Tooth Extraction

Pain Control

  • You may or may not have received a prescription depending on your specific situation.

  • You should take 600 mg ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) every 6 hours for one week. This will help with both pain and inflammation.

    • Do NOT take ibuprofen if you have kidney disease or gastric ulcers

  • You may add 500 -1000 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours for maximum pain relief. This drug is less effective at treating inflammation, but works well for pain when used with ibuprofen.

  • You may also alternate these medications every 3 hours. This is recommended if you feel that the pain medication is wearing off too quickly.

  • Do not exceed 2400 mg of ibuprofen daily, or 4000 mg acetaminophen daily.

  • You may have been prescribed stronger pain medications. Take those medications as directed by Dr. Raj and the instructions on the bottle.

Swelling and Inflammation

  • You can expect swelling to increase after the procedure, reaching peak swelling around day 2 or day 3.

  • You can apply ice packs to the swollen parts of your face for the first 24-48 hours to minimize the amount of swelling.

  • You may have been prescribed a Medrol Dosepak . This is prescribed to reduce inflammation around the nerve in your lower jaw that supplies the sensation of your lower lip and chin. Complete the Dosepak as instructed on the medication packaging.