Surgical Instructions

After Placement of Dental Implants

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There may 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 up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 1 hour. If bleeding continues please call for further instructions.

Swelling and Bruising

Swelling and bruising on the face are normal occurrences after surgery. Oral Surgery Specialists of Tennessee will send you home with a reusuable ice pack to minimize swelling and bruising in the area of surgery. Our recovery nurse will direct you as to proper use.

Diet

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you have some food on your stomach. A favorite milkshake on the drive home would be sufficient! Prescription strength Ibuprofen will be one of the medications recommended by our surgeons. An additional narcotic will normally be prescribed for severe pain. Please use care in taking the prescribed medications as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take any prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. Do not disturbe the surgical sites for the remainder of the day of surgery. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) may be used, starting the day after surgery, several times a day, especially after meals. Our office will provide you with a post surgical, very soft toothbrush to use at home. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.

Wearing your Prosthesis

Use of partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures was discussed in the pre-operative consultation. Care should be taken to avoid heavy chewing forces on newly placed implants. This could disrupt the healing process and jeopardize the success of your surgery.