Care To Be Taken During And After Implant Placement

1. When scheduling surgery, inform us about your other medications, such as blood thinners. Your prescribing physician may need to alter the dosages in preparation for the surgery.

2. Painkillers and antibiotics given before surgery can help to reduce your discomfort and risk of infection.

3. If you’re nervous or stressed by the prospect of surgery, talk to us. We may be able to offer intravenous sedation if it’s suitable for your case.

4. The patient takes a day or two to recover. Swelling and discomfort for the first 24 hours are normal.

5. Driving home alone after the operation is not advised, especially if you have been sedated.

6. Bite on sponges that were placed in your mouth to control bleeding for at least one hour, and up to three hours.

7. Sit with your head elevated and avoid moving excessively for eight to 12 hours.

8. Hold an ice pack to your face at the surgery site for 15 minutes, then remove it for 15 minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day to reduce swelling.

9. Eat and drink only soft foods and liquids for the first 48 hours after surgery.

10. Take all prescribed medicines as your dentist has directed.

11. For the first 24 hours, don’t rinse your mouth. Then, after meals, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in one glass of warm water.

12. Initial healing from dental implant surgery takes seven to 10 days.

13. The gums and jaw bone can take up to nine months or as little as six weeks to heal and adjust to the implant posts after surgery.

14. You may experience soreness in your gums for several weeks.

15. A diet of soft foods, cold foods, and warm soup helps reduce discomfort.

16. Brushing, flossing, rinsing, and a schedule of regular dentist visits are essential to maintain the implants’ appearance and reduce the chances of failure.

17. You can use the toothpaste, toothbrush, and floss used for natural teeth to clean dental implants.

18. At six-month visits, we X-ray the implants to check for bone loss around the posts, which is an early sign of failure, we also check the health of the gums and use specialized instruments to clean the implants.