Questions After tooth extractions...

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#1 Post by **Randee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:27 pm

Howdy!

Im hoping someone out there will be able to put my mind at ease.

On Friday, I had to have two molars taken out. Let me preface this by first saying, Im currently under-going Orthodontic treatment. I started last April by having a Quad Helix installed that month, and then my top braces on in June of 2008. The ortho. wanted me to get my two lower molars taken out due to moderate crowding on the bottom but because of my financial situation that the time and my complete fear of extractions and the dentist, I prolonged it. He put my bottom braces on in October of 2008 since I told him I wasn't going to go thru with the extractions.

Come January of 2009, my quad helix was taken out (yay!) and in order to further progess my treatment, it came down to me having to take out my molars.. one was a premolar and the other was a permanent on the opposite side. So, I worked up the courage and got the money to get it done last Friday and I'm SO GLAD it's over now!

But anyway, I was wondering if someone could tell me what the normal healing progression is like since I"m clueless. The extraction site where the baby tooth was is still a dark red due to the blood clot and the other side where the perm. molar was, looks like it has a grey layer of skin coming over it, over the blood clot. Is this normal? I'm just so paranoid. I keep thinking maybe this is a layer of skin thats growing over it so thats a good sign? Someone please reassure me

Thank you!

#2 Post by **Lingualita** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:18 pm

Hey,

Here comes your comfort

From what you're describing, it seems exactly like what i experinced about 4 weeks ago. I had four premolars extracted. For the first couple of days I felt horrible, and the sores were still bleeding. Then, after a couple of days, I got to the stage were you are now. The "wholes" are still blood red, but the bleeding has stopped. Can't remember exactly how long it was like that. But each day the blood red area will get smaller and smaller, until everything finally becomes pink, like the rest of your gums.
This happens within approx 2-3 weeks, at least that's how long it took for me.

When it comes to the grey layer of skin over the blood clot, that's also perfectly normal, that's part of the healing process. (think of what happens when you scratch your skin). I know it's kinda creepy, but my ortho recommended I should just leave it, so it would heal faster. As it kinda creeped me out and I had a tendency of getting food stuck in my holes, I discovered that the best way to clean your sores if something get stuck is mouth rinse. Try avoiding picking with your nails etc. as this may increase the soreness.

Hope I was able to comfort you. You'll be perfectly fine, but I remember exactly what it was like:)

#3 Post by **Randee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:24 pm

Thank you so much for the reassurance! I'm so chicken when it comes to this stuff! I'm sorry you had such a long recovery and thanks for reassuring me!! The hole seems to be closing and turning more and more grey. My other extraction site isn't healing as quickly, but I need to be patient. Thanks again!!

#4 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:53 pm

yes it would seem that you are on your way to healing! congratz on making it to the other side of extraction and congratz on taking the plunge to get the extractions.

I to had one side that healed slower then the other so your not alone on that. Your swelling should have peaked either on the 3rd day or the 4th day and then it should start to go down slowly. One thing i found was that when i started to eat again things kept getting stuck in the extraction sites but they were fairly easy to clean and then i became less paranoid!!!!

#5 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:53 pm

yes it would seem that you are on your way to healing! congratz on making it to the other side of extraction and congratz on taking the plunge to get the extractions.

I to had one side that healed slower then the other so your not alone on that. Your swelling should have peaked either on the 3rd day or the 4th day and then it should start to go down slowly. One thing i found was that when i started to eat again things kept getting stuck in the extraction sites but they were fairly easy to clean and then i became less paranoid!!!!

#6 Post by **Randee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:01 pm

Wow.. It sounds like you are undergoing a lot by your signature. Best of luck to you!!

Thanks also for the positive, reassuring advice. I feel much better since hearing it. As for eating, I'm still on the Oatmeal/Mashed potato diet bc I'm afriad of disrupting my clots. I'm chicken and will probably continue to eat mushy foods until its completley healed. You are brave

#7 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:06 pm

hey no problem
Yes I am getting prepared for my jaw surgery this coming June!

I to was afraid to eat, I stayed on the soft food diet for a bit more then a week or so and then gradually worked my way up to more solid food. I do admit it felt really weird eating for the first little while but I promise you it gets better, your past the hardest part of it now! I also had to deal with a bit of an infection on the left side hense why it took that side a bit more time to heal but by the sounds of your situation you seem to be healing just fine!!

if you have any more questions don't hesitate to pm me!

#8 Post by **Randee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:19 pm

You poor thing.. Jaw surgery sounds so scary to me. It was reccomended to me as well since I have a bad bite, but I opted to go this route and try to correct it the best I could with the helix, braces and extraction route. More power to you! Keep me posted

Yeah, I'm babying my mouth until its totally healed. What I would do though to be able to eat a big hamburger though!

#9 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:24 pm

ya i don't have much choice. lol Its gonna be painful and I'll be nice and swollen but in the end its gonna be worth it. I do admit I'm nervous about it but I know I'm in good hands! I was told by a few different dental surgeon that if I didn't get the jaw surgery done then there really wasn't much use in getting the braces and I'd end up getting really bad respiratory and digestive problems so can't do to much about that. ah well. The joys of jaw issues running through my dad side!

#10 Post by **Randee** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:30 pm

Ugh, poor you. Keep me posted and best of luck! You are brave!! It took me a year to get these extractions and when I got to the dentists office, I freaked out and cried like a dork

Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:50 pm

I shall keep you posted. I have a topic going on in this section: starts with my name so I will be using that topic to keep everyone updated I believe!!!

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Questions After tooth extractions...

Questions After tooth extractions...

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