After Placement of Dental Implants

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

Bleeding After Placement of Dental Implants

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 one hour. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.

Swelling after Oral Surgery

Swelling is a normal occurrence after oral surgery when dental implants are placed. 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 48 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 After Placement of Dental Implants

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain Tylenol or Ibuprofen can be taken as directed by your physician. 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

If antibiotics were prescribed take as directed to help prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of oral surgery for dental implants, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after oral 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 oral 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 oral surgery, depending on the nature or extent of your procedure. This was discussed in the pre-operative consultation. If you have further questions, call our Northern KY oral surgery office in Florence KY at 859-371-0123

You may download a pdf of our general post-operative instructions, here.