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.
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Gabriel Perez
November 12, 2021.
if i could give 10 stars i would . this place eased the pain i carried over 2-3 years at first i was skeptical because my past experiences, however they treated me good with respect.they really took care of me never have i seen a place so courteous. i think everyone in pain should go to this place it was the best for me . i had 7 extractions and they tookme in and i was seen in less than 2 weeks and the teeth were removed in about 20 minutes. they worked at god speed lol. great place. Thank you so much for taking care of me .
Nicole Perez
November 12, 2021.
This place is amazing. The staff are wonderful and very polite. My husband was in pain for years. We went to 2 different oral surgeons and for months they wasted our time. When I called Lehigh valley oral surgery, they listened and made appointments very fast. They even do (out of Network) referrals for insurance. Please if you are in pain and need to be seen this is the place for you. Thank you guys so much for everything you did for my husband.
Lauren O'Brian
November 11, 2021.
Very grateful that I was able to have my dental implant done with Dr. Chaudhry. He and his staff were professional and kind. They were sensitive to my concerns, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. Nicole, the implant coordinator, was especially supportive throughout the process. Thank you for making this experience as pleasant as possible.
Mateopuzzler
October 13, 2021.
Had an issue with my insurance didn't realize they type that I had so the information didn't go through, still saw me they day of my extraction and helped me square away my insurance. They are super friendly nice, and seem to be on top of their game. This place is highly recommended for a reason, this is the place to go.
Dori
October 12, 2021.
My son had 4 wisdom teeth removed. Initially the appointment was for March of 2020. Then the pandemic hit. They refunded my partial payment quickly. Fast forward to September of 2021. Rescheduling was no problem. From the front desk to the doctor and assistants, the staff was friendly and professional. They took new x-rays and found that the procedure was going to be less money! Everything went well. His recovery has been good. He still has some tenderness 3 weeks out. The only complaint I would mention is that we never received a call to check on his recovery. That would have been very nice.
Tami Giglio
September 30, 2021.
This place is great if you need oral surgery. Everyone is so nice and professional. And the facility is very clean. I highly recommend!!
Kristen VanFleet
September 24, 2021.
Had to have an emergency extraction. I was in so much pain and they were able to see me the very next day. The office staff starting with the receptionist was very pleasant courteous and professional. The hygienist was very kind and made sure I was comfortable. Dr Kim was excellent. I was given IV sedation and I’m not sure how I will be able to go back to having dental work without it because it made everything much better. They even sent me home with an ice pack which may seem like a small detail but it was a big help once anesthesia wore off. Choose this practice. You won’t regret it.
April S
September 11, 2021.
I went here a few days ago to get a molar pulled that was chipped and infected. I was completely terrified, so Dr. Farag brought someone in to hold my hand during the numbing shots, and her assistant offered to hold my other hand. She applied plenty of numbing gel, and only two out of all of the injections were painful because she had to inject the gum near the tooth of course, whereas the other shots were just more uncomfortable than anything. The nurses and assistants that held my hand were very sweet, encouraging, and made me chuckle a few times. Dr. Farag talked me through the whole procedure and gave me a break when I needed one. I'll be honest and say it wasn't completely painless, but I don't blame Dr. Farag whatsoever. She tried her best to numb me up, but the tooth was infected and probably couldn't be numbed entirely. Regardless, any pain I felt was probably on a scale of about 3-4, and only happened at certain times during the procedure; it wasn't constant. The pain from the infection felt way worse than anything I felt that day in that chair.
It was over pretty quickly. Her assistant stayed with me afterwards and talked with me until I was calm, since I found myself in a fit of tears after the tooth was pulled. I wasn't in pain afterwards, just really relieved, I think. Dr. Farag seemed to feel genuinely bad at how upset I was, and suggested that I be sedated next time or given anti-anxiety medication if and when I come back to get anything done. She's right, as I would say my own fear was probably the worst part of the experience.
I'm 3 days post-extraction and I feel fine. The bleeding stopped within a few hours when I got home, and the wound seems to be healing well. There is some soreness, a very minimal amount of swelling, and occasional twinges of pain in the area, but that's it.
I would recommended coming here if you need work done. Everyone here is very kind, caring and compassionate. They also honored the fact that I had panoramic x-rays prior, whereas some places will charge you for an x-ray even if you've already had one done.
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.