your body. It is helpful to keep in mind that your dentist has decided upon extraction to keep you healthy and your teeth healthy.
The extraction recovery period
Are you less concerned about the extraction procedure itself and more concerned about the recovery period? Will the procedure require you to take time off of work? Are there certain kinds of foods you have to avoid eating after the procedure? Will you need help getting home from the procedure? If you are nervous about the recovery period and have a list of questions, you should have a discussion with your dentist before the procedure and make sure to get answers to all of your questions.
How long is the recovery from tooth extraction?
A common question is: “how long is the recovery”? While the recovery timeline can vary from person to person, the timeline also depends on many factors:
- The size of the wound. If you had a molar removed, the wound will be larger and deeper. The larger the extraction wound, the longer it will take for the socket to heal.
- Your body. Everyone’s body heals differently. But your health behaviors and how healthy your body is will also impact how quickly you heal.
- The extracted tooth. The health of the extracted will impact your healing. If you had an infected tooth, you may also have some infection in the gum tissue. Infected gum tissue may take longer to heal than healthy tissue.
The first 24-hours after extraction
The first 24 hours post-extraction is the most important to the healing process. A few hours post-extraction, the bleeding will stop, and a blood clot will begin to develop over the wound. This blood clot plays a critical role in not only protecting the newly exposed bones and nerves in the empty socket but also is the start of new tissue growth. For the first few days, inflammation and swelling around the treated area is common. After the first 3 days, the pain, swelling, and discomfort will start to decrease.
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