How Long Does Pain Last After Tooth Extraction?

How Long Does Pain Last After Tooth Extraction?

Some diseases of the tooth and surrounding tissues can cause complex problems that prevent the tooth from being treated and saved. In such cases, tooth extraction is the best option to preserve oral and general health

For tooth extraction, general, local anesthesia or sedation is applied to the patient does not feel any pain or suffering. While under anesthesia, care should be taken not to bite the lips, tongue and cheek. The specialist dentist extracts the tooth using professional surgical instruments without damaging the tooth socket and surrounding areas.

Impacted teeth are extracted after accessing the tooth root by making an incision in the gum and jawbone. Self-dissolving sutures are used in the incision area and the sutures disappear over time and tissue repair is completed.

It is natural for bleeding to start in the tooth extraction area. The gauze placed to slow down the bleeding and allow clotting to occur should be bitten firmly for 15-20 minutes. During the clotting process, care should be taken not to spit with the sucking reflex.

A small amount of bleeding is expected for 24 hours after tooth extraction. The pain subsides after an average of 3 days, while complete healing takes an average of 10 days and the repair of bone tissue takes an average of 8 weeks.

As the effect of anesthesia decreases over time within an average of 3 hours, pain, swelling and sensitivity will begin to be felt in the teeth and gums. An ice pack should be applied on the cheek for 10-15 minutes at 3-4 hour intervals to reduce swelling. Care should be taken as ice application for too long may cause tissue damage.

Since there is a risk of infection after the extraction, attention should be paid to the foods consumed and oral care for the first 2 days. Instead of solid foods, foods that can be consumed without chewing such as soup and yogurt should be preferred. However, especially hot foods should not be consumed for the first 3 hours. Do not feed through a straw, as the act of sucking can dislodge the clot. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided as they delay the healing process, physical activities should be reduced and rest should be taken. The head should be kept slightly elevated while lying down.

No tooth brushing or mouthwash should be done in the first 24 hours. Afterwards, gargle with warm salt water twice a day until complete recovery is achieved. If oral care is to be done, the tooth extraction area should not be approached until the healing is over.

Under normal conditions, there is non-excessive pain and tenderness in the tooth extraction area for up to 3 days. If the pain sensation is severe, painkillers without blood thinners suitable for the general health status and allergic reactions of the patient are given with the advice of the dentist.

Pain that does not go away and causes different problems can have very serious causes. These reasons include sinus perforation affecting the health status of the ear, nose and throat as a result of tooth extraction in the upper jaw bone, bone and nerve tissue remaining unprotected in the dry socket formed as a result of blood clotting or clot removal in the tooth extraction area, and failure of the surrounding gum to heal as the exposed bone tissue dies.

If the patient complains of jaw pain, sensitivity in the jaw and neck, throbbing and radiating pain, redness, swelling or runny, dizziness, nausea, cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, sour or bitter taste, the necessary diagnoses should be made by the specialist dentist and treated urgently.

28.05.2023
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