Post-Operative Instructions: Implants

Bite on gauze to stop the bleeding. Remove it after 20-30 minutes. Do not split. If If still bleeds- use another gauze and apply pressure over the site for another 20-30 min. Keep your head elevated.

Swelling is common in the first 2-3 days. A cold pack/ice is recommended 10 min on & 10 min off for the first 24 hours. Keep your head elevated for the first two days.

It is essential to take the antibiotic as directed. Any pain medication should be taken as soon as possible. Try to not take meds on an empty stomach.

NOT use a straw as it may dislodge a blood clot trying to form. For the first two days -> you want to eat cold and soft food. Great examples include ice cream, yogurt, smoothies (without straw), cottage cheese, milkshake, jello. For the next few months try to avoid chewing directly on the implant sites. Avoid spicey food for one week.

DO NOT use mouth rinse the day of surgery. We recommend using chlorhexidine to rinse starting 24 hours after the surgery.

Please refrain from smoking until the healing phase has completed. This means absolutely no smoking for at least 5 days but ideally for the entire first month of healing. Tobacco of any kind may delay healing and prevent blood clots from forming which are essential during this stage.

Avoid strenuous activities – lifting, running or another similar activities for a week.

No alcohol or carbonated drinks for 1 week.

Make sure to get plenty of rest. Keep head elevated for first 3 nights.

Pain can vary a lot based on several factors – like amount of bone and difficulty of placement. Take pain medicine as soon as soon as you can after the surgery.

This depends on you. If your work does not require heavy lifting you can go back to work whenever you feel comfortable. Most people take 2-3 days off, others will take the entire week off, and a few extremists will work the next day.

If you had sutures placed, that means we had to do a larger. Most sutures use are resorbable which means they will dissolve naturally in 1-2 weeks. Try to not play with the sutures. After two weeks if you can still feel your sutures, come in and we can remove them for you.