After Placement of Dental Implants

Home Instructions After Dental Implant Surgery

  After dental implant surgery, do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. 

Bleeding

  Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues profusely, please call for further instructions.

Swelling

  Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling apply an ice bag, or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice, on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet

  Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

  You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, you may use Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Please refer to directions on the Ibuprofen or Tylenol bottle for proper dosages. Consult our practice for individuals under 18. Do not take the two medications at the same time, and contact our office if you have any questions about these over the counter medications.

  For severe pain, if there is a prescribed medication it can be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take antibiotics if prescribed as directed to help prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

  Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. Warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle initially while brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

  Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking in normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.

Wearing your Prosthesis

  Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures, should not be used immediately after surgery for at least 10 days or as discussed in the pre-operative consultation. But, please ask your surgeon when it is appropriate to start wearing any appliances after surgery.