Extractions Frequently Asked Questions

At Atlantis Dental, we try our best to save every tooth — but sometimes, a tooth is just too far gone. The most common reason for extraction is when a tooth is so decayed, damaged, or infected that it can’t be saved with a root canal or crown.

Another very common situation is wisdom teeth. These are hard to clean and often come in partially. That means there’s a flap of gum covering part of the tooth — and food gets stuck under there. That can lead to an infection, swelling, and even pus. If you’ve felt that area getting sore on and off, it’s better to get it checked before it flares up — because when it does, it can happen fast and be extremely painful.

This is a small surgical procedure, so give yourself some time to rest and recover. Pain is normal, but it should be manageable with the right care.

You’ll be given a prescription for antibiotics and pain meds. Ibuprofen 800mg (prescription) combined with over-the-counter Tylenol works really well. We recommend lots of rest, lots of fluids, and maybe a little Netflix! Most people feel much better after 24–48 hours. Some patients go back to work the next day — and that’s okay if it’s a desk job. If your job is more physical (construction, lifting, etc.), we recommend waiting a bit so you don’t trigger bleeding.

You can take a light walk the next day, but no vigorous running or heavy lifting for a few days. Your body needs this time to heal properly.

Stick to soft, cool foods like ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, rice, and overcooked pasta. Avoid chewing on the side where the tooth was pulled. Brush gently after 24 hours — not too hard, especially around stitches, so you don’t trigger bleeding or loosen the sutures.

Some bleeding is normal. Bite on the gauze we gave you for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, bite on a wet black tea bag for 30 minutes. If bleeding still doesn’t stop, call our office right away. Waking up to blood on your pillow isn’t unusual — it’s usually just overnight oozing mixed with saliva. Just bite on fresh gauze again and monitor it. If it’s soaked through repeatedly, give us a call.

A dry socket happens when the blood clot doesn’t form properly or gets dislodged. You’ll know it’s a dry socket if pain gets worse a few days after the extraction, pain meds don’t help, or you feel throbbing in the jaw or ear. To avoid a dry socket, don’t smoke or vape for at least 48 hours, don’t drink from a straw, spit excessively, or rinse too hard. If you get one, we can place a medicated dressing. You can also try clove oil from Amazon or health food stores.

You can brush lightly after 24 hours — just avoid the extraction site. Workouts should be light at first. No intense cardio, running, or lifting for 48 hours. This is the time to slow down, rest, and let your body heal.