If you are visiting our Pleasanton, CA family dentist office for a tooth extraction, it is important to learn about tooth extraction aftercare so that you can prepare for taking care of the site. At Pleasanton Valley Dental, we will provide you with detailed instructions when you visit our 94566 office. If you have questions at any time, you can also call us at (925) 600-0065. In the meantime, or if you lose the instructions, here is what you need to know:
Tooth Extraction Aftercare Instructions From Pleasanton Valley Dental
What to buy ahead of time:
Steps to Take Immediately Following Your Tooth Extraction
As a family dentist, we will tell you that the way your extraction is performed is going to be based on the current position of your tooth. If the tooth has already broken through the surface then it may be possible to simply grab a hold of the tooth, gently wiggle it and pull it out. In this scenario, we will use anesthesia to help prevent any discomfort but you should remain awake for the procedure and it will be over fairly quickly. If, however, your tooth is impacted, we will need to complete a surgical procedure in order to remove it. In this scenario, we will create a flap in the gum tissue, lift it up and access the area underneath. If tissue or bone is on top of the tooth, this will need to be cut away so that we can access it. This too will be completed under anesthesia so that you do not feel any discomfort. In our Pleasanton office, we will then lift the tooth out of the socket either as a single piece or in several pieces. Next, we will clean the area, replace the flap and suture it in place. In both scenarios, we will place gauze on your gum tissue in order to stop the bleeding.
What to Do At Home
At Pleasanton Valley Dental, we encourage patients of our family dentist office to take it easy after having a tooth extraction. Plan on taking a day or two off of work so that you can recover in the comfort of your own home. It is natural to have some swelling for one to several days and some people find this to be slightly embarrassing. You can reduce swelling by taking ibuprofen and using an ice pack. While at home, you should keep the area clean by rinsing with warm water and brushing your teeth. Just be careful around the surgical site since you do not want to accidentally scratch or irritate it.
You also need to be careful with what you eat. Stick with foods that are soft and either cool or warm. You do not want to eat anything that has an extreme temperature or could accidentally irritate the surgical site.
Visit Our Pleasanton, CA Office
We encourage you to call (925) 600-0065 with any further questions about tooth extraction aftercare or the procedure itself. As a 94566 family dentist, we are happy to assist you throughout the entire process.
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