dental disorders
Postextraction Problems
Swelling and pain
Swelling is normal after oral surgery and is proportional to the degree of manipulation and trauma. An ice pack (or a plastic bag of frozen peas or corn, which adapts to facial contours) should be used for the first day. Cold is applied for 25-minute periods every hour or 2. If swelling does not begin to subside by the 3rd postoperative day, infection is likely and an antibiotic may be given (eg, penicillin VK 500 mg orally every 6 hours orclindamycin300 mg orally every 6 hours) until 72 hours after symptoms subside. Postoperative pain varies from moderate to severe and is treated with analgesics (see Treatment of Pain ). 