After Placement of Dental Implants – Vancouver WA

Please follow these home care instructions for after Dental Implant 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 thebleeding 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 much 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.
• Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

• • You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off.
  • For moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours.
  • Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 3-4 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. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed.
  • 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 (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals.
  • Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

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 should not be used immediately after surgery and for at least 10 days. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation.