Healing After Tooth Extractions

There are many reasons why a dentist may be recommending you need a tooth extraction. Regardless of the reason, it is important to know that your dentist will only make this recommendation if they feel that removing the tooth is absolutely necessary. Tooth extraction in valparaiso indiana procedures are a last resort used by dentist when other treatment options are either not effective or are not an option.

Why Tooth Extraction

Your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction if you have an infected or decaying tooth, a recent oral injury, or wisdom teeth that have come in. Before your procedure, you should do the best you can to be prepared and informed of everything involved in the procedure and recovery process. Is it necessary to take time off of work? What kind of food can you eat after the procedure? Will you need help? Prior to your procedure you should have a discussion with your dentist and make sure to get an answer to all your questions.

How long does recovery from tooth extraction take?

If you are having a tooth extracted, you may be wondering what the recovery timeline is. The recovery timeline depends on many factors, with the most important of these being YOU.

  • The size of the wound. How invasive your procedure was and how much work had to be done will influence how long it takes to recover from the extraction procedure. The larger and deeper the extraction wound, the longer it will take for the socket to heal.
  • Your healing. Everyone’s body heals differently, and some heal faster than others. Besides your normal healing, other factors such as your current health, age, and health behaviors all impact how quickly your extraction wound will heal.
  • The tooth that was removed. The health of the tooth that was removed may also influence your healing. If the extracted tooth was infected and caused infection in the gum tissue around it, this may also delay healing.

Immediate Healing after Extraction

Within the 24 hours after the tooth is extracted important healing processes take place. In the first few hours, the bleeding will stop, and a blood clot will start to develop in the empty socket. The forming of the blood clot is critical to protecting the exposed bones and nerves in the empty socket. The area around the socket will be inflamed and swollen for a few days after the procedure, but the pain should subside. After 2-3 days, both the pain and swelling should peak and start to decrease and you should feel comfortable. Once the blood clot forms, new gum tissue around the socket will begin to grow within a few days and new bone growth will follow within the first week.

Follow-up procedures

You may be eager to schedule your tooth replacement immediately following your tooth extraction, but this follow-up procedure will have to wait. It is essential to allow for a healing period after the extraction, which can range between one to 6 months. Your dentist may offer you some form of a temporary tooth replacement option to wear until it is time for your tooth replacement procedure.

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