After Dental Implant Surgery

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. This abutment can come loose over time. If the abutment feels loose or begins to move call the office immediately to prevent damage to the implant or abutment.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours and can persist for several days. 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. Swelling peaks on the third day but can take up to one week to go away. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice at 20-minute intervals, as often 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. Avoid eating on the surgery site until your Surgeon gives you the O.K. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking anti-inflammatory medication (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve) as soon as you get home if you can take these medications. If not take Tylenol. Taking these medications before the numbness wears away helps significantly with pain control. For moderate to severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Antibiotics

If prescribed, be sure to take the antibiotics as directed.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The day after surgery, the Peridex antibiotic rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed as prescribed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at several times a day during the first week after surgery. Hydrogen peroxide rinses also help prevent bacteria and infections. Rinse nightly with a capful of hydrogen peroxide for the life of your implant – it’s great for your implant and your teeth. Brushing your teeth with the healing abutment is important. The “cap” in your mouth should always be shiny clean metal. Be gentle initially when 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 only be worn if you are instructed to do so by your surgeon. Any pain or changes to the surgery site should be reported to our office immediately. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue. This abutment can come loose over time. If the abutment feels loose or begins to move call the office immediately to prevent damage to the implant or abutment.