Post Dental Implant Surgery Care

‍FIRST HOUR: Gently but firmly hold the gauze placed over the surgical areas. Do not change the gauze during the first hour unless the bleeding is not controlled. The gauze can be gently removed after one hour. If active bleeding persists, place enough new gauze to obtain pressure over the surgical site for another 30 minutes. The gauze may be changed as necessary (usually every 30 to 45 minutes).

ORAL HYGIENE: Keeping the mouth clean is important. You should brush your teeth even on the night of surgery, but be gentle around the surgical areas. If minimal bleeding occurs, saltwater rinses can begin 24 hours after surgery (mix 1 tablespoon of salt with 8 ounces of water). Gently swish the solution. Rinses should be done 2-3 times a day, especially after meals.

ACTIVITIES: Post-surgery activities should be couch or bed rest for the first day. Bending, lifting, or strenuous activity will result in increased bleeding, swelling, and pain. Exercise can increase bleeding, swelling, and discomfort after implant surgery. Avoid exercise for 3-4 days following the surgery.

BLEEDING: Bleeding occurs immediately after surgery and it is normal to ooze blood for 24-48 hours after surgery. Remember that oral bleeding represents a little blood and a lot of saliva. Bite on a gauze pad firmly to control bleeding. If oozing is still active, you can change the gauze every 30-45 minutes.

SEVERE AND PERSISTENT BLEEDING: Bleeding should not be severe. If so, it usually indicates that the gauze pad is not being applied firmly enough between the teeth and is not exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the gauze. If bleeding persists, avoid physical activity, use ice packs. If bleeding continues uncontrollably, please contact our clinic.

SWELLING: Swelling is a normal occurrence after implant surgery and can increase for 2-3 days post-surgery. It can be minimized by applying a cold pack, ice bag, or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel firmly to the cheek adjacent to the surgical area. Apply for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off during the first 12 hours following surgery. If you received a prescription to help control swelling, take it as directed.

PAIN AFTER IMPLANT: Discomfort is normal after most oral surgical procedures. You will typically have a prescription for pain medication. Taking the first pill before the anesthesia wears off will help manage discomfort better. Remember, the most severe pain is usually within six hours after the local anesthetic wears off; after that, your need for medication should lessen. If you are taking large amounts of pain medication at frequent intervals, please call our office.

DIET: Avoid extremely hot foods. Do not use crunchy or hard foods like chips, popcorn, seeds, or nuts for the first few days. Liquids and pureed foods (soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, etc.) should be restricted on the first day, but are not always necessary. Avoid chewing until normal feeling has returned. It's best to avoid foods like rice, nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc.

Instructions for the Second and Third Day

BRUSHING: Begin your normal oral hygiene as soon as possible after surgery. The width of the surgical area and swelling may not permit brushing, but cleaning your teeth within comfortable limits is extremely important. A clean environment adjacent to healing surgical wounds is required for optimal and quick healing.

Healing After Implant: Normal healing after implant placement should be as follows: The first two days after surgery are generally the most uncomfortable and there is usually swelling. By the third day, you should be more comfortable and, although still swollen, can usually begin a more substantial diet. Continuous improvement should occur after the third day. If not, call our clinic.

Sharp Edges: If you feel sharp edges in the surgical areas with your tongue, it is the bony walls that originally supported the teeth. Sometimes small bone fragments work themselves out within a week after surgery. If they cause concern or discomfort, please call our office.

Cracking and Dryness of Lip Corners: If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Keep your lips moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.

Sore Throat: A sore throat may develop after implant treatment. The muscles get swollen and this may make swallowing painful. This will generally subside in 2-3 days.

Difficulty Opening Mouth (Trismus): Implant surgery can cause a limitation in opening the mouth for a few days. This is a normal post-surgical event that usually resolves within a week. Doing stretching exercises

for the muscles can help to speed up the resolution of this problem.

Post-Treatment Conditions: Each individual's post-treatment conditions are unique. Do not accept well-intentioned advice from friends. Discuss your concerns with your dentist and get the necessary information from them.

We wish for your treatment to be as successful and comfortable as possible. However, if you have questions after treatment, you can reach us.

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