Problems After Dental Treatment
Swelling is common after certain dental procedures, particularly tooth extractions and periodontal surgery. Holding an ice pack--or better yet, a plastic bag of frozen peas or corn (which adapts to facial contours)--to the cheek can prevent much of the swelling. Ice therapy can be used every few hours for the first 18 hours. Cold should be held on the cheek for 25-minute periods and then removed for 5-minute periods. If swelling persists or increases after 3 days or if pain is severe, an infection may have developed, and the person should contact the dentist.
A dry socket (exposure of the bone in the socket, causing delayed healing) may develop after a lower back tooth has been removed. Typically, discomfort lessens for 2 or 3 days after the extraction and then suddenly worsens, sometimes accompanied by an earache. Although the condition goes away by itself after one to several weeks, a dentist can place an anesthetic dressing in the socket to eliminate the pain. The dentist replaces the dressing every day or two for about a week.
Bleeding after oral surgery is common. Usually, it can be stopped by keeping steady pressure on the surgical site for the first hour, normally by having the person bite down on a piece of gauze. Bleeding in the mouth can be deceptive because a small amount of blood may mix with saliva and appear worse than it is. If bleeding continues, the area can be wiped clean, and another piece of gauze or a moistened tea bag can be held against the area with steady biting pressure. If bleeding continues for more than a few hours, the dentist should be notified.
People who regularly take an anticoagulant (a drug that prevents clots) or aspirin (even if they only take one aspirin every few days) should mention it to the dentist a week before surgery, because these drugs increase the tendency to bleed. The dentist and the person's doctor may adjust the drug dosage or temporarily discontinue the drug.
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