Implant Surgery Post-Operative Care

A dental implant has just been placed in your mouth.  The implant is located in the bone, under the tissue & usually cannot be seen.  The implant will remain submerged for a period of 4 to 6 months, depending upon your body’s healing properties & the type of implant placed.  NEVER USE A WATER PICK NEAR YOUR IMPLANT, EVEN AFTER WORK IS FINISHED.  IT CAN CAUSE THE IMPLANT TO FAIL.

• IF I.V. medication has been given to you, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours following. It is advised to have someone with you during that time period, or until your sedation completely wears off
• 2 weeks following your surgery, you will need to have your sutures out and be examined by the doctor.
• If you wear a partial, denture, flipper or essay retainer – you may take it out to brush, eat, use the surgical red brush or use salt water rinse.  Keep the appliance as clean as possible at all times, you may soak it in Efferent cleaner, brush it lightly and rinse it regularly.  However, you will need to wear it during the night while you’re sleeping on the very first night of the day you had surgery.  After the very first night of wearing your appliance, you should take it every night after that, it will help the tissue to heal (unless you have been directed otherwise).

1. No smoking at all!  You can’t be around anyone who does for 3 days. Smoke, nicotine & heat slow down your healing time and can cause the implant(s) to fail.
2. No alcohol to drink for 30 hours after your surgery.  We also advise not to use rinses with alcohol in it, as it will dry out the tissues and prevent healing.
3. Salt water – you will do salt water rinses 3 to 4 times daily for two weeks after surgery – 1/2 teaspoon to a 6 ounce glass of warm water (be very gentle when doing so – holdout the side of your mouth and tilt your head side to side vs. rinsing.  Lean over the sink and let the water fall out. Do not spit.
4. Red Brush – use the red brush on the sutures within 24 hours of the surgery, 3 to 4 times a day for two weeks.  You need to keep sutures clean (no white stuff on sutures). Doing this properly will help stimulate the tissue, promoting tissue to heal.  It will not harm the sutures in any way.  You can also dip the brush into salt water.
5. Antibiotics: I.V. sedated patients have received an antibiotic through the I.V. line.  You may be given a follow up antibiotic to take.  You will start that antibiotic the day after surgery in the morning.
6. Antibiotics: If an antibiotic has been prescribed for you today, it is extremely important that it is taken until gone.  Should you develop hives, rash, itching or difficulty breathing, PLEASE STOP THE MEDICATION AND CALL OUR OFFICE, YOUR DOCTOR, AND GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.
7. Probiotics: If you have been prescribed an antibiotic, please consider taking an over-the-counter probiotic supplement. The probiotic will provide more friendly bacteria present in the gut, the lower the chance of developing digestive issues like diarrhea. Three strains of probiotics in particular, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis  have been shown to do this. They can safely be taken at exactly the same time as antibiotic medication. Yogurt is another option for probiotics. However, keep in mind that not all yogurt contains live probiotics. In some cases, the live bacteria have been killed during processing. For this reason, make sure to choose yogurt with active or live cultures. Also, always read the label on yogurt before you buy it and look for the Lactobacillus strain. The recommended dosage is as follows for either the probiotic supplement or yogurt:
8. Take one probiotic capsule daily with breakfast, with your antibiotic medication and until the antibiotic course is finished, and for one week after.
9. Eat one tablespoon of yogurt each time you take your antibiotic tablet.
10. Please follow prescriptions given to you prior and after your surgery.
11. Pain: A certain amount of pain is to be expected with all types of surgery.  A pain medication has been prescribed to you, take it as directed.  It is advised that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking the medication.
12. Motrin/Ibuprofen/Advil: These are all the same type of medication.  Please take 600mg every 4 to 6 hours following your surgery for 3 days. This type of medication is not only for pain but is an anti-inflammatory as well, which will help with swelling.  If you are not able to take this type of medication, take Tylenol Extra Strength 400mg every 4 to 6 hours for 3 days.
13. Swelling:  Some swelling is to be expected and possible bruising may occur and is not unusual. In most cases swelling can be prevented or controlled.  Please use an ICE PACK – applied to the outside of your face on the side of the surgery for 20 MINUTES ON AND 20 MINUTES OFF FOLLOWING YOUR PROCEDURE.  It is best to use the ice pack for 24 to 48 hours, following your surgery.  If after 3 days you still have swelling or pain, please call our office. IF URGENT and it is after hours, call our office and a doctor will provide you with help. If not, please leave a message and we will return your call promptly.
14. Bleeding:  You will experience a small amount of bleeding and this is normal.  If it is excessive (blood filling your entire mouth within seconds) please call our office.
15. NO VIGOROUS RINSING, SPITTING, OR SUCKING THROUGH A STRAW FOR 24 HOURS AFTER YOUR SURGERY.  IT WILL PROLONG THE HEALING TIME.
16. Diet: Soft cold things are ok right away such as: Jello, pudding, yogurt, milk shake, ice cream, frosty, carnation breakfast or Ensure. Nothing hot the day of surgery, but you may have warm and soft food such as, mashed potatoes, eggs, soup, broth or soft noodles.  Avoid chewing on the implant site until the doctor or staff informs you that it is ok to do so.  You may have other foods days following that are normal, although it is up to you personally can tolerate, just no chips, nuts or anything sharp or chewy lie gum or hard bread.