Post Extraction Instructions and how to avoid dry socket.

Post Extraction Instructions

1. On the day of extractions ask someone to drive you home if possible and have a rest after when you get there.

2. Pain: do not wait for the pain to set in, start taking the painkillers immediately afterwards. Non-aspirin type of medication such as Ibuprofen would be best to take as they won’t thin your blood. The pain that persists for up to a week and then gradually disappears is considered normal. The pain that starts to get worse after two days is considered abnormal and could indicate dry socket.

3. Bleeding: some bleeding after extractions is to be expected. It is normal for saliva to be slightly streaked with blood or tea stained looking for 1-2 days. If persistent bleeding occurs, place moist gauze pads over bleeding area and bite down for half an hour. If bleeding still persists call your dentists for advise.

4. Swelling: some swelling is normal and should not cause alarm. An ice bag wrapped in a towel can be applied to the swollen area.

5. Food/Diet: stick to a liquid or soft food diet for the first day or two. Avoid drinking with straws for the first few days as this can result in bleeding and delayed healing. Avoid blowing through nose as these actions create a negative pressure which may cause bleeding.

6. Bony edges: small sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums during healing. If you are wearing an immediate denture that may cause quite a lot of discomfort. If annoying, call your dentist or dental prosthetist for advise.

7. Sutures: Dissolvable sutures should dissolve in 7-10 days. Non-dissolvable will need to come out in two weeks.

Dry Socket

1. Do not rinse your mouth straight after the surgery. Let the blood clot form.                             

2. 24 hours after the extraction rinse your mouth very gently with warm salty water but do not spit out forcefully. Make sure that the water removes any bits of food around the area where the tooth is missing after every meal.

3. Brushing: take care not to dislodge the blood clot when brushing near and around the extraction site for the first 3-4 days.

4. Smoking/alcohol: if you smoke it is advised that you do not smoke for the first 48 hours. Smoking will delay healing. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours as well.

These are all examples of my work! :-D

After COVID 19: what to expect at your next visit

Things might look a little different at your next appointment but we need to take all the measurements possible to keep you, others and ourselves as safe as possible. 

Let us see it as an experiment and do it together.

Here is what to expect:

1.    WAIT TILL CALLED

Please wait in your car and text us to let us know you arrived.

2.    SANITISE YOUR HANDS 

You will be asked to sanitise your hands on entering. You might be asked to wear protective shoe slippers.

3.    NEW CLINICAL OUTFITS

We will be wearing more protective equipment such as visors, hairnets and gowns.

4.    QUESTIONS

You will be asked some questions about your health and have your temperature checked and recorded.

5.    SOCIAL DISTANCING

The appointments will be longer to avoid more than one patient in the clinic and you will be asked to attend alone whenever possible. 

6.    THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

We want to make sure that the way we treat our patients is the safest way possible. This is to keep everyone safe. 

Thank you for being patient and understanding.

A Japanese Comfort Socket

Comfort Socket from Japan is another version of a flexible denture but with a cushion attached to it for an extra comfort to your gums. Take a look at their funky video about it.

Immediate or temporary dentures

What are immediate dentures?

Immediate dentures involve the removal of teeth and insertion of a denture at the same visit. The advantage is that you avoid any period without teeth.

Appointment Scheduling:

Before your teeth are removed a number of appointments is necessary to plan and prepare for the denture fabrication in the laboratory. You should also book an appointment with your dentist to extract the necessary teeth to synchronise all in time.

Appointment 1: At the initial consultation, after examining you, your dental prosthetist will take preliminary impressions of your existing teeth.

Appointment 2: Secondary impressions. This is an appointment where another set of more accurate impressions are taken. Bite and tooth shade might be recorded too.

Appointment 3: If you have quite a few teeth missing already you will have a wax try-in at this stage. The teeth are in the wax and by placing this denture replica in your mouth the operator and you will be able to see of what the final product will look like.

Appointment 4: At this appointment all the designated teeth are removed, stitches may be placed, and the denture is immediately fitted hence the name: an immediate denture.

Appointment 5: A review appointment - you might need a few of those visits. This is when all the necessary adjustments take place such as relieving of sore spots, bite adjustments and other.

After when your gums heal you might either need a reline, which means a new fitting surface for your denture or a completely new set of dentures. The new set of dentures will be much more aesthetically pleasing as the teeth can be now tried out in your mouth before finishing.

Having some or all of your teeth removed is a very emotional journey.
Even though it may feel like a big mile stone and a life changing experience, people are always very grateful for making that decision. Their looks are generally improved and general health is better too.

Unbreakable Flexible Dentures also known as Valplast or Nylon dentures

Flexible dentures are dentures, made of a thin thermoplastic such as nylon, which is a flexible material hence the name. They are also known as Valplast dentures.

They are custom-fabricated to fit each patient's unique anatomy, and are one of the most comfortable tooth replacement options available in the market. They are also lightweight, which allows patients to become accustomed to the dentures very quickly. They have no metal clasps which makes them quite aesthetically pleasant.

Benefits of flexible partials:

• Superior aesthetics - perfect for patients with one or two teeth missing

• Great comfort - much thinner than standard dentures and there is no taste to them

• Patients find chewing easier

• The speech is not affected as badly as it is with thicker dentures

• Excellent function

• Most biocompatible denture material in the market, non-allergenic

• Great substitute for people who cannot effort the implants

• Flexible and not brittle like standard dentures so they don’t shatter if they’re dropped

• The material is translucent and allows the natural gum colour to show through - they look very natural and blend in perfectly 

• Less dental appointments needed to get the final product

• They cling to the gums and don’t require metal clasps to hold them in place

• Some patients feel that the appliance “disappears” or is “invisible” in their mouth, thus the aesthetics of it is far superior to conventional acrylic/metal partial dentures

Disadvantages:

• The cost may be slightly higher than conventional acrylic partial denture because the fitting and finishing time at the lab is increased, but the result makes it well worth it

• The additions (if a patient looses more teeth) can be time consuming and costly as the denture needs to be sent to the lab

• Not suitable in every case and especially unsuitable for patients with gum disease