Dental Implant Surgery

Some bleeding or redness in your saliva is normal for up to 24 hours. If you experience excessive bleeding (your mouth fills rapidly with blood), control it by biting down on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding area for 30 minutes. If the bleeding continues, please contact us for further instructions.

Swelling is a normal part of the recovery process after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice pack, plastic bag, or towel filled with ice to the cheek where the surgery was performed. Keep the ice on continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid anything hot. You should stick to soft foods and liquids on the day of surgery; otherwise you can return to your normal diet as soon as possible unless directed otherwise.

Start taking pain medication as soon as you notice the local anesthetic wearing off. Be sure to follow the prescribed regimen for antibiotics and any other medications to help prevent infection.

Good oral hygiene is crucial for effective healing. On the night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex™ Oral Rinse before bed. The following day, use Peridex twice daily — after breakfast and before bed — rinsing for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out. Additionally, rinse with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) at least 4 – 5 times a day, especially after meals. Brush your teeth and the healing abutments carefully, being gentle around the surgical areas.

Minimize physical activity immediately after surgery. If you engage in exercise, you may experience throbbing or bleeding, in which case you should stop exercising. Also, remember that not consuming normal nourishment can weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be used right after surgery and not for at least ten days, as discussed during your pre-operative consultation.