Immediate Postoperative Care
Minimize contact with the implant immediately after placement. This time is critical as the implant in undergoing the initial stages of integrating into your bone.
Aside from routine hygiene, it's best to avoid aggravating the site with aggressive brushing or eating directly on the implant site for 2 weeks.
Bleeding
Overall, you should not expect much bleeding after implant surgery, but oozing from the site may continue for several hours. The best way to slow this is to take a couple of damp gauze pads, fold them into a square and gently bite for 30 to 60 minutes. Then rest while making sure your head is elevated. If the bleeding continues, use another piece of gauze for another 30 minutes. Bleeding can be evaluated best by yourself by looking directly at the surgical site.
Your saliva sometimes can look pink or blood-tinged for 2-3 days post-surgery. However, this does not indicate any problem. The suture material, if resorbable, may last 2-5 days and dissolve on its own. If we placed non-resorbable sutures, we would remove them at your 2-week follow-up appointment if required. If you have any loose threads bothering your tongue where a suture has come loose, feel free to cut the free end.
Swelling
Swelling is the body's normal reaction to surgery and healing. The swelling will not become apparent until 24 hours after surgery and will not reach its peak for 2-3 days. After this time, the swelling should
decrease but may persist for 7-10 days. The immediate use of ice packs may minimize swelling.
When you have swelling after implant surgery, it's the body's normal response to surgery and healing. Typically, the swelling peaks around day 2 or 3, indicating healing factors are migrating to the site. After this time, the swelling will decrease but can be present for 7-10 days.
Using ice packs helps to reduce swelling initially: 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off during the first 24-48 hours as needed.
After 2 days, use warm compresses for 20 minutes at a time to decrease swelling.
Medications to use for Pain
It is normal to have some degree of discomfort with any oral surgery. We recommend taking over-the-counter medications like IBuprofen (Advil, Motrin) before the anesthetic wears off. More intense pain can happen and may require narcotic pain medications; typically, Tylenol 3 is what we prescribe.
Be aware with any narcotic pain management; you should not be driving or operating heavy machinery. Once you no longer need the narcotic, you may continue to use Advil or Tylenol as needed. Do not exceed the recommended dosages for these medications.
Discomfort should subside each day after day 3. If not, please call or text our office at 604-534-2324
*NOTE: If you are taking COUMADIN or PLAVIX Anticoagulant, do NOT take Ibuprofen or Aspirin products.
Diet
While you are frozen, avoid eating full solid meals as it will be difficult to avoid the surgical site. However, you can move towards heavier food once the numbness wears off. See tips below.
Foods to Drink and Eat While Frozen
Drink: Water, Ice Chips, Juice, Smoothies
Eat: Purees, Jell-O, Puddings, Yogurt, Rice
Add Soft Foods When Numbness is Gone
Mashed Potatoes, Pasta, Eggs, Pancakes, Cereals, Fruits, Soups
Things to Avoid for 48 hours
AVOID carbonated beverages and hot liquids. These drinks can disturb the forming blood clot and slow healing.
Highly acidic juices like Pomegranate or Orange Juice
Alcohol will slow or delay healing
Raw food – Including Fish or Baking dough
Feta or other cheeses made with unpasteurized milk
Oral Hygiene
Keeping your mouth clean is the best way to prevent infections, ensure proper healing and prevent bone loss. I.e.: Brush two times a day, floss just like regular. Make sure you have a soft toothbrush; if you aggravate the site and cause bleeding, you can again use some soft gauze to bite on.
Activity
You should rest and relax for the first 48 hours with no physical activity. After 48 hours, you may resume activity as tolerated.
For 48 hours post-surgery, we ask that you limit any excessive physical activity as it can cause premature implant failure from over-exertion of the body. After 48 hours, you may resume light physical activity.
Healing
It's normal to have bad breath following surgery, and that will go away as things begin to heal. After 3 days, you may notice a stiffer whitish tissue building up over the site. That is normal healing tissue. Sometimes you will see a glossy-coloured metal in the implant site. This metal is the healing cap or abutment for the dental implant and is normal.
Antibiotics
Always take Antibiotics if they are prescribed. Make sure to take the prescription until it's gone; otherwise, it will not be effective. Please let us know if you develop a rash or another unfavourable side effect.
Other Considerations
Three months is the average time it takes an implant to integrate into the bone. After it fuses to the bone, we can move on to taking impressions or contouring the gums for your final crown, bridge or denture.
