After Placement of Dental Implant(s)

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.

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 moist 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, 30 minutes on/30 minutes off, for the first 48 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten for the next couple of days. Foods like pasta, mashed potatoes, fully cooked vegetables, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal are good foods to start off with. 

If bone graft was placed in implant site on the same day, you must stay away from milk and milk products (i.e. whole glasses of milk, cereal, ice cream) for about 2 weeks until authorized by Dr. Heine.   

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 4-6 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 4-6 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.  Brush and floss untreated areas normally after surgery.  Begin cleaning surgical site 24 hours after surgery with warm salt water rinses five times a day for 5 – 10 days.  Use 1 tsp of salt to six ounces of 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 worn immediately after surgery. A follow up appointment with your general dentist should be made for 24 hours after delivery.  Soreness under applaince may require adjustment. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation.