After Dental Implant Surgery
Following dental implant surgery, patients must take detailed care of the area surrounding their new implant. For the first month the dental implant is still integrating with the bone and tissues so the patient’s care routine will be slightly more involved during this initial period. Above all, do not disturb the wound in the initial days that follow surgery. Avoid rinsing, spitting, and touching the mouth for 24 hours after surgery to avoid contaminating or irritating the surgical site. After dental implant surgery it’s important to follow these care instructions:
Antibiotics – Patients should take all prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection at the surgical site if given by the dentist.
Bleeding - Blood in the patients’ saliva is normal during the first 24 hours following surgery.
Dealing with pain – Shortly after your dental implant surgery the anesthetic will wear off. You should begin taking pain medication before this happens. Any over-the-counter pain medication can be taken (e.g., Tylenol®, Aleve®, ibuprofen, etc.).
Diet - We recommend an initial diet of soft foods, but patients can resume a normal diet as soon as they feel capable of doing so. Stay hydrated. It is critical that you are drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid eating on the same side as the implant for a few days until the tissue has healed completely.
Hygiene – In order for the dental implants to heal properly, the surgical site must be kept clean. Continue to brush your teeth as you normally would, but avoid any sutures and do not brush the implant.
Swelling – After dental implant surgery some amount of swelling is to be expected. To help minimize swelling, try to keep your head elevated and lower your activity level as much as possible. Use ice packs for the first 48 hours and apply continuously, or as frequently as possible to minimize facial swelling.
Wearing your prosthesis or night guard – Please ask your dentist to see what they recommend for after surgery.
Smoking – Smoking after dental implant surgery has an increased risk of infection which also increases the risk of dental implants failing to integrate. We recommend that patients do not smoke for a minimum of 2 weeks after dental implant surgery.
What does recovery involve?
While each patient’s case is different, recovery after dental implant surgery happens in a series of phases. With your new dental implants, maintaining proper oral hygiene should be your primary focus. In order for the implant to properly fuse with the jawbone, it must remain clean. Also keep in mind that when properly cared for, a dental implant can serve its owner for life.
When maintaining proper hygiene, oral discomfort should gradually lessen. Swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding may still occur. If any pain does continue, feel free to continue using the pain medications. Although it isn't common, if pain tends to increase after two days of healing, reach out to your dental office immediately as there could be a chance that the implant is failing or infection is present.
Healing time differs depending on whether a patient receives immediate crown placement, or waits for the implant to fuse with the jawbone. Your recovery timeframe will depend on your individual case and treatment plan; follow-up appointments will be scheduled accordingly.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
Foods to avoid for 7 days:
-Nuts of all sorts
-Seeds (chia, strawberry, poppy, etc.)
-Whole grains
-Rice
-Oatmeal
-Chewy foods
-Spicy foods
-Crunchy foods
Soft foods we recommend:
-Hearty soups
-Juices ( cranberry, apple, grape ), avoid citrus juices for a few days
-Jell-O
-Yogurt ( soft or frozen )
-Pudding/Custard
-Soft fruits ( banana, papaya, berries, canned peaches or pears )
-Applesauce
-Popsicles
-Ice cream and milkshakes
-Fresh cooked vegetables
-Fruit smoothies/protein shakes ( no straws )
-Eggs ( scrambled, soft boiled, egg salad )
-Mashed Potatoes
-Pasta ( plain or with sauce )
-Fish ( soft white fish, sole, trout )
Try to eat on the opposite side of the implant(s), if possible. Avoid using straws, smoking, or sucking on lollipops. Do not try to suck anything out of the implant site with your tongue if something feels stuck. Avoid any alcohol and extremely hot liquids. No vigorous swishing with any mouth rinses or salt water.
Above recommendations may change based on individual circumstances.
Springboro office- 937-748-8250
Moraine office- 937-293-4261
After hours- 513-409-1049 (leave your name, telephone number, and reason for calling)