The healing process after tooth extraction will be indicated in cases where the tooth is severely damaged and cannot be preserved. So is tooth extraction painful and how long does it take to heal? To get the exact answer, please refer to the article below for more useful information!
1. What is the healing process after tooth extraction?
Each person has a different constitution, so the healing time after tooth extraction is different for each person. Some people only take 2-3 days or some people heal after about 1 to 2 weeks for the tooth extraction site to heal completely. The healing process after tooth extraction takes place as follows:
- First 24 hours after tooth extraction: After the anesthetic wears off, the patient feels pain and swelling at the site of the newly extracted tooth, which is a normal phenomenon. Each person’s pain level is different, so some people need painkillers to relieve the pain. The swelling will gradually decrease and end within 2 – 3 days.
- After 2 – 3 days later: Swelling and cheek condition improved. And no more bleeding feeling.
- Next 1 -2 weeks: by the time of tooth extraction, it has been 14 days. The gum tissue has almost healed. You need to go to the dentist for a check-up and stitch removal after healing. That’s why you can eat and drink lightly and not feel pain.
- After tooth extraction 3 – 4 weeks: At this point the wound has completely healed, you may not need to pay attention to the surgical area anymore. Besides, you need to monitor your oral health at home.
2. Stages of healing after wisdom tooth extraction
After wisdom tooth extraction, a healing process may occur on its own. Including 5 stages:
Stage 1: Blood clot formation at the tooth extraction site
After wisdom tooth extraction, you should bite gauze tightly to stop the bleeding. During the first 24 hours, a blood clot will form and seal the tooth socket to protect the wound. This is the stagethe beginning of the wound recovery process after tooth extraction.
Phase 2: Inflammation
The inflammatory process will take place after a few hours, white blood cells cross the blood vessels to phagocytose and bacteria remain in the tooth socket.
Stage 3: Fiber formation
Next is the appearance of connective fibers and fibroblasts inside the blood clot replacing red blood cells. Capillaries also begin to proliferate inside the tooth socket over the next few days.
Stage 4: Epithelialization >
The gingival tissues grow rapidly and move below the extracted tooth socket until they meet the cells. Plan in the center. After about 3 weeks, the gum mucosa has covered most of the tooth extraction site.
Stage 5: Bone restructuring
Bone cells begin to appear and form bone trabeculae in the first weeks. Depending on each person’s recovery ability, bone will fill the tooth extraction site quickly or slowly. Normally, the healing process takes about 4 – 6 months to recover.
In addition, during the process after tooth extraction you need to provide nutrients to the body to help the wound heal faster. However, for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes or people who are allergic to dental materials such as sutures, the healing process will be slower.
In addition, one of the factors that help the healing process also affects the doctor’s skills and also the sterility factor at the clinic. Therefore, it is very important that you choose a reputable dentist to perform tooth extraction.
3. Factors affecting the healing process after tooth extraction
As mentioned above, the healing time for each person will be different. There are some cases where patients do not need to use pain relievers and can live normally after a few hours of tooth extraction. On the contrary, there are cases where patients need help from medications and need longer recovery time. This process also depends on the following factors:
- Doctor’s skill: This is the deciding factor in healing time. Wisdom tooth extraction or molar tooth extraction are certain complex tooth extraction cases. If the doctor does not have much experience in removing teeth from the gums. If the doctor removes the root of the inner toothGums will affect the facial nerves.
- Tooth extraction method: Teeth that are crooked, impacted or have tooth decay are treated differently. Besides, the extraction point for wisdom teeth and crooked teeth is also larger and requires longer recovery time than for straight teeth.
- Patient’s health: How long it takes for tooth extraction to heal will depend on whether the patient has a history of systemic illness or not, and whether any problems arise, etc. If the resistance is weak, obese or sick. With diabetes, recovery time after tooth extraction will be longer.
- Oral hygiene and home care regimen: After tooth extraction, you need to follow the doctor’s instructions, clean thoroughly and skillfully so that food does not affect the tooth socket.
4. Things to note after tooth extraction to speed up healing
After tooth extraction, you need to pay attention to the following issues to help shorten the healing period quickly:
After extraction tooth
- Bite firmly on cotton balls after tooth extraction for about 30 minutes. If after 30 minutes you’ve stopped the bleeding and it’s still bleeding, replace the gauze with a new one and bite firmly.
- You can apply cold or warm compresses to help reduce swelling and pain after tooth extraction.
- Use pain relievers as prescribed by your doctor. Absolutely do not buy painkillers without the consent of your doctor.
Choose appropriate foods
- After tooth extraction, you need to prioritize foods that are soft, liquid, and rich in calcium to support faster healing.
- Absolutely do not eat hard, chewy foods such as sweets, candies, acidic fruits and greasy fried foods.
- Do not use stimulants such as alcohol or tobacco.
Above is all the information about the healing process after tooth extraction. Hopefully it will help you know the stages of healing and also a scientific diet after tooth extraction.
Kim Dung
