After Placement of Dental Implants

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues 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 20 minutes on/20 minutes off, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. You may eat anything that is comfortable, within reason, by chewing away from the surgical site.  Use extra caution when numb from local anesthesia, eat only soft food and use care while chewing.

Pain

Post-operative pain is highly variable.  Unless you are unable to take Ibuprofen (Motril, Advil), we recommend that our patients take 400-600mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours with food.  Narcotic pain relievers can be taken in addition to this when necessary, as presribed.  Taking pain medication on an empty stomach can lead to nausea.  Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instucted by your doctor to avoid it.

Antibiotics

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

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. 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. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities 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 for at least 10 days, unless instructed otherwise. Esthetically important prosthetic teeth will be adjusted so that they can be worn continuously, without interruption.