Implant Placement Post-operative Instructions

Care of the mouth after surgery has an important effect on healing.  Swelling, discomfort, and restricted jaw function are expected, so need not cause alarm.  These may be minimized by following the instructions below— please read them carefully.

• Bleeding control
  • After an implant is placed, there will usually be a small metal cap sticking through the gums, and the gums will be stitched tightly around it
  • The stitches will dissolve on the inside and fall out on their own, usually by about 5-7 days
  • There is usually not much bleeding after an implant is placed, however if the site is bleeding, place some gauze over the site and apply firm pressure until the bleeding stops
  • If required, change the gauze every 30-45 minutes until the bleeding stops (usually 1-2 hours). Changing the gauze too frequently may cause prolonged bleeding
• Prescriptions
  • Antibiotics are not routinely needed following placement of implants
  • You may have a prescription for pain medication, if so please plan to pick them up on your way home from the office (or shortly after you get home)
  • Pain medication can be taken as needed (there’s often not much pain after implant surgery)
  • See separate pain medication instructions for more details on appropriate use of pain medications
  • If you have been prescribed pain medicine with a narcotic (Tylenol #3, codeine, Percocet, Tramadol/Tramacet), do not drive while taking these medications
  • If you haven’t been prescribed pain medication, take over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or Tylenol, as needed
  • If you develop hives or a rash, discontinue the medication and contact our office immediately
• Swelling control
  • Swelling and bruising are normal and may continue to reach their peak 2-4 days after surgery, after which time swelling should plateau and then slowly decrease over the next week or so
  • Ice packs can be used for the first 24 hours (20 mins on 20 mins off) to help reduce the amount of swelling that develops
  • If you have a sudden increase in pain or swelling more than 5 days after your procedure, please call the office to make a follow-up appointment.
• Sinus precautions
  • If you had a “sinus lift” procedure done with your implant placement (sometimes required for implants in the back of the upper jaw), you’ll have a separate sheet of sinus precautions
• Diet
  • The gums will be stitched up, but they’ll be fragile at first while they’re healing over. For that reason, it’s very important to avoid chewing in that area for 1-2 weeks
  • Avoid using straws for the first week, as any negative pressure in the mouth can cause dry sockets or disrupt the stitches
  • IF you had sedation or general anesthesia for your procedure, start with clear liquids (water, Gatorade, apple juice) using a cup or spoon (otherwise can skip to cool, soft foods below)
  • Once you are tolerating clear liquids well, move on to cool, soft foods for the rest of the day: e.g.milkshakes, Jell-O, pudding, protein shakes, smoothies, yogurt, applesauce, avocado, banana
  • The day after surgery and for the next 1 -2 weeks eat soft foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta, soups, cooked vegetables, oatmeal, pancakes, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese.
  • Also avoid hard/crunchy foods that could damage the gums at the surgical site

• Oral hygiene
  • Brush your teeth as usual but avoid brushing the gums at the surgical sites for 2 weeks
  • You will most likely have a prescription for chlorhexidine mouth rinse, and you should rinse your mouth with this at least twice a day for the first 2 weeks. This is an antimicrobial mouth rinse to prevent infection while the gums heal around the implant
  • In addition to the chlorhexidine mouth rinses, rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt to a cup of warm water) after each meal to keep everything clean
  • Avoid over-the-counter mouthwashes (Scope, Listerine) for one week, as they may irritate the area
  • After 2 weeks, the gums will have healed around the metal cap, at which time you should bush the metal cap as if it were a tooth to keep it clean
• Nausea
  • If you have nausea, small sips of a carbonated drink (i.e Gingerale or Sprite) will usually help. Follow this with a clear diet: apple juice, clear tea, broths, and Jell-O.  If nausea continues, please contact our office for further instructions
• Activity
  • Rest and relax on the day of the procedure – don’t try to push yourself on the first day even if you’re feeling well
  • It’s best to plan to be off work or school for 1-2 days after surgery, and after the first day you may gradually resume your normal daily activities as tolerated
  • If you had IV sedation or general anesthesia, DO NOT drive for 24 hours or operate heavy machinery or sign legal documents
  • Avoid strenuous physical activity or workouts for 5-7 days, after which time it’s okay to gradually return to normal activity, but if your jaw is throbbing and aching when you get your heart rate up, you need more time to heal first
• Smokers
  • Smoking significantly increases the risk of implant failure and should be avoided while the implant is healing. Ideally you should not smoke at all, but at the very least for 1 week after surgery
• Usual medications
  • Unless directed otherwise, you may take all your regular home medications without interruption

Keep in mind, the extent of your particular surgery will influence the magnitude of your symptoms during recovery.  The following conditions may occur and are not considered abnormal:

• If you had general anesthesia for your procedure, a temporary sore throat or bleeding/discomfort in the nose may occur from the breathing tube that was in place for the surgery. This will get better with time
• Your lips may be dry and cracked. Keep moist with lip balm
• You may have a slight ear-ache or headache
• If you suffered from TMJ pain prior to the procedure, this may be temporarily worsened
• There may be a slight increase in your temperature for 24 to 48 hours. This does NOT mean you have an infection. If this continues past 48 hours, please contact our office
• Please inform our office immediately if you have been unexpectedly admitted to the hospital within 10 days of treatment

If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact our office at 403-263-5193. During our regular business hours we’ll be happy to help you through any questions or problems you’re having, and outside of business hours you can call the same number and follow the prompts to be directed to the 24-hour on call surgeon.