Preparing for Dental Implant Placement
Be well-prepared for a successful oral surgery recovery by doing a few simple things in advance.
Food and Drink
- Do not eat or drink anything for eight hours prior to surgery.
- Stock up on smooth, pureed, and soft foods, such as apple sauce, Jell-O, yogurt, ice cream, and oatmeal to enjoy as you recover.
- Avoid straws when drinking after surgery. Using straws can dislodge the clot that covers your extractions site, resulting in a very painful condition called dry socket.
A Responsible Adult
- Line up someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
- Plan to have a companion stay for the duration of the surgery and then at home, available to help you when needed. Please inform your driver to not leave the office to run errands while you are in surgery.
Plan for Rest
- Schedule a day or two to take it easy. Set up a comfy place to watch Netflix and relax.
- Cancel all plans to engage in physical, work or school activities.
- Resting is key to a successful recovery
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 36 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
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, one or two tablets of Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3 to 4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2 to 3 tablets may be taken four times daily, not to exceed 3200mg daily for an adult. Consult our practice for individuals under 18.
For severe pain, the prescribed medication 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.
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, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after 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 (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4 to 5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle initially while brushing the surgical areas.
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, should be adjusted after surgery so that they can be worn during the healing phase. This is important to discuss prior the surgical procedure, especially if treatment involves the esthetic area of the mouth.