In most cases, a dentist can treat a cavity with a filling, but if a tooth is damaged beyond repair, a cavity extraction will need to be done. During a cavity extraction, the tooth is pulled out of the mouth. After a cavity extraction, a patient can move forward with a tooth implant, a bridge, or dentures. Dentists do as much as possible to minimize pain during the procedure, and then, they provide specific instructions for the recovery period. If you need a cavity extraction done, use the following tips to help with your recovery:

Bite on Gauze Pads

When you have a cavity extraction, the area of your gums where the tooth was pulled out will bleed. You will need to bite down on gauze pads to help control the bleeding and promote the formation of a clot in the tooth socket. In most cases, you will need to keep gauze in your mouth for several hours after the cavity extraction, until the bleeding ceases. Make sure to change the gauze pads regularly and before they become saturated.

Take Prescribed Pain Medication

While your gums will be completely numb during a cavity extraction, you may experience pain and discomfort as the local anesthesia wears off. You dentist will prescribe medication to help with your pain and discomfort, and the best thing that you can do is take the medication exactly as it is prescribed. Taking your medication as directed, even if you're not experiencing pain at the time, will help make you more comfortable. The last thing you want is to begin experiencing pain and then have to wait for your pain medication to work because you didn't take it on time.

Use Ice

After a cavity extraction, it is not uncommon for the area to swell. Using an ice pack throughout the day can help reduce swelling. In addition, the use of an ice pack can also help with discomfort and pain that you may experience. 

Don't Spit, Rinse, or Use a Straw

For the first day or two after a cavity extraction, it is important not to spit forcefully, rinse your mouth vigorously, or use a straw while drinking a beverage. Doing any of these things can dislodge the blood clot in the tooth socket, leading to a painful condition called dry sockets, where the nerves are exposed. While you are recovering from a cavity extraction, it is important to pay attention to what you do with your mouth, in order to prevent the blood clot from dislodging from the tooth socket.

For more information, talk to companies like Dental Studios of MacArthur.

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