After Placement of Dental Implants

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 gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 60 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 intermittently, as much as possible, for the first 24 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 comfortable unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. Either preoperatively or at your surgical appointment you will be given prescriptions for medications.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. Warm salt water rinses (1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ozs of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day especially after meals. Brushing your  teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas. In some cases a Peridex oral rinse may be prescribed. If so, start using the rinse the day prior to your surgery. You should resume using it the day after your surgery as directed. 

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 may be used immediately after surgery and depends on what your doctor recommends.