Full-Mouth Dental Implant Aftercare

At-Home Dental Implant Aftercare

• Bite on gauze firmly. Changing every 30 minutes. The main bleeding will usually last 1-4 hours, but don’t be alarmed if oozing continues. You can expect slight oozing for 24-48 hours. When resting, keep your head slightly elevated using two pillows. Lying down flat or trying to get up too soon will cause more bleeding, swelling and light-headedness.
• Apply ice packs to the surgical area for the first 48–72 hours after surgery. The more involved the procedure, the more important this is. For minor procedures, ice is beneficial but not mandatory. On the third to fifth days following surgery, apply heat to the swollen areas as often and as long as possible until swelling disappears. Either moist or dry heat will help. A heating pad set to low is preferable to rice bags or other heating devices.
• Do not rinse the mouth for 24 hours. On days 2-5, use the prescribed rinse (or salt water if no rinse is prescribed), turn head from side to side, and allow water to FALL into the sink. DO NOT SPIT. Do your best to brush your teeth. It will be uncomfortable for approximately one week.

If you must rinse during the first 24 hours, please do so gently and only when necessary.

• For 48 hours following surgery, a liquid-based diet is best. Focus on eating foods that do not require chewing and DO NOT use a straw. After day one, be sure to rinse gently after each meal (as directed above). Gradually return to a normal diet by day seven. Soft foods packed into the tooth socket will cause pain and infection.
• If prescriptions are given, obtain them as soon as possible. Take the tablets with food. Follow the instructions outlined in the handout titled Post-Surgery Pain Management Protocol.
• If stitches were placed without bone grafting. They will dissolve and fall out on their own within 1–4 days. With bone grafting, they will be removed by the dentist at 4 weeks. If done without bone grafting and they fall out sooner, this is fine. If they fall out with bone grafting, please call the office.

Solutions for Common Problems Following Implant Surgery

In case of extreme pain, uncontrollable bleeding, or any unusual disturbances, please call our office. However, some of the most common postoperative problems can be easily dealt with at home.

• Bleeding will not stop: Place gauze, towels, or something absorbent over the surgical site and bite down firmly. Maintain for 30 minutes, change gauze, and repeat. Pressure is the only thing that will stop bleeding.
• Uncontrolled pain: Postoperative pain and discomfort are normal and part of the recovery process. Here are some suggestions for relieving pain.
  • Your pain medication will help relieve post-operative pain. Use it as directed. Please take your pain medications as indicated and get plenty of rest.
  • Write down a schedule to make sure you take your medications on time. It’s much harder to manage if you get behind.
  • Always wake up or have someone wake you to take your medication on time.
  • During the first three days after surgery, ice packs placed on the cheeks can help with post-op pain.
• Vomiting: Unfortunately, vomiting can be a side effect of oral surgery, sedation, and post-operative pain medication. However, it does very little to harm the surgical site. Vomiting will normally cause the sockets to begin to bleed. Gently rinse your mouth, place gauze over the surgical site, and bite down.