Patient Information

After surgery, tightly folded gauze pads are placed on tooth sockets; the patient should apply pressure for 45 minutes after surgery. Remove the gauze and, if the sockets are still bleeding, you can place a tightly folded gauze pad back on the socket for another 30-minute round of pressure. If you have tea bags at home, instead of replacing the sockets with tightly folded gauze, you can place a lightly moistened tea bag on the socket. One of the main components of tea is tannic acid, which aids in forming blood clots, thus making tea bags an effective technique to stop bleeding. It is normal for the sockets to ooze bloody saliva; however, if you’re unsure how much bleeding there should be, contact the office.

It is important to wait to eat until the gauze packing is removed. Once the sockets are no longer actively bleeding, you can eat and drink before taking any pain medication. Do not use a straw for at least 24 hours following surgery.

A prescription, if warranted, will be submitted electronically to the ‘Preferred Pharmacy’ that you provide on your registration form. You may want to contact your pharmacy to ask when your prescription will be ready for pick-up.

After a tooth is extracted, a jelly-like blood clot should form in the socket. Blood clots that form within the empty socket are an important factor in the healing process. A dry socket can occur when you lose the blood clot prematurely, which will cause an increase in pain. Following the after-surgery instructions will reduce your chances of developing a dry socket. Avoid rinsing your mouth for the first 24 hours, stay away from hot liquids that can sometimes dissolve the blood clot, avoid using a straw or smoking for 48 hours, as this can dislodge the clot; avoid blowing your nose for 24 hours and try to sneeze with your mouth open.