How to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implant surgery can be an intimidating situation but can have such a rewarding outcome afterward. According to WebMD Dental Implants have a success rate of 98% as of 2017 so with proper care, your implants can last a lifetime. In order for optimal results with your implant healing process, some aftercare treatment is recommended.

Bleeding: If you’re experiencing excessive bleeding apply gauze to the area and apply pressure for thirty minutes. If the bleeding persists be sure to call for additional instructions. A small amount of bleeding in the saliva is normal for the first day following surgery.

Swelling: The first two days following the surgery, some swelling is normal. To aid in reducing swelling you can apply an ice pack covered in a towel or a bag filled with ice to the outer cheek area. Apply the ice intermittently on and off, 15 minutes apart. Be sure to have a barrier like a cloth or a towel between the ice and your face.

Pain: After the surgery, the anesthetic used will begin to wear off. Once you feel the anesthetic begin to subside you can proceed to take pain medication. Tylenol or Tylenol Extra Strength can be taken every 4 hours. If Tylenol cannot be taken, Motrin or Advil can be taken instead. For the correct dosing, you can call our office at Lakeview Dental Center Care for assistance. If the pain becomes severe, the medication that was prescribed should be taken as directed by the surgeon. 

Antibiotics: As with any surgery, the infection can occur. To help expedite the healing process be sure to take the antibiotics prescribed to you.

Prosthesis: The wearing of your prosthesis should have been discussed in the Pre-Operative Consultation. The lab may have fabricated a flipper, partial, or full denture for you. However, the prosthesis should not be worn for the first 10 days following the operation.

Diet: Following the surgery, fluids will help with healing and replenishing nutrients. Drink a good deal of water and only eat foods that are soft for the first 24 hours afterwards. Cold drinks are recommended only right after surgery due to being numb from the anesthetic. After twenty-four hours, getting back to a normal diet is recommended.

Activity: Although exercise is normally encouraged and sometimes looked forward too if you’re into fitness, physical activities are suggested to be kept to a minimum for twenty fours after the operation. Even if you feel great and have minimal pain or swelling, exercise increases your heart rate which accelerates your blood flow, causing possible bleeding or unpleasant throbbing to the affected area.

Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is the key to excellent healing of the site. If the Peridex Oral Rinse was prescribed, be sure to rinse thoroughly with it for thirty seconds before retiring to bed. The day following treatment should begin with a good thirty-second rinse of the Peridex oral rinse again, this step should be repeated again before bed. If you feel like a rinse is needed more often then a warm salt water rinse is suggested and can be used four to five times a day. When brushing be sure brush gently around the area.