Post Operative Care For Dental Implants
Following your dental implant treatment, our doctors recommend that patients minimize contact with the implant for the first two weeks after placement. When eating, he wants patients to eat soft foods and chew away from the implant site. If you want to replace one or more missing teeth with dental implants in Sterling, VA, request a consultation today!
How to care for your implants following your surgery:
Initial Bleeding
Following your dental implant surgery, bleeding can continue for several hours. To stop the bleeding, fold damp gauze over the extraction site and gently bite on it for 30-60 minutes. If bleeding continues, use gauze for an additional 30 minutes. You will see pink or blood-tinged saliva for 2-3 days following the surgery. Do not touch your sutures. We will make a follow-up appointment 2 weeks after your implant procedure where we will remove the sutures.
Swelling
Swelling is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and healing from the procedure. The swelling will peak at 2-3 days and can continue for 7-10 days. To minimize swelling, apply ice packs to the outside of your face for 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off for the first 24 hours. After 48 hours, use a warm and moist compress.
Pain Medications
If you do not have an allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen, Motrin, or Advil, we recommend taking one of these medications prior to the local anesthetic wearing off.
If you feel severe pain following your treatment, we may prescribe narcotic pain medication. Alternate Ibuprofen and the narcotic medication every two hours. Once you feel like you can stop the narcotic, use just Ibuprofen or Tylenol. We may prescribe an antibacterial mouth rinse for the first two weeks following implant surgery.
If you are taking Plavix or Coumadin, do not take Ibuprofen or Aspirin products. Let us know if you take these medications and we will offer you a different prescription.
Foods & Drinks
While your mouth is still numb, you should avoid hot liquids or foods as well as carbonated beverages. Once the numbness wears off, you can progress to eating solid foods.
Acceptable foods and drinks include:
- Water
- Juice
- Applesauce
- Jell-O
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Milkshakes
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Pancakes
- Creamed Cereals
- Soups
If you have any questions following treatment, please call our office and one of our team members can assist you.