After Placement of Dental Implants

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

You will have a gauze pack placed over the surgical site immediately psotoperatively. Maintain firm pressure for 1 hour. Extra gauze is provided should bleeding persist. Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) is not normal. You may try wrapping a gauze around a wet tea bag and place it over the wound with pressure. 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 filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice intermittently at 20 minute intervals, as much as possible, for the first 24 hours. Be extremely careful if you choose to use frozen peas. Placing this directly on the skin can lead to burning of the skin.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Maintain a soft, non-chew, diet as much as possible. You may chew on the non-affected side however try not to allow the food to move over the surgical site. Avoid using straws until further notice. Return to a normal diet as directed.

Pain

Dr. Yanagihara will prescribe you a pain medication. You should begin taking pain medication before you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. For mild to moderate discomfort, over the counter medications may be adequate. Do not take any medication if you are allergic, on another medication which contraindicates its concurrent use, 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, you may brush you teeth as usual however be careful when brushing near the surgical site. You may gently rinse with warm salt water(teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water). The day after surgery, rinse and soak with hot salt water. Hot salt water rinses should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments (the partially exposed metal post) is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing near the surgical areas. You may have been prescribed Peridex, an anti-bacterial mouthwash, which should be used twice daily, after the first week of healing. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out.

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. Irritation from you prosthesis may be detrimental to implant healing and lead to failure. Please follow the doctor’s direction regarding the use of your prosthesis postoperatively. If you are unsure, please call the doctor.