Diet: As the most important part of Dental Implants Post Operative Care, eating nourishing food that can be eaten comfortably is recommended. Avoid extremely hot foods and liquid. Soft, cool foods that are easily tolerated are recommended during the first 6 days to avoid food particles contaminating the wound. Mouth should be thoroughly rinsed with the mouthwash containing Chlorhexidine prescribed by the dentist after each meal. Any toothpaste residue has to be completely cleaned and removed prior to rinsing and then eating and drinking should be completely avoided for at least 30 minutes after rinsing.
Avoid:
Popcorn, poppy seeds, sesame seeds or seeded fruits as they can get stuck and cause infection.
Hard and crusty food.
Hot liquids until the numbness has warn off and the bleeding has stopped
Using straw for several days since it may dislodge the blood clot and delay healing.
Smoking completely as it tends o delay healing and interfere with regeneration.
Take:
lots of fluid intake including clear beverages, soups, fresh juices, ginger ale, seven-up, or sprite, water, teas, soda, broth.
Managing Swelling: In order to reduce swelling that may continue to increase over three day period and then begin to resolve, it is recommended covered ice packs or a cold compress applied to the face over the surgical site for the first 24 hours after procedure as another Dental Implants Post Operative Care. It is suggested that it is applied 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
Keeping the head elevated with an extra pillow during the first 2 nights after surgery and taking anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil, also help decrease swelling.
Bruising may appear on the face during the first few days after surgery.
Managing Bleeding: The gauze packs that are placed on the surgical site(s) to limit bleeding while the clot forms, should be left in place with a soft biting down for 30-40 minutes after you leave the practice. The gauze can be replaced by folding a clean dampened piece into a pad thick enough to bite one, placed directly on the surgical site, every 30-40 minutes, if there is continual bleeding.
If Bleeding continues despite the above efforts, dip a tea bag in small amount of boiling water and place the cooled tea bag firmly on the site and close jaw tightly and hold for 30 minutes and repeat if necessary.
Please call the office in case of severe and uncontrolled bleeding.
Managing Pain: The length of time you experience numbness varies, depending on the type of anesthetic you’ve received. Post operative pain will be the most severe the first day after surgery. While your mouth is numb you’ll want to be careful not o bit on your cheek, lip, or tongue. The numbness should subside within a few hours.
It is beneficial to take your pain medication before your numbness wears off. While prescription tablets for pain management should be taken according to instruction, with some pain relief prescriptions, driving and operating machinery is prohibited. Do not take prescription pain medication on an empty stomach and avoid alcoholic beverages all together. The best recommended pain relief prescriptions for Dental Implants Post Operative Care are non-steroidal medications like Ibuprofen(Motrin 800mg, Advil).
If pain persists, please call us.
Managing Infection: It is essential that the instructions are followed and the entire course of prescription is complete if antibiotics are prescribed to help prevent infection. However antibiotics shall be discontinued in the event of a rash or other unfavorable reaction.
PLEASE NOTE: Birth control pills will be inactivated by the antibiotics.
Healing: The blood clot formation in the surgical area is an important step of the normal healing process, therefore, activities that might disturb the surgical area must be avoided as a Dental Implants Post Operative Care.
AVOID:
Rinsing the mouth vigorously or probing the area with any objects including fingers
Smoking
Spiting or drinking through a straw for 72 hours following surgery
Strenuous activity for the first 24 hours after procedure
