Tooth extraction or surgical procedures requires some post-operative care to reduce the chance of infection or other complications.  

• Immediately after tooth extraction or surgery, a gauze pad will be placed over the extraction site, which should not be removed for at least 45 minutes, and then discarded after that.
 
• Refrain from drinking from a straw or rinsing the mouth to ensure that you do not dislodge the blood clot that has formed.
 
• Swelling can result from difficult or surgical extractions. Swelling can be minimized by applying a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel to your face in the area of extraction for 2-3, 10 minute intervals shortly after the extraction. Take care not to over expose your skin to cold, especially if you are still numb from the anesthetic.
  Any swelling from the extraction should reach a peak and begin to diminish after 48 hours. If swelling persists after 48 hours and accompanied by pain call us, it may be due to an infection and need to be treated with an antibiotic.
 
• Healing begins with the formation of a blood clot. If the blood clot becomes dislodged from or sucked out of the extraction site, a dry socket is the result. Smoking is a significant contributor to dry socket formation. Dry sockets are very painful and last for about 10 days. You will be out of danger of a dry socket developing after about 3 days.
  To help avoid a dry socket avoid spitting, don’t drink through a straw, if you smoke go as long as you can before smoking and smoke as little as possible for the first 3 days.
 
• The best thing you can do to promote healing is to keep the extraction site as clean as possible. To accomplish this starting tomorrow and continue for a week, rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Do this several times a day, especially after meals.
 
• Limit your activities that day. You can resume your regular activities the following day.
 
• Take the pain medication as prescribed to reduce the amount of discomfort you feel after the local anesthetic wears off.