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, or the gum tissue may be closed over the implant completely.
- The gauze pad placed over the surgical area should be kept in place for an hour or two. After this time, the gauze pad should be removed and discarded but can be replaced as needed.
- Vigorous mouth rinsing, use of straws, or touching the wound area following surgery should be avoided. This may cause bleeding by causing the blood clot that has formed to become dislodged. You may begin gentle rinsing with water, saltwater, or mouthwashes 24 hours after surgery. Saltwater rinses can be made by mixing ½ teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water.
- Unless you have received different instructions from the doctor, take 2-3 tablets of ibuprofen 200mg (Advil, Motrin IB) every 4-6 hours. If you find this is not controlling your pain well enough, you may take the prescription pain killer in addition. Remember that narcotic pain medications can slow reflexes and make you groggy, making driving and operating machinery dangerous. If pain or swelling increase after the first 4-5 days, call our office. If antibiotics were prescribed, take them as directed until gone.
- Restrict your activities the day of surgery and preferably the next day (rest and keep your head up) and resume normal activity when you feel comfortable.
Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.
Wearing your Prosthesis
Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used immediately after surgery and for at least 10 days unless other provisions have been made.