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Post-operative care after dental implant surgery

Nov 16, 2022

Post-dental implant surgery, it is vital for patients to take care of the area in the mouth surrounding the new implant. In the first month, the implant is still getting accustomed to the bone and tissues. So, the care routine will be more involved during this stage. Most importantly, to help avoid any contamination or irritation, do not cause stress to the wound in the initial period following the surgery. Below mentioned are a few instructions to keep in mind post a dental implant surgery:

Antibiotics

Patients should only take antibiotics that have been prescribed by the dentist. The main reason is to avoid any infections in the surgery area. A day after the surgery, patients can rinse twice daily using the prescribed oral antibiotics, including using warm salt water to rinse their mouth 4 to 5 times daily. Preferably after every meal or snack.

Bleeding

It is normal for the patient to see blood in their saliva 24 hours after the procedure. We highly recommend biting down on gauze pads to help control the blood flow. Gently bite down on the pad and try to maintain a constant pressure as often as needed, or until the bleeding lessens.

How to deal with the pain

Hours after your dental implant procedure, the anesthetic will slowly wear off. You should begin taking your prescribed medication before this happens. Avoid any over-the-counter medication, as the patient can potentially make the pain and issue much worse.

Follow a prescribed diet

An initial diet of soft foods is recommended, but patients can get back to their normal foods once they feel capable of doing so. It is important to stay hydrated. Ensure that you are consuming a lot of fluids.

Oral hygiene

For implants to heal properly, the surgical area must be kept clean. You can continue to brush your teeth normally, but do not brush the implant. The prescribed antibiotics and saltwater will disinfect and clean the dental implant.

Swelling

It is expected for the patient to have some amount of swelling after the procedure. To help reduce the swelling, keep your head elevated and lower any kind of activity as much as possible. For the first 48 hours use ice packs and apply continuously to minimize the swelling.

Wearing night guard or prosthetics

Avoid wearing partial dentures, flippers, full dentures, or even night guards for the first ten days after the surgery. If there are any special circumstances, our dentist will discuss them with you during your consultation.

Smoking

Study shows that smoking after a dental implant surgery increases the risk of infection. We highly recommend that patients do not smoke for at least two weeks after the procedure.

What does the recovery process involve?

While every patient’s case is different, recovery after treatment happens in various phases. It is imperative to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine after the procedure. For the implant to fuse properly, it must remain clean. Also bear in mind, then when properly cared for, it can last a lifetime.

A proper oral routine will gradually lessen the discomfort. Any form of swelling, bruising, or minor bleeding may still occur. If the pain does continue, use the prescribed medications. Additionally, healing time also depends on whether the patient receives immediate crown placement, or patiently waits for the implant to fuse to the jawbone. Your recovery timeframe depends on your treatment plans.

If you are looking for dental implants in Brampton, please feel free to reach out to the team at
Veterans Drive Dental today to schedule an appointment.

Brampton Office

Orangeville Office

North Brampton Office

Post-Operative Care After Dental Implant Surgery

Blog

Post-operative care after dental implant surgery

Antibiotics

Bleeding

How to deal with the pain

Follow a prescribed diet

Oral hygiene

Swelling

Wearing night guard or prosthetics

Smoking

What does the recovery process involve?

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