Implant Surgery

Do Not:

• Avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off completely.
• Don't use tobacco for at least 24 hours, and avoid tobacco as much as possible for several months. Tobacco slows healing and increases the risk that your body will reject the implants. It is the leading cause of implant failure.

General Instructions:

• To control minor bleeding, apply moderate pressure with gauze pads or a clean moist tea bag wrapped in a gauze pad.
• For the first 24 hours, drink lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods, chewing on the opposite side of your mouth. After the first 24 hours, you can begin to return to your usual diet, but continue to chew on the opposite side. Avoid very hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed. We'll evaluate your situation to determine how soon you can chew on the implant.
• Limit yourself to calm activities for the first three to five days to keep your blood pressure stable and reduce bleeding.
• If you usually wear a removable denture or partial denture, we will give you specific instructions about wearing it while your implants heal.

Maintaining Oral Care:

• For the first 14 days, gently wipe the implant site with gauze or a cotton swab.
• Two weeks after your procedure begin to brush the area gently with a soft toothbrush.
• Don't floss the site for four weeks. We will evaluate the healing and adjust your brushing and flossing timetable as necessary.
• Brush and floss your other teeth normally.
• If we have recommended a mouthrinse, use it as directed.

For Your Comfort:

• If antibiotics or other medicines are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
• To control discomfort, take pain medication before the anesthetic has worn off or as recommended. It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after surgery.
• To reduce discomfort or swelling for the first 24 hours following surgery, use ice packs, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
• To further reduce discomfort after the first 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth very gently three times a day with warm salt water. (Use about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water.)

When to Call Our Office:

• Call us right away if you have heavy or increased bleeding, if you have pain or swelling that increases or continues beyond two to three days, or you have a reaction to the medication.
• Call us if the implants gradually show through the gums, so we can check them.