After Placement of Dental Implants
Dental Implant Post Op Instructions
Do not disturb the surgical area. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the surgical area on the day of surgery.
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 us 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 for 20 minutes on and off, as much as possible, for the first 48 hours.
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 instructed.
Pain
You should begin taking pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, naproxen (Aleve) 250mg-500mg taken twice a day. 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 4-6 hours instead of naproxen. Naproxen, bought over the counter comes in 250 mg tablets: one or two tablets may be taken every 8 to 12 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
If antibiotics are prescribed, please take them as directed to help prevent infection.
Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential to healing. Warm salt water rinses (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 2-3 times a day, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is not a problem. Initially, be gentle with brushing the surgical areas.
Activity
Keep physical activity to a minimum immediately following surgery. Throbbing or bleeding may occur as a result. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.