Proper Dental Implant Aftercare
After your dental implant procedure, it’s important to take proper care of your oral hygiene to ensure a successful treatment. Dr. Chaudhry and our exceptional dental team will provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your mouth after implant surgery. Keep reading to learn about general dental implant aftercare.
Dental Implant Aftercare Instructions
General Information
After dental implant placement, a blood clot may form in the area. To prevent post-operative inflammation and infection, it’s important to keep this blood clot in place.
For the first 48 hours after implant placement:
- Don’t vigorously rinse your mouth, as this may rinse away the blood clot
- Don’t drink through a straw
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
- Don’t disturb the implant site with the tongue or fingers
Bleeding
It’s normal to ooze blood from your surgical site for 24 hours after implant placement. If your bleeding becomes excessive and you can’t get it under control, contact our office right away.
To help minimize the bleeding, try the following:
- Bite on a damp gauze for one hour after surgery
- Repeat with fresh gauze every 20 minutes as needed
- Don’t lie flat, instead, elevate your head with a pillow
- Limit your physical activity for the first two to three days after surgery
Swelling
Swelling after your surgery is completely normal and should be expected. The swelling will be at its peak on day two or three after the procedure and can remain that way for an additional three days before it resolves.
Here are some tips to help ease your swelling:
- Immediately after surgery, place ice packs over the affected area
- Leave ice packs on for 20-minutes intervals
- After the first 24 hours, ice packs aren’t needed and won’t be effective
Post-Operative Pain
You should begin taking your prescribed medications as soon as you feel your local anesthetic wearing off. You’ll most likely be instructed to use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Extra Strength Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Take any medications as needed for pain. The medication will most likely make you feel drowsy, so don’t drive or operate machinery or vehicles.
Diet
After your implant placement, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, starting with water, apple or cranberry juice, or ginger ale. For the first week after your surgery, only soft foods and liquids should be consumed. After the first week, you can slowly start integrating normal foods back into your diet, but avoid biting on harder foods until the implant site has fully healed.
Antibiotics
If you’re prescribed an antibiotic, please take it as directed and finish the prescription unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Women, please note that antibiotics can interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control pills, so speak with your physician beforehand.
Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to proper healing. The night of your surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after your surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Make sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds and then spit it out.
Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4 to 5 times a day, especially after meals. As for brushing, stick to your normal routine. Just be extra gentle when brushing around the surgical areas.
Activity
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following your surgery. If you’re considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding of the implant site may occur. If this does happen, stop any physical activity right away. Keep in mind that your body probably isn’t getting the nourishment it’s used to, which can weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pain around the surgical site normal?
It’s normal to experience mild soreness around the surgical site after your procedure. The numbness from the local anesthetic will usually subside within a few hours. You can use a cold compress or over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate any discomfort.
If you’re still experiencing mild or severe pain near the surgical site after a few days, it may be a sign of a complication. Call our Stroudsburg office at (484) 821-1357 or our Bethlehem office at (484) 821-1357 as soon as you can to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chaudhry. He’ll be able to assess your situation and relieve you of any painful symptoms.
How long is the healing process after dental implant surgery?
Most patients will typically require six to nine months to fully heal after receiving dental implants. During this time, your implant will undergo osseointegration, in which your implant will fuse to your jawbone for a secure fit.
Several factors can influence the length of your healing time, such as:
- Supplemental procedures
- Number of implants received
- Follow-up care
- Oral health
- Health conditions
- Tobacco use
Dr. Chaudhry will provide you with an estimated treatment timeline at your initial consultation.
How do I care for my dental implants?
To keep your implants and oral health in good condition, it’s crucial to follow all of Dr. Chaudhry’s aftercare instructions. This includes:
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth twice per day
- Flossing once per day
- Scheduling biannual appointments at our Stroudsburg or Bethlehem office for routine dental exams and cleanings
Can I go to work the day after receiving a dental implant?
Every patient is different, though most will be able to return to work the day after receiving dental implants. Some patients may need a day or two to recover, depending on factors such as their oral health.
However, if you work a job that requires vigorous physical activity, Dr. Chaudhry will recommend taking a couple of days off before returning to work. If your job requires little to no physical activity, you should be alright to return to work the day after your dental implant procedure.
How long do you have to wait to eat after dental implant surgery?
During your healing period, Dr. Chaudhry will recommend sticking to foods that are soft or liquid-based, such as scrambled eggs and soups. After your mouth has fully healed, you should be able to resume your normal diet. However, he’ll suggest waiting at least one week before eating foods that are crunchy, spicy, or tough. Eating these foods may irritate or even damage your surgical site, setting your treatment back significantly.
When is the right time to schedule my first post-op visit?
It is advisable to schedule a follow-up visit at our Stroudsburg or Bethlehem office one to two weeks after your procedure. This will allow enough time for the surgical site to heal so Dr. Chaudhry can check for any developing complications and ensure the procedure went as planned.
If you suspect there’s an issue with your dental implants, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Leaving a complication untreated may result in further problems like infection.
Contact Dr. Chaudhry for Additional Questions
Do you still have questions about proper dental implant aftercare? Dr. Chaudhry and our amazing team are here to help. Get in touch with us at either our Stroudsburg dental office by calling (484)-821-1357 or our Bethlehem office by calling (484)-821-1357. We’ll always make sure you get the help you need.