After Placement of Dental Implants

Home Instructions After Dental Implant Surgery

After dental implant surgery, 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 rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues profusely, 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 ~24-48 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Avoid crunchy or hard foods for about 1 week. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. You can return to a normal diet at about 1 week after surgery unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should try to take pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For heathly adults without liver or kidney disease, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are great options for non-opiate pain relief. For healthy individuals it is ok to mix Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen short term as they work differently and have different side effects. 

One or two tablets (500-1000mg) of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken every 6-8 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken in addition to Tylenol. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 6-8 hours, not to exceed 3200mg daily for an adult. Consult our practice for individuals under 18. 

For severe pain, the prescribed medication (for example Norco, Oxycodone, Tramadol) should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. Do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office.

Please refer to the paper handout given at your appointment with more directions for pain medication. 

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, avoid rinsing with mouthwash. The day after surgery, over the counter or prescribed mouthwash can be used twice daily; after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse gently for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. The day after surgery, warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. It is ok to brush your teeth and others areas of your mouth. Just avoid the actual surgical areas for about a week.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately 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 in normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures are generally ok to wear immediately after surgery, but you should be careful for about 10 days. However if there is discomfort with wearing dentures after surgery, leave them out for the initial healing phase.