Post-Operative Instructions for
Dental Implant Surgery
BLEEDING
Some minor bleeding is expected after dental implant surgery. Bleeding may continue for the hours after surgery and even into the night. Place a moistened gauze over surgical site and bite with moderate pressure. Leave gauze in place for 20-30 minutes and replace as needed. To help with clot formation and stability, avoid using a straw, or vigorously rinsing and spitting for the first week. After 24 hours, gently rinsing and spitting can be initiated with a prescribed mouth-rinse or warm saltwater.
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SWELLING
Most patients will experience some swelling after surgery. It may be mild or severe and is different for every patient. The swelling may increase for the first 24–48 hours before it starts to go away. It may last for several days. Some bruising may also develop on the face. Ice packs can help minimize swelling. If you have persistent swelling or concerns with your swelling, call our office.
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AVOID EXERCISE
No straining, heavy lifting, vigorous exercise for at least a few days, ideally a week after surgery. This can disrupt clot formation and delay healing.
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DO NOT TOUCH SURGICAL SITES
Avoid touching the surgical sites for at least 8 weeks, ideally the whole 3 month healing period. The bone needs to heal around the implant, and touching the area or chewing on it can cause the implant to fail or increase the risk of infection. Think of the area as a broken bone that is healing and treat it very gently.
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SOFT DIET
Avoid hard or crunchy foods that can get caught in the surgical site. Start with a soft diet (mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, etc.) during the first week of healing. Do not chew on the surgical site during the entire 3 month healing period.
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ORAL HYGIENE
Brush your teeth normally, but avoid brushing the surgical site for the first week. After the first week, you can clean the area using a gauze and a shoe-shine movement around the abutment (the part that sticks up from the gum tissue). After 24 hours, you can start gently rinsing with a prescribed mouth-rinse or warm saltwater rinse.
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SUTURES
The sutures used during your procedure may be dissolvable and will fall out on their own. This generally occurs in the first week after surgery, but timing varies from 4–10 days. If they are not dissolvable, we will schedule a post-op visit for removal. If sutures loosen and are bothering you, do not try to remove them at home. Call the office and we can remove them for you.
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BONE GRAFT MATERIAL
If bone graft material was placed at the time the dental implant was placed, you might notice some gritty material in your mouth. This is nothing to worry about and should subside within a day or two. Do not touch the surgical site to try to remove it – if it bothers you, then call the office and we can remove it for you.
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MEDICATIONS
Take all medications as directed on the bottle. Call us if you experience severe nausea or diarrhea, or cannot swallow your pills.
- Antibiotics: Continue full course of antibiotics as prescribed on the bottle.
- Pain Medicine: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (following the bottle instructions) every 4-6 hours for the first couple days, then on an as needed basis for the following days. If narcotics were prescribed, take as needed, following the frequency instructions on the bottle. Remember that narcotics can make you drowsy, so no driving, swimming, operating machinery, or drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking them.
- Supplements: If instructed, take 8000 units vitamin D daily (during healing period) to help with bone formation.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at 651-452-2116.
