What Happens After My Dental Implant Surgery?
After your oral and maxillofacial surgery, you should avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There will be a metal healing abutment protruding minimally through the gum tissue. Follow all oral and maxillofacial surgery recovery instructions to help the body heal faster. Our dental implant Wichita surgeons will give you instructions for your recovery. For questions and concerns please contact your Wichita dental implant surgeon.
Bleeding
In the 24 hours following surgery, it’s normal to experience some bleeding or redness in the saliva. Control excessive bleeding by placing gauze over the cut and biting down for at least 30 minutes. Call our dental implants Wichita office immediately if bleeding continues.
Swelling
It’s normal to experience swelling during the recovery period. For the first 36 hours after surgery, continuously apply an ice pack or towel filled with ice to the cheek in order to reduce swelling.
Diet
It’s important to stay hydrated by drinking fluids. However, avoid hot food and beverages. On the day of the surgery, patients should stick with soft foods only. Consult with your doctor, but you should be able to return to a normal diet after pain subsides.
Pain
Local anesthetic given at surgery will wear off in a few hours. Long-term local anesthetics are effective for 6-8 hours. After anesthesia wears off, you can control pain with prescribed anti-inflammatory medication (Motrin). If pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe a narcotic pain medication with specific directions for you to follow.
Antibiotics
In order to avoid infection, it’s important for patients to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed by their doctor.
Oral Hygiene
For success in the healing process, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene on a regular basis. On the night before your surgery, use the prescribed Oral Rinse (Chlorhexadine) before bed. Use the medicated rinse twice a day after dental implant surgery — once in the morning and again before bed. Rinse for one minute before spitting out. For the next 30 minutes do not rinse your mouth or drink any fluids. In addition, use a warm salt water rinse at least 4-5 times a day (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water). Gently brush your teeth with the healing abutments, and be especially careful around surgical areas.
Activity
After your dental implant surgery, keep physical activities to a minimum for the first few days. Exercise should be limited to walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. Your normal nourishment intake is reduced after surgery. Throbbing, bleeding and light-headedness may occur with more vigorous exercising (running, aerobics or weight lifting). If these symptoms occur, stop exercising immediately.
Wearing Your Prosthesis
Your dental implant Wichita surgeon will recommend either partial dentures, flippers or full dentures. We will discuss this more in detail during your preoperative consultation.
How Do I Care for Dental Implants?
Dental implants don’t require any special treatment or cleaning or soaking. You simply do the same things you would to take care of your natural teeth including, brushing, flossing and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists. Following these steps will go a long way in keeping your dental implants (and your gums), healthy and strong for years to come.
