Tips for after your dental implants procedure:

Do not disturb the dental implant surgical site. Avoid vigorous rinsing, spitting, or touching the area on the day of surgery.

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24-48 hours after dental implants procedures. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call the office and an on-call oral surgeon can paged. He can then assess the situation and provide more individualized advice and instruction.

Swelling is a normal occurrence after dental implant surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice pack or a plastic bag filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. This can be done for the first 24 hours after surgery.

Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or foods. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Typically, you will be given a prescription for pain medication at your consultation visit. Take this as directed for post-operative pain. Many times these medications contain Tylenol (Acetaminophen), and caution should be used before taking any additional Tylenol while you are taking the prescribed medication. It is often advisable to take some pain medication prior to the local anesthesia (numbing medicine) wearing off to avoid sudden discomfort when its action is no longer present. Generally, over-the-counter Ibuprofen (i.e. Advil or Motrin) may be taken in conjunction with your prescribed pain medication. Do not take any of the above medications if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take them.

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The day after surgery warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used 3-4 times daily, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments (if present after the initial surgery) is no problem after initial healing of the soft tissues has occurred and soreness is no longer present. In the first few days after your dental implant procedure, however, refrain from directly brushing at the surgical site(s). 

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment immediately after surgery. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.

This is typically discussed in the pre-operative appointment since the instructions may vary depending on the techniques used in your individual surgery. Ask your surgeon pre-operatively if you have any questions or concerns regarding post-operative wear of a dental implant prosthesis.