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Dental FAQ.
Tooth extraction FAQ covering recovery, dry socket warning signs, aftercare, cost ranges, sedation, and when extraction is needed.
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Tooth Extraction & Wisdom Teeth
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Tooth Extraction?
Extraction recovery is staged: clot protection first, then softer chewing, with full comfort arriving on a schedule that depends on surgery complexity.
What Is Dry Socket?
Dry socket means the clot that should shield the extraction site is gone or never formed well, leaving bone exposed and pain often sharper after day one.
When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Removal timing follows risk and imaging, not a birthday alone: pain, infection, pathology, or a tooth that cannot be kept clean often tip the decision.
What Can You Eat After A Tooth Extraction?
Post-extraction eating is a staged routine: cool soft foods first, then tender chewables, while skipping straws and sharp crumbs that disturb the clot.
Do Wisdom Teeth Removals Hurt?
During removal you should be numb or sedated; afterward, manageable soreness is common. Fear often comes from myths about feeling the surgery itself.
How Long Does Swelling Last After An Extraction?
Extraction swelling usually climbs through day two or three, then declines; surgical wisdom teeth and multiple sites often stay puffy longer than simple cases.
When Do Stitches Come Out After An Extraction?
Some extraction stitches dissolve on their own as gums close; others need a short removal visit. Care focuses on keeping the site clean without tugging threads.
Can I Brush After A Tooth Extraction?
Brushing after extraction protects the rest of your mouth; the socket itself needs a gentler approach until your dentist clears normal cleaning beside it.
Is Sedation Used For Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Sedation is common for wisdom teeth surgery but not automatic: local anesthesia always matters, while nitrous, oral, or IV sedation match anxiety and case needs.
What Are Signs Of Infection After An Extraction?
Post-extraction infection signs include pain that escalates after improvement, fever, pus or foul drainage, and swelling that spreads rather than steadily fades.
Do All Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed?
Keeping or removing wisdom teeth is a risk decision: disease, cleaning access, and anatomy matter more than assuming every third molar must come out.