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

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Bleeding should never be severe. If it is, this usually means that the packs are being clenched between your teeth rather than exerting pressure on the surgical areas. Try repositioning the packs. If bleeding persists or becomes heavy you may substitute a tea bag (soaked in hot water, squeezed damp-dry and placed over the site, biting down with gauze on top of the tea bag for 20-30 minutes). If bleeding remains uncontrolled, please call our office.

Swelling

Swelling normally occurs after surgery. You can minimize this by using a cold pack (frozen peas work well) or ice pack wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to face or cheek adjacent to the surgical area. This should be applied thirty minutes on and thirty minutes off during the first 12 to 36 hours after surgery. Keeping the head elevated will also minimize swelling. 3 to 4 pillows will work well to keep the patient in a restful, elevated position. This position should be maintained, even during sleep, for the first three days. If you have been prescribed medicine for the control of swelling, be sure to take it as directed. After 36 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Thirty-six hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling.

Diet

After general anesthetic or I.V. sedation, liquids should be initially taken. This will prevent dehydration. Do not use straws for the first 2 weeks. Drink from a glass. The sucking motion can cause more bleeding by dislodging the blood clot. Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Temperature of the food doesn’t matter, but avoid extremely hot and spicy foods. It is sometimes advisable, but not required, to confine the first day’s input to bland liquids or pureed foods (creamed soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, etc.). Avoid foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc., that may get lodged in the socket areas. Over the next several days you can progress to solid foods at your own pace. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal faster. If you are a diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits as much as possible and follow instructions from us, or your physician, regarding your insulin schedule.

Depending on the dental implant procedure performed, a soft diet may be prescribed by Dr. Vigliante for several months. This is done on a case-by-case basis.

Pain

Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. Dr. Vigliante uses long-acting local anesthesia on his patients, allowing them enough time to get comfortable at home, drink some fluids, and begin taking pain medications. Effects of pain medications vary widely among individuals. You will usually have a prescription for pain medication, and if you take the first pill before the anesthetic has worn off, you will be able to manage any discomfort better. It is important not to take the codeine pain medication on an empty stomach as this will cause nausea. Most patients can safely take Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) three (3) 200 mg tablets taken every 4-6 hours shortly after surgery (Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets). This treatment has many advantages including decreasing postoperative nausea and decreasing swelling after surgery. If you do not achieve adequate relief with ibuprofen alone, we encourage you to supplement the ibuprofen with the stronger codeine pain medication prescribed by Dr. Vigliante. Some people may even require two of the codeine pain pills at one time during early stages (but that may add to the risk of upset stomach). Remember that the most severe discomfort is usually within the first six hours after the anesthetic wears off; after that your need for medicine should lessen.

For severe pain, take the tablets prescribed as directed. The prescribed codeine-type pain medicine will make you groggy and will slow down your reflexes. 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.

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 you have been placed on antibiotics, take the tablets or liquid as directed. Antibiotics will be given to help prevent infection. Discontinue antibiotic use in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction. Call the office if you have any questions.

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 (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem after the gums heal. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are involved in regular exercise, be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced. Exercise may weaken you. If you get light headed, stop exercising. Remember, no exercise the first week. You can return to your normal activities after the first week as you seem fit.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Some prostheses can be used immediately after dental implant surgery. Others are not recommended. Dr. Vigliante will fully discuss all of your treatment options in the pre-operative consultation. He will do everything he can to get you a tooth replacement as quickly as possible, usually the same day as the dental implant surgery.