After Placement of Dental Implants

Home Instructions After Dental Implant Surgery

• Daily Maintenance
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Diet and Nutrition
• Oral Hygiene
• abutments
• smoking
• Activity
• Wearing your Prosthesis
• Follow-Up Appointment

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/crowns/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, healthy soft tissue helps to prevent chronic infections and problems with your implant prosthetics

After dental implant surgery, do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.  

Immediately following any implant surgery, use only the Monoject™ Syringe to flush and wash around the dental implants for the first 6 weeks. Use a small toothbrush to brush any plaque. It is critical that you do not collect any plaque on the healing abutment, as this may compromise healing. Take a good look at the site. Remove any plaque that may be collecting on the healing. Good cleaning is critical during 6 weeks. Do not worry about sutures, as they may be present for 6 weeks and will dissolve.

DAILY MAINTENANCE

Poor oral hygiene and bad oral habits (i.e. tobacco, vaping, combustible products, grinding, etc.) can lead to implant and prosthetic failure.  Good oral hygiene is a must. A good rotary toothbrush, such as a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush, is required to maintain ideal soft tissue and excellent oral dental hygiene.  Flossing around the implant restoration with the Super Floss® must be completed daily.  After brushing and flossing, use a Waterpik® Water Flosser with Interdental Brush Heads (use 10% LISTERINE® mixed with 90% water in the storage tank) to flush out the areas around and between all teeth and restorations. This complete process of brushing, flossing, and flushing should be completed at least twice a day, every morning and night prior to bed, to ensure no plaque accumulation, bacteria, or calculus build-up occurs around the implant or restoration. Do not use a setting higher than #6 on the Waterpik® Water Flosser or Medium on Cordless Water Flosser

In addition, it would be beneficial to complete a thorough swishing with an alcohol or non-alcohol rinse (i.e. LISTERINE®) every night before bed. This will reduce bacteria and keep the area clean. A Monoject™ syringe given to you can also be used to flush the area around the implant on a daily basis, if you do not have the Waterpik® Water Flosser available. In areas where you have good access and larger spaces, one could use the Super Floss® and Proxabrush® to assist with

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. Change the gauze often, especially If the gauze becomes saturated with blood or saliva. If bleeding continues profusely, please call for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or plastic bag or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet AND NUTRITION

You will be given a specific dietary progression to follow depending on individual circumstances.

NO chewing or pressure on the surgical sites until otherwise directed.

Some patients will only be allowed liquid foodstuff for a specified number of weeks. Others may be allowed a semi-liquid or mashed diet. Others still will start with a soft diet, pasta, eggs, ground meat, casseroles, cooked vegetables, fish, chicken, etc. with a gradual return to your regular diet as you are able to tolerate it.

Please follow the individual instructions you receive on the day of your surgery.

Pain

You may receive a prescription for pain medications, antibiotics (to prevent infection), anti-inflammatories, and an oral rinse. Please have the prescription filled at a pharmacy directly after leaving our facility.

Prior to leaving, you will receive your first dose of pain medication from the nurse. Continue to take the medication every 4 hours regularly until the freezing subsides. After the freezing subsides, take the pain medication as prescribed on the bottle. Follow the nurse’s instructions on the use of non-prescription and prescription medication. Anti-inflammatories should be taken in between doses of pain medication. Do not take more than one pain medication at a time. Antibiotics should be started on the day of surgery, within the first 2 to 4 hours following the extraction. The oral rinse should be started the day following surgery. Antibiotics, pain medications, and anti-inflammations should not be taken on an empty stomach as they may cause nausea and vomiting. Please take all medication with dairy/non-dairy products such as chocolate milk, high-fat milk, lactose-free milk, soymilk, yogurt, or ice cream. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MEDICATION WITH WATER.

Nausea may also be caused by swallowing blood. If nausea persists, you may purchase Gravol at the pharmacy. If vomiting is active, a rectal suppository is the preferred way to administer Gravol.

It is essential to finish all of an antibiotic prescription.

Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene and bad oral habits (i.e. tobacco, vaping, combustible products, grinding, etc.) can lead to implant and prosthetic failure.  Good oral hygiene is a must. A good rotary toothbrush, such as a Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush, is required to maintain ideal soft tissue and excellent oral dental hygiene.  Flossing around the implant restoration with the Super Floss® must be completed daily.  After brushing and flossing, use a Waterpik® Water Flosser with Interdental Brush Heads (use 10% LISTERINE® mixed with 90% water in the storage tank) to flush out the areas around and between all teeth and restorations. This complete process of brushing, flossing, and flushing should be completed at least twice a day, every morning and night prior to bed, to ensure no plaque accumulation, bacteria, or calculus build-up occurs around the implant or restoration. Do not use a setting higher than #6 on the Waterpik® Water Flosser or Medium on Cordless Water Flosser

In addition, it would be beneficial to complete a thorough swishing with an alcohol or non-alcohol rinse (i.e. LISTERINE®) every night before bed. This will reduce bacteria and keep the area clean. A Monoject™ syringe given to you can also be used to flush the area around the implant on a daily basis, if you do not have the Waterpik® Water Flosser available. In areas where you have good access and larger spaces, one could use the Super Floss® and Proxabrush® to assist with removal of gross plaque accumulation.  You need to perform regular flossing, in addition to water flossing.

abutments

 Your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will advise you when you can start putting pressure on the implant site. 

If abutments become loose, turn them clockwise immediately to tighten them back down. If this is not possible or abutments come off completely; PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY AT Edmonton Office Phone Number 780-454-6565.      

SUTURES

Self-dissolving sutures are routinely used. These will release or dissolve in 1 to 6 weeks. Loose sutures may be gently removed with tweezers or the long ends can be carefully trimmed.

smoking

Smoking leads to implant failures.

Activity

Avoid strenuous activity and physical activities for the first week following surgery as these activities increase your blood pressure and more bleeding will occur at the exposed site(s).

Wearing your Prosthesis

Old dentures or partial plates may not be worn until modifications have been made. You will be informed when you may have your prosthesis modified on the day of your surgery. Insertion of the dentures too early may jeopardize a successful healing process.

Temporary prostheses, dentures or partial dentures are intended for cosmetic purposes only. NO chewing or pressure on the prosthesis and surgical site until your Oral Surgeon allows it.

FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENT

You will require a follow up appointment after your implant surgery. This appointment may already be made for you, or you may be instructed to contact our office to schedule it. Please follow the instruction given you the day of your surgery. If the prearranged appointment is not suitable, please contact our office to change your date or time.

WE PREFER THAT YOU CALL OUR OFFICE FIRST RATHER THAN YOUR OWN DENTIST OR FAMILY DOCTOR. However, if you are experiencing severe bleeding or breathing problems requiring IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, please proceed to the nearest Emergency Department or Dial 911.