Dental Implant Post-Op Instructions
Proper care after any oral surgery will speed healing and lessen pain and discomfort. Please be sure to follow these instructions carefully. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us.
For the Remainder of the Day:
- 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. 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.
- DO NOT smoke. Smoking can increase the chances of an infection.
- Keep fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.
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.
Swelling
Most patients will experience some swelling after surgery in the mouth. It may be mild or severe and is different for every patient. The swelling may increase for the first 24–48 hours before it starts to go away. It may last for several days. Some bruising may also develop on the face.
Nutrition
You may start with non-abrasive 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). You may brush your teeth per usual, though be very careful near the surgical sites.
Sutures
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.
Sinus Lift
If a sinus augmentation or sinus lift was done at the time of your implant placement, it is normal to have a nosebleed the next day. However, we ask that you please call us to let us know if a nosebleed does occur. Do your best to not sneeze as this can reopen the entry site made during treatment.
Medications
If you were 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 you need pain medicine, an over-the-counter regime will help.
- Take Ibuprofen or Advil 600 mg (equal to 3 tabs of over-the-counter Ibuprofen or Advil) every 4-6 hours for the next 3-5 days. Do NOT exceed 2400 mg (12 tabs) in a 24 hour period.
- OR take Extra Strength Tylenol 1000 mg (equal to 2 tabs of over-the-counter Extra Strength Tylenol) every 4-6 hours for the next 3-5 days. Do NOT exceed any more than 4000 mg (8 tabs) in a 24 hour period.
Activity
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.
Will I Be Able to See the Implant?
Depending on the location and stability of the implant being placed, your surgeon may opt to bury 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.
We will schedule an appointment 1 week after surgery. At this appointment, sutures may be removed if they haven’t already dissolved. It is important that you keep this appointment to ensure there is no infection at the surgery site.
Try to relax and practice the best oral hygiene possible and your healing should progress well. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at 907.276.4537.