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Two weeks ago, Mansfield dentists Dr. S. Blair Jones and Dr. D. Seth Harris discussed the home care instructions needed to keep your dental work safe following filling, crown, and bridge appointments at Mansfield Dental Associates. Today, Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris want to discuss what you should do after a tooth extraction or cosmetic reconstruction appointment to ensure the safety and longevity of your dental work.

After Tooth Extraction

Following your tooth extraction procedure, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. This is why Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris will instruct you to bite on a gauze pad for thirty to forty-five minutes once your extraction is complete. Replace the gauze pad and repeat this process until bleeding ceases.

Once the blood clot forms, it’s important to not disturb it until the extraction site is fully healed. To do this, avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously, sucking on straws, smoking, drinking alcohol and carbonated beverages, and brushing or chewing near or on the extraction site for at least seventy-two hours.

At the completion of your extraction, Dr. Jones or Dr. Harris will prescribe pain medication and/or an antibiotic. Take these drugs as directed for the indicated length of time, even if symptoms and pain have subsided. Drink lots of fluid and eat soft foods on the day of the extraction. Resume eating a normal diet as soon as you’re comfortable.

After Cosmetic Reconstruction

There will be an adjustment period following your cosmetic reconstruction procedure as you adapt to your new bite. Don’t be surprised if your speech is slightly affected immediately following your procedure. It will take a few days for your brain and body to recognize your new smile as normal, but you will quickly adjust.

It’s normal to experience some sensitivity to heat and cold, as well as some sensitivity in your gum tissue. To relieve this discomfort, try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or taking a mild pain medication, like Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If discomfort persists for more than a few days, call our Mansfield dentist office.

It is crucial to maintain proper dental hygiene with your new dental work. Bushing at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and attending biannual dental checkups and cleanings will help ensure the health and longevity of your new smile. To protect your new teeth, avoid eating hard foods, chewing on objects (pencils, fingernails, etc.), and sucking on sticky candies. Smoking and drinking coffee, red wine, tea, and berries can have a staining effect on your new teeth, as well.

If any discomfort persists for more than a few days following any dental appointment you have at Mansfield Dental Associates, call our Mansfield dentist office at (817) 259-1357.