After Placement of Dental Implants

Fountaingrove Oral Surgery, Santa Rosa CA

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 surgical site 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 pack, or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice, on the outer cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice for 20 minutes, and remove the ice for 20 minutes alternating continuously, as much as possible, for the first 24 hours.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids and foods the day of your surgery as this can cause bleeding. Soft foods should be eaten for at least the first week following your surgery. These foods include mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soups, yogurt, pudding, apple sauce, smoothies, soft fruits and vegetables, pasta, etc. Avoid crunchy or hard foods, as well as acidic, and spicy foods.

Pain

Taking the pain medications that your doctor has prescribed for you will help you to effectively manage any discomfort that you may experience. Please follow the directions on your prescription bottle and call our office if you have any questions. Keep in mind that taking your pain medications before your local anesthetic wears off will help you to control your discomfort more easily. It is important for you to have something to eat before you take any kind of medication. This will help to minimize the occurance of nausea or vomiting.

Do not take any medications if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. If you are taking a narcotic pain medicacation such as Norco or Percocet do not drive an automobile or work around machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain or discomfort following surgery should gradually subside over the coarse of a week or so. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office, especially if new pain and/or sweling occur.

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 half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 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 not be used immediately after surgery for at least 10 days, as discussed in the pre-operative consultation.