Surgical Extraction

Surgical extractions are more involved than a routine removal, and today's procedure was no small thing — thank you for your trust. Healing takes a bit longer and needs a little more care, but most patients do really well when they follow these steps. Please read through this before the anesthesia wears off.

After your procedure

1. 1

   Rest today and tomorrow

   Take it easy for the rest of today and tomorrow. Avoid bending over, lifting anything heavy, or any exercise for at least 48–72 hours. Physical activity raises your heart rate and can restart bleeding or increase swelling.

2. 2

   Bite on gauze to control bleeding

   Bite firmly on the gauze for 45–60 minutes. If bleeding continues, replace it and apply steady pressure again. Some oozing for the first several hours is expected. Do not spit — it disrupts clot formation.

3. 3

   Ice for the first 24 hours, then warmth

   Apply ice packs to the outside of your face — 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off — for as much of the first 24 hours as you can. After that, switch to a warm compress. Surgical extractions tend to cause more swelling, so start icing early.

4. 4

   No straws — let it drool out instead

   Do not use a straw for at least a week. The suction can dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket. When rinsing, fill your mouth with water, close your lips, gently shake your head side to side — then open your mouth and let it fall out. No cheek pressure, no spitting.

5. 5

   No smoking for 7 days

   Smoking is one of the leading causes of dry socket and poor healing. Please avoid it completely for at least 7 days after surgery.

6. 6

   Soft diet for at least a week

   Eat soft foods the whole first week: ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies (no straw!), mashed potatoes, yogurt, blended soup, scrambled eggs, and similar. Chew on the opposite side and avoid anything hot, hard, or crunchy near the surgical site.

7. 7

   No hot foods or drinks

   Heat can dissolve the clot and increase bleeding. Keep everything cool or room temperature, especially for the first 48 hours.

8. 8

   Rinse gently starting 48 hours after surgery

   Beginning 48 hours after your procedure, rinse several times a day with warm salt water (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of water). Use the gentle head-shake method — not forceful swishing. This keeps the area clean without disturbing healing.

9. 9

   Take all medications as prescribed

   Finish your antibiotics in full. For pain, start taking pain pills on a schedule in the first 24 hours — don't wait for it to get bad. If I prescribed a stronger pain reliever, use it as directed.

10. 10

    Sutures will dissolve on their own

    If I placed sutures, they're dissolvable and don't need to be removed. They may feel loose or fall out on their own within a week or two — that's completely normal.