Post-Operative Instructions After Dental Implants
SWELLING
Most patients will experience some swelling after surgery in the mouth. It may be mild or severe and is different for every patient. Normal post-operative swelling peaks 3 days after surgery before it starts to go away. It may last for several days. Some bruising may also develop on the face.
BLEEDING
Some minor bleeding is expected after dental implant surgery. It will usually subside quickly and stop within an hour or two after surgery. A little oozing is normal and may persist for several hours.
Keep gauze on the surgical area with some biting pressure for 30–45 minutes.
If all else fails, call the office.
DIET
You may start with soft and easy-to-chew foods such as mashed potatoes, pasta, cottage cheese, soup, or scrambled eggs as soon as the local anesthetic wears off. You may resume a regular diet as soon as you feel up to it; however, please try not to chew directly on the implant sites.
ORAL HYGIENE
You may start rinsing tomorrow, very gently, with some warm salt water (1 tsp of salt in 8 ounces of warm water). Brush your teeth after every meal, though be very careful near the surgical sites.
- Do not spit. Use a tissue to wipe your mouth as needed, or swallow your saliva.
- Do not use a drinking straw. Drink straight from the cup.
- Do not smoke.
- Keep fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.
Do not use a drinking straw.
Drink straight from the cup.
Do not smoke.
Keep fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.
Spitting, the use of a straw, smoking, and poking the surgical area can dislodge the blood clot that is forming and will cause bleeding from the area. Also, smoking can increase the chances of an infection.
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY
Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is CRITICAL in the healing process of your new dental implant. Ensuring that your mouth is free from food debris and plaque will not only help ensure the success of your new implant, but also help to minimize your discomfort, recovery time, and chance of developing infections.
SUTURES (Stiches)
Unless told otherwise, the sutures used during your procedure are dissolvable and will fall out on their own. This generally occurs in the first week after surgery, but timing varies from 4–10 days.
BONE GRAFT MATERIAL
If your surgeon placed bone graft material at the time the dental implant was placed, you might notice some gritty material in your mouth. This is nothing to worry about and should subside within a day or two.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE THE IMPLANT?
Depending on the location and stability of the implant being placed, your surgeon may opt to cover the implant under the gum tissue. In time, you will return and have the implant uncovered so the implant can be restored. If stability is optimal, the second stage procedure can be bypassed, and an attachment is placed that protrudes through the gum tissue, which will be visible. Once the bone has healed, the restoring dentist will be able to access the implant without the need for further surgery.
WHEN CAN THE CROWN BE PLACED?
A dental crown can be attached to a dental implant once the implant has fused to the bone. This is a process called osseointegration. The length of time the bone must heal varies from case to case and will be discussed with your surgeon. The length of time needed for osseointegration is a function of the bone quality, quantity, and implant stability at the time of placement. At a minimum, the osseointegration process takes 8 weeks but can extend to 4 months.
MEDICATIONS:
You were probably given one or more prescriptions for medications. Take all as directed on the bottle. Call us if you experience severe nausea or diarrhea, or cannot swallow your pills.
Antibiotics: Continue until the bottle is empty. Do not quit halfway.
Pain Medicine: If instructed by your surgeon, take 800mg Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and 650mg Tylenol (Acetaminophen) together every 8 hours for the first two days after surgery. Take your pain medication as soon as possible after surgery and before the local anesthesia (numbing medicine) has worn off. If prescribed a narcotic medication, take it only for severe, break through pain in addition to the Ibuprofen/Tylenol combination. DO NOT exceed 3200mg Ibuprofen or 4000mg Tylenol per day.
ACTIVITY:
Once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medication, you may resume your normal activities as you feel up to it. Go easy at first with exercise and recreation, and increase your activity slowly over several days back to your normal routine.
Please follow these instructions as closely as possible. They are designed to help you heal quickly and comfortably.
We are here for you. If you would like to speak to a member of our surgical team, please contact us at any time.
During business hours, please call our office. After hours, please call our office, and our answering service will page a member of the surgical team. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
If you would like to speak to a member of our surgical team, please contact us at any time.
During business hours, please call our office. After hours, please call our office, and our answering service will page a surgeon.
We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
