Post Operative Instructions
An implant is a FOREIGN BODY and NOT A REAL TOOTH. IT IS A MEDICAL DEVICE. Implants and their restoration are tooth replacement systems that require continuous and stringent maintenance and care to ensure long-term success and survivability.
The soft tissue around the implant/crown/prosthetics must be exceptionally maintained. The soft tissue is the “gatekeeper” which prevents food and bacteria from penetrating and/or compromising the implant in the bone. Good quality soft tissue helps to prevent chronic infections and problems with your implant prosthetics. Dental implants are an investment in yourself, your health, and your future.
At Yashoda Dental and Implant Clinic, our goal for your healing process after the placement of Dental Implants is to be as comfortable as possible
To avoid any unnecessary pain and complication, following post-Surgery instructions is very important.
The first 2 weeks after surgery are very important. Healing of the bone around the implants takes 3–6 months.
Critical Care & Maintenance Of Your Implants & Restorations
- Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after surgery.
- Keep your fingers and tongue away from the socket or surgical area.
- Use ice packs on the surgical area (side of face) for the first 48 hours; apply ice 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off. (Note: Bags of frozen peas work well.)
- For severe pain, use the medication prescribed to you.
- Drink plenty of fluids. (Do not use a straw—this creates suction in the mouth that could cause complications.)
- We suggest that you do not smoke for at least 5 days after surgery.
- Avoid strenuous activity and do not exercise for at least 3–4 days after surgery. After that, be careful: your regular caloric and fluid intake have been reduced, so you may get light-headed, dizzy, or weak.
- If the muscles of the jaw become stiff, the use of warm moist heat to the outside of your face over the spots that are stiff will relax these muscles.
- After the first post-operative day, use a warm salt water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out particles of food and debris that may lodge in the surgical area. (Mix ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Mouthwash can be added for better taste.)
- Your diet should consist mainly of soft, easily swallowed foods and cool drinks. Avoid anything that might get stuck in your teeth, so no seeds, nuts, rice, popcorn, or similar foods.
- Take all of the medication as directed.
1. Diet
- A soft, mild, and nutritionally balanced diet should be consumed for 2–4 days (or longer if necessary) after your surgery.
- Avoid Hot, hard, or spicy food.
- Take fluids at regular intervals and keep yourself hydrated.
- You should chew food on the opposite side of where the implant was placed for 2 weeks (if possible). As the tissue around the implant heals, you can return to your normal eating routine.
- Do Not Smoke. Smoking & Alcohol Consumption is strictly prohibited after Dental Implant Surgery. Smoking increases the risk of infection after Dental Implant Surgery.
- Inform the doctor if you have any diet restrictions for modifying your diet plan.
2. Swelling
- Swelling after implant surgery is normal and reaches its maximum in 48 hours, especially when additional procedures are carried out e.g. Tooth Extraction, Bone Grafting, Ridge Split, Sinus Lift.
- Swelling may increase for 72 hours and then start decreasing.
- Keeping the head elevated with 2 pillows when lying down can minimize facial swelling. Swelling can also be minimized by applying cold compresses to your face (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, warm compresses will help reduce the swelling. These should be continued (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) until the swelling has subsided.
3. Oral Hygiene
- Oral Hygiene maintenance is very important to avoid infection and promote healing.
- Avoid rinsing the mouth for 24 hours after surgery. It may disturb the clot.
- Brushing should be resumed the day after dental implant surgery. Brushing should be gentle with a soft brush.
- Start rinsing at least 3 to 4 times a day, especially after meals, with warm saline water or medicated mouth wash.
- If you have been given a prescription for chlorhexidine gluconate, saturate a gauze pad and place over the surgical site for 1 minute, twice daily, for 7–10 days.
- If an implant protrudes through the gums, the metal must be kept clean. Use a cotton- tipped applicator or soft toothbrush and gently clean the implant and adjacent tooth surfaces. Be careful around the sutures.
- Do not start a Waterpik® until 12 weeks after the surgery.
- Sutures may come out with gentle brushing, and a small amount of bleeding is normal.
4. Medications
You were probably given one or more prescriptions for medications. Take all as directed. Call the dental office if you experience severe nausea or diarrhoea, or cannot swallow your pills.
- Antibiotics: Continue and complete the prescribed dossage
- Take pain medication in a scheduled fashion (every 4–6 hours) for the first 24 hours and as needed thereafter.
- Remember that narcotics can make you drowsy, so no driving, swimming, operating machinery, or drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking them.
5. Denture
- Wear your denture as instructed by your doctor.
