After Dental Implants
You have made a wise investment in your health with dental implants. The first ten days after surgery are the most critical to your uneventful healing. Care is simple and involves two key components: keep the area clean and avoid pressure on the area.
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 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. A good indicator is if you cannot hear yourself chewing the food. We would like you to be on a soft diet for at least ten days after your implant surgery. Do not return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.
Pain
You should begin taking pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, one to two Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every three to four hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets. Two to three tablets may be taken every three to four 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.
Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. For three days prior to your implant surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse two times a day. Rinse with one capful for 30 seconds, then spit the fluid out of your mouth. 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 (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least four to five times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth is not a problem. Running your tooth brush under hot water will soften the bristles and allow you to more gently cleanse the areas adjacent to your surgical site. Be gentle initially when brushing the surgical areas. Another rinse to keep the area clean is diluted Listarine – dilute 1:4 with water.
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 can be used immediately after surgery only if they have been adjusted at the time of implant surgery. Please check with our doctors about your personal needs concerning wearing your removable prostheses. This was discussed in the preoperative consultation.
