Careful attention to the following instructions will help prevent complications, minimize discomfort, & promote proper healing. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at any time, (540) 373-0602.
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY
- Do not spit or smoke - spitting, the use of a straw, smoking & poking the surgical area can dislodge the blood clot forming & will cause bleeding from the area. Also, smoking can increase the chances of an infection.
- Keep fingers & tongue away from the surgical area.
BLEEDING
- Some minor bleeding is expected after the procedure - it usually subsides quickly, stopping within an hour or two. A little oozing is normal & may persist for several hours.
- Keep gauze on the surgical area with some biting pressure for 20-30 minutes.
- Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red; this is normal & may occur for the rest of the day after the procedure.
SWELLING
- Most patients will experience some swelling after surgery - the severity is different for every patient.
- Swelling may increase for the first 24-48 hours before it starts to go away or it may last for several days.
- You may develop bruising, which is a normal post-operative event & will resolve in 5-7 days.
MEDICATIONS
- If given an antibiotic, it is important to take all of the antibiotics as directed & finish the entire bottle.
- Pain Management - follow the Dental Pain Management Protocol handout - 500 mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) with 600 mg of Ibuprofen (Advil) every 4-6 hours.
- If you experience any adverse reaction to the medications, such as nausea, rash, or itching, discontinue the medication immediately & contact the office.
GRAFTING
- If bone grafting materials were placed, you may notice some white material or small particles of grafting material working their way out. This is normal, but you should do your best to avoid disturbing the area as it heals.
SUTURES
- Unless told otherwise, the sutures used during your procedure are dissolvable & will fall out on their own - generally occurring in the first week after surgery, but timing varies from 4-10 days.
DIET & ACTIVITY
- As soon as the local anesthetic wears off, you may start non-abrasive food (mashed potatoes, pasta, cottage cheese, soup, or scramble eggs). You may resume a regular diet as soon as you feel up to it; please try not to chew directly on the implant sites.
- You may resume your normal activities as you feel up to it. Go easy at first with exercise & recreation; increase your activity slowly over several days back to your normal routine.
ORAL HYGIENE
- You may start rinsing tomorrow, very gently, with some warm salt water (1 tsp. of salt in 8 ounces of warm water). You may brush your teeth per usual, though be very careful near the surgical sites.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SEE THE IMPLANT?
- Depending on the location & stability of the implant being placed, we may opt to bury the implant under the gum tissue. In time, you will return to have the implant uncovered (second stage) & then the implant can be restored.
- If stability is optimal, the second stage procedure can be bypassed & an attachment is placed protruding through the gum tissue, which will be visible. Once the bone heals, we will be able to access the implant without further surgery.
WHEN CAN THE CROWN BE PLACED?
- A crown can be attached to the implant once the implant has fused to the bone - a process called osseointegration.
- The length of time needed for osseointegration is a function of the bone quality, quantity & implant stability at the time of placement - this varies from case to case.
