Post Op Instructions for Implant Surgery
- After your Implant surgery your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for a few hours.
- Avoid eating until the numbness has completely worn off.
- AVOID SMOKING.
- As with all oral surgeries, avoid sucking liquid through a straw.
- If you have not had a cleaning within the last 5 months, you should schedule one as soon as possible. Bacteria from plaque build up may reduce the prognosis of your implant surgery.
- It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after Implant placement.
- To control discomfort, take medications as prescribed. Do not take medication on an empty stomach or nausea may result.
- Apply an ice pack (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) for six hours following surgery to decrease pain and swelling.
- After twenty-four hours, to further reduce discomfort and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, gently rinse-swish-spit).
- If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the prescribed length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
- Some light bleeding is normal for a day or so following surgery. If bleeding persists, apply firm pressure with a moist gauze pad or bite on a tea bag for twenty minutes. Elevate your head with pillows. Call our office if this doesn’t control bleeding or if bleeding increases.
- For the first 48 hours, restrict your diet to soft foods such as frozen yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, and soup until you can chew comfortably.
- Relax as much as possible and avoid all strenuous activities for the first twenty-four hours following surgery.
- Continue your normal home-care routine in the non-treated areas.
- You may gently rinse around the Implant area with warm water or mouthwash, but frequent or vigorous rinsing must be avoided until healing has taken place.
- Contact us if discomfort or swelling persists or if you have any questions or concerns.
Post Op Instructions for Bone Grafting, Ridge and Sinus Augmentation
- Take your medications as directed (antibiotics, analgesics, anti-inflammatory medications, Peridex, Afrin and Sudafed)
- Avoid Smoking.
- Do not blow your nose for 2 weeks (this could create positive pressure which could spread air though confluent soft tissue planes, creating a soft tissue emphysema)
- Avoid sucking liquid through a straw (because this creates negative intrasinus pressure)
- Try not to sneeze or cough, otherwise it must be done with mouth open to decrease internal antral pressures.
- Some nasal bleeding (oozing of blood through the nose) may occur during the first day
- Swelling, pain, and ecchymosis are expected at the donor site (Lower Jaw)
- Rest
- Place light pressure and ice on the surgical site. (Only for 24 hours after surgery)
- Keep the head elevated. (First night the head should be elevated on two or more pillows. This will prevent airway obstruction, or aspiration of blood and heavy saliva, and will diminish edema)
- Liquid diet for 2 days then soft foods (the consistency of mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs) may be consumed following the second day and for at least 2 weeks (until the mucosal incision has closed completely).
- Do not wear any prosthesis for 2 weeks.
- Do not lift or pull on lip to look at sutures.
- The patient should be seen for postoperative check-up in one week.
Notify us if:
- You feel granules in your nose.
- Your medications do not relieve discomfort.
- You have questions.
Do not wear any interim prosthesis for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the interim prosthesis can be worn but you should not eat with it or wear it overnight. In some cases Dr. Coello will make you a temporary prosthesis while the implants are healing.
Do no brush or floss near the surgical site for few days then very light brushing and flossing for 4 weeks before returning to routine brushing and flossing.