Post-Op Instruction: Dental Implant

The First stages of healing are aided by the placing tissues at rest. Avoid vigorous chewing, excessive spiting, or aggressive rinsing to avoid delayed healing, bleeding or infection. You may brush your teeth, the first day, except at the surgical site.

Numbness

Your jaw, cheek, tongue & lip may be numb for up to twelve hours after surgery. Therefore, use caution to avoid biting the numb tissues

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 continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

SINUS INSTRUCTIONS (Sinus Grafting Procedures)

Use nasal saline nose spray for 2 weeks. Avoid bending over, nose blowing and suppressing a sneeze for 2 weeks. Slight nose bleeds are normal for up to 2 weeks. Small bone particles may be found in the mouth in the morning, they are normal.

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, 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, you can buy over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 3-4 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 are allergic 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.

SMOKING

Smoking will slow the healing process and may also contribute to failure of the implant to integrate (fusion to the bone). Do not place gauze over the surgical site and smoke, this will only concentrate substances hazardous to healing and worsen the problem.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The day after surgery, rinse with warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt with 8 oz warm water). should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. 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.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery and for at least 10 days. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation.
prolong or discourage the healing process.