Nobody wants to give away their permanent tooth, but in some cases, it becomes very difficult to retain it. When a tooth is severely damaged, dentists recommend extraction. There are many questions related to tooth removal, and one such important question is how long does it take for the hole to close after extraction. Keep reading to find answers.
The time it takes for an extraction hole to recover depends on several factors. The place of the tooth and its size plays an important part in this. Usually it takes around days to a few weeks. Read on for more details.
How long does it take the hole to close after tooth extraction?
The empty socket left behind depends on the size of the removed tooth. The recovery time is also determined by the type of extraction and whether your molar, premolar, or canine was pulled. Take a look at the healing period in the context of surgery type.
Simple tooth extraction
Teeth that have completely erupted from the gumline are pulled using a simple extraction procedure. Socket left after removal of a tooth with a single root needs around a week to close up. Teeth with deeper roots embedded in the jaw will take longer to heal. You can expect the gum to close the extraction hole in around 20-25 days. Full recovery of the extraction site requires several months.
Surgical tooth extraction
Surgical removal may be needed in the following cases:
- cracked or chipped teeth
- impacted wisdom tooth
- canines that had less space to erupt fully
This tooth removal procedure involves cutting bones and tissues across the gum line. This wound after this type of extraction takes around six weeks to close up. There’s a possible dent that you’ll feel for a few months. This is a complicated procedure, and a patient will require more time to recover.
Age, genetics, and overall health
The time your body takes to develop a blood clot determines the recovery time after tooth extraction. The more time clotting takes, the slower the recovery. If you’re young and healthy, you’ll clot much faster compared to an old person with a number of diseases.
How will your next days or months go after tooth extraction?
First 24 hours
The blood clot starts forming on the empty socket. Slight pain is normal during this time. Your surgery site will be sore, and you may feel discomfort upon touching it.
Week 1 to week 3
During this time, the empty hole after tooth extraction will begin to close up. In case of surgical removal, the hole will require more time for recovery.
1 to 4 months
Depending on the complication of the procedure you had, your site will close up by this time.
Get expert help
Recovering after tooth extraction shouldn’t take too long after tooth removal. The inflammation and pain should go away within two weeks. But if you’re experiencing additional symptoms like fever, or pus with continuous bleeding, visit your dentist right away. Schedule an appointment with Vintage Smile Family Dentistry by calling (281) 251-7770.