Instructions after surgical tooth removal

Bleeding

After surgery, some searing may occur from the operating area during the first 24 hours. This is quite normal.

The bleeding can be stopped by placing sterile tampons over the wound and then bite for approx. 15 minutes. You can supplement with a cold cover.

If the bleeding is substantial and continues, consult the clinic. Outside the clinic’s opening hours, contact the emergency telephone 1813.

The Wound

The wound needs to be left undisturbed. Prevent excessive contact and drag in and around the operated area. Therefore, avoid examining it with fingers or tongue and do not create vacuum in the mouth.

Pain and swelling

Pain and swelling may occur, and is even a natural component of the healing process. Both pain and swelling may take up to the first 4 days after surgery, and can usually be remedied by pain relievers.

There may be a bruise, but it will disappear in a couple of weeks. In case of unbearable pain, which cannot be relieved by systemic use of common painkillers, you should contact the clinic.

Sutures

Sutures are dissolved by themselves, which can take up to 3 weeks. After about a week, the gums have almost recovered normal strength, which allows us to remove the sutures.

In rare cases, infection may occur in the wound. An infection will usually cause increasing pain, swelling, fever and possibly bad taste in the mouth. If you suspect infection of the wound please contact the clinic.

Tooth brushing

Tooth brushing should be avoided until all sutures are removed/dissolved. Instead, rinse morning and evening with 0.12% chlorhexidine mouth rinse (available at the pharmacy). As long as rinsing with chlorhexidine, do not use ordinary toothpaste, as they counteract each other’s actions.

Physical restrain

Physical restrain should be kept to a minimum of the first two days in order to avoid bleeding from the wound.

Diet

Do not eat before the anesthesia has subsided and avoid chewing in the operated area. The diet must be soft and cold the first day. At the same time, it is important that you receive ample nutrition as the body needs energy to heal.

Smoking

Smoking attenuates the healing process. Therefore, we recommend smoking cessation in the period up to and after the operation. If you want help with smoking cessation, you can contact stoplinien.dk or ask your local pharmacy.

Surgical tooth removal

We know from experience that pain may occur after removal of wisdom teeth in the lower jaw. Therefore, we recommend that you take painkillers after surgery. Some may experience increasing pain that radiates towards the ear and tincture after the 4th day.

This may be a sign of dry-socket. If you experience these symptoms, please contact the clinic so we can take care of it. Swelling in the area of operation may rarely cause temporary impairment, which decreases as the swelling goes away.

Once the sutures have dissolved or have been removed and the gums are healed, a cavity can still be felt in the area, where the tooth used to sit. This concavity will gradually decrease within a few months as new bone tissue is formed from the bottom upwards.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the clinic.