- Immediate use of dentures should be avoided and should be worn after primary healing of the implant site is complete.
- Leave denture out of your mouth until you are instructed to wear it. It must be realigned before wearing it.
- If any sores or swelling develop around or under your denture, leave them out of your mouth and call the dental office.
- If you cannot place your dentures back in your mouth, leave them out and call the dental office.
6. Sutures
- Unless told otherwise, the sutures used during your procedure are dissolvable and will fall out on their own. This generally occurs in the first week after surgery, but timing varies from 4–10 days.
General Precautions
1. Bruising
- Sometimes bruising may occur 24 or 48 hours after surgery has been performed. Application of warm compresses to the involved area (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) will expedite the healing process.
2. Bleeding
- There can be slight bleeding or redness in the saliva which is normal for a day.
- If the bleeding doesn’t stop keep a gauze pad pressed and bite firmly for 45 minutes. In case of excessive bleeding contact immediately.
3. Pain
- Unfortunately, most oral surgery procedures are accompanied by some degree of discomfort.
- Prescribed pain reliever should be taken before the numbness goes away.
- If you are allergic to any medications inform the doctor.
- Pain following surgery should start subsiding after 72 hours. If pain persists or does not decrease it may require a surgeon's attention.
4. Infection
- Although antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent an infection, a wound infection may occur a day or several days after surgery. You may be suspicious of an infection if there is a sudden increase in swelling, throbbing pain, or a foul-tasting drainage from the wound. If you suspect infection, call the office as soon as possible.
5. Smoking and Alcohol
- Tobacco and alcohol should be eliminated during the first 2 weeks after surgery.
6. Physical Activity After Dental Implant Procedure
- Rest and relax.
- Physical activities should be kept minimal immediately after dental implant surgery.
- Avoid heavy Exercises, and allow the body to heal up from surgical stresses.
- Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machinery.
7. Sharp bony edges
- You may feel hard, sharp areas on the surgical site. Leave them alone: never pick or scratch at them. Notify the office staff at your post-operative check-up.
8. Nausea
- Nausea is a normal side effect of narcotic pain medications. If you have severe nausea or vomiting, you may need to stop the pain medications or take an additional anti- nausea medication.
9. Dry lips
- If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Keep your lips moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.
10. Sore throat
- This is not uncommon following oral surgery. The muscles become swollen and this can make swallowing painful. This should go away on its own in 2-3 days.
11. Stiff jaw muscles
- This may cause a limitation in opening the mouth wide for a few days following surgery. This is a common postoperative event that frequently resolves itself during the week after surgery.
12. Abnormal Healing
- Excessive bleeding, fever in excess of 101°F, allergic reactions to prescribed medication, persistent severe pain.
13. Emotional Support
- You may find that the first days and weeks after surgery are difficult both physically and emotionally. At times, you may wonder why you decided to go forward with surgery. These feelings are common and usually quickly subside as you begin to feel and look better. Be prepared to make adjustments in the following areas: Communication and Reaction to Your Appearance.
List Of Recommended Food
On the day of surgery, you should start with clear fluids (juice, broth, tea, Jell-O®) and progress slowly to more substantial foods. Remember that it is important to maintain nutrition for optimal healing recovery.
The Following Are Examples Of Soft Food Items
- Hearty Soups (cream of asparagus, lentil, minestrone, split pea)
- Juices (cranberry, apple, grape)
- Herbal Tea Yogurt (soft or frozen)
- Cottage Cheese
- Pudding, Custard, Jell-O
- Soft Fruit (bananas, papaya, berries, canned peaches or pears)
- Applesauce
- Popsicles
- Ice Cream, Milkshakes
- Fresh Cooked Vegetables (steamed/overcooked)
- Fruit Smoothies, Protein Shakes
- Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat
- Eggs (scrambled, soft boiled, omelet, egg salad)
- Mashed Potatoes
- Rice, Risotto, Polenta
- Tofu
- Pasta (plain or with sauce)
- Fish (soft white fish, sole, trout snapper)
Avoid The Following Foods For The First 7 Days After Surgery
- Citrus Juice
- Spicy Foods
- Foods That Are Difficult to Chew
- Popcorn, Chips, and Nuts (avoid for a month)
- French Bread Loaves and Baguettes
- Alcoholic Beverages
Rest and relax for the first few days, catch up on unseen movies, and have a relaxing recovery!
Recall And Follow Up
Patients to be informed that if any other tooth goes for extraction they have to get the implant checked for occlusion. This is to prevent the overload on implants post extraction of natural tooth.