After Placement of Dental Implants

Do not disturb the wound.
Avoid rinsing or touching the wound for 24 hours after surgery. There may be a normal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Moderate bleeding can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 45-60 minutes. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.  If  excessive bleeding occurs (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood),  place and bite on gauze to control the bleeding and seek medical attention immediately either by calling our office or going to the nearest medical facility. 

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. Swelling may worsen for up to 48-72 hours after your procedure. 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 20 minutes on / 20 minutes off as much as possible, for the first 24-36 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids after your surgery. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Cold liquids and foods are best, as they decrease swelling and bleeding and may decrease pain. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible, unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For mild to moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every six hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you have associated allergies or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection. Antibiotics must be taken as directed until the course is complete. If signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, rash or difficulty breathing occur, discontinue the antibiotic immediately and seek medical attention.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. If a mouth rinse is prescribed, it should be used 2-3 times daily in the morning and before bedtime. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals.  Rinsing should began the first day after surgery, unless otherwise prescribed. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing near the surgical areas. 

Activity

Keep physical activities and strenuous activity to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking 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 and for at least 10 days unless directed by our dentist or oral surgeon. This will be discussed in the pre-operative consultation.