After Placement of Dental Implants

Home Instructions After Dental Implant Surgery

Please do not disturb the wound. Avoid aggressively rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue. Avoid chewing directly over the site.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or a plastic bag filled with ice and wrapped with a towel, to the face in the area(s) of surgery. For the first 24 hours, ice packs should be utilized every 20 minutes (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) while you are awake.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or foods while numb. Soft foods and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as tolerated, unless otherwise directed. Avoid chewing food in the area in which the implant was placed for the full healing period, which is usually 3-4 months.

Pain

Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. You will usually be prescribed with Ibuprofen 600 mg for mild to moderate discomfort (unless you have heart disease, bleeding disorder, are on a blood thinner/anticoagulation medication, or have stomach ulcers). Please take the first dose before the anesthesia wears off for better pain management. You may supplement this with two regular-strength or one extra-strength Tylenol, every four to six hours. An effective pain regimen is to alternate Ibuprofen and Tylenol every 3 hours, thereby taking Ibuprofen every 6 hours and Tylenol every 6 hours. For example, take Ibuprofen at 12:00 pm, Tylenol at 03:00pm, Ibuprofen at 06:00 pm, Tylenol at 09:00 pm, and so on and so forth.

For severe pain, you may be prescribed a narcotic pain medication. If you take this, it will make you groggy and slow down your reflexes. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alternating between Ibuprofen 600mg (unless contraindicated, as above) and the narcotic pain medication will help achieve adequate relief. Do not take Tylenol if you are requiring the narcotic, which usually has Tylenol (acetaminophen) in it. A common side effect is constipation and nausea, so please stay well hydrated. Typically, the more severe discomfort is usually experienced within the first 3 days after the surgery. This will usually subside more and more each day after that, and your need for medicine should lessen as well. Sometimes, the pain increases as the swelling increases over the next 2 to 3 days. If significant pain persists for more than 5 days, it may require attention and you should call the office. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Oral Hygiene

Mouth cleanliness is essential to healing. No vigorous rinsing should be performed for 24 hours after the surgery. You may brush your teeth the night of surgery, but rinse gently. Avoid brushing the gums in the area of surgery for one (1) week. The day after surgery, you should begin gently rinsing 2 times daily with warm salt water. Continue this for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, soak a Q-tip with salt water and gently apply it daily around

the implant site. This will keep the tissue healthy and help with the healing.

Discoloration

In some cases, discoloration of the skin (bruising) follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur two (2) to three (3) days post-operatively, and may last up to a week or two. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics may be given to help prevent or treat an infection. If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction.

Antibiotics make birth control pills ineffective. Women who take birth control pills should use another form of contraception for one complete cycle after the course of antibiotics has been used. Call the office if you have any questions.

Nausea & Vomiting

Nausea may occur after surgery, and is sometimes caused by stronger pain medications. Nausea may be reduced by preceding each tablet with a small amount of food, then taking the tablet with a large volume of water. In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for a least an hour, including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on tea or ginger ale (after stirring out carbonation). You should sip slowly over a 15-minute period. If you are not on Coumadin/warfarin, you may also try Alka-Seltzer or Pepto Bismol. When the nausea subsides, you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine. If nausea persists for more than four hours, call the office.

Sutures

Sutures may be placed in the area of surgery. Sometimes they become dislodged or loose. This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. In most cases, sutures will dissolve unnoticed in about 7-10 days.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum following surgery. If you 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 may be worn after surgery, but not while eating. The more you leave your prosthesis out, the better your implant will heal.