In short: Nine practical tips for healing after dental implant surgery, from blood clotting and swelling to diet and rest.
It is never wrong to stay prepared after dental implant surgery. Staying prepared will allow you to recuperate as quickly as possible after the treatment. Follow these tips to boost dental implant healing and ensure the success of your dental implant surgery.
Tip #1: Arrange for Someone to Drive You Home After Dental Implant Surgery
If your dental implant surgery needs you to sleep during the treatment, you will need to have someone to drive you home. After a procedure, it takes some time for attention and coordination to recover. It’s also not uncommon to have slightly blurred vision after general anesthesia. It is always advised not to drive or use machinery for the first 24 hours for these reasons. The first step toward a quick recovery is having someone to take you home.
Tip #2: Facilitate Blood Clotting at the Surgical Site
It is normal to experience some bleeding from the surgical site for up to 48-72 hours after a dental implant placement surgery. It would help if you continued to bite down firmly on gauze sponges throughout this period. Steady pressure applied by biting down on a sterile gauze will assist in halting any persistent bleeding. This also encourages the blood to clot, so avoid rinsing to avoid disturbing the delicate surgical area and increasing bleeding.
It is uncommon to suffer bleeding from the nose after placing a dental implant in the upper jaw. However, if you have this type of bleeding, avoid blowing your nose and help clots form by putting light pressure on the bridge of your nose.
Tip #3: Please Do Not Neglect Constant Bleeding After Dental Implant Surgery
Bleeding following a dental implant placement is normal. However, if the bleeding looks excessive or heavy, use the following steps to help blood clots form and reduce the bleeding:
- Gently wipe away large blood clots from your mouth.
- Place two folded gauze pads over the bleeding wound.
- Bite firmly for an hour on the gauze without replacing the gauze.
- Repeat the procedure as many times as needed until the bleeding stops.
Moistened ordinary (non-herbal) black tea bags wrapped in gauze can be used to stop the bleeding. Place the tea bags directly on the bleeding area and bite down firmly for one hour. If the bleeding does not stop even a few hours after surgery, call our dental office immediately.
Tip #4: Only Eat Soft Foods for the First 24 Hours After Dental Implant Surgery
If you need to eat, you can remove the gauze pads your doctor has placed one hour following surgery. Only soft foods should be eaten for the first 24 hours. For several hours after your operation, avoid any hot or spicy meals or beverages.
Tip #5: Help Reduce Swelling After Dental Implant Surgery
Swelling is a normal part of the healing process, especially following bone grafting treatments. After oral surgery, facial swelling usually develops over 3-4 days. The swelling should start to go down soon after that. It is not uncommon for one side of your mouth to be more swollen or uncomfortable than the other if you had implants placed on both sides.
Reduce swelling by applying a cold pack to the cheek area for a maximum of ten minutes at a time, with a twenty-minute pause in between sessions. Gentle heat may be more effective after 24 hours in treating swelling and bruising.
Tip #6: Take All Antibiotics as Directed
After the dental implant surgery, you might need to take antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to prevent infection of the dental implant or bone graft. To ensure adequate dosing, you must follow the guidelines on the bottle and continue to take the prescription until it is finished. If you develop an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, such as a skin rash, stop taking them and contact your doctor promptly.
Tip #7: Stay Away from Smoking After the Dental Implant Surgery
Smoking in any form after oral surgery will obstruct the proper healing process. It may also raise your chances of becoming infected. Although failure of a dental implant or bone graft is uncommon, smokers are more likely to experience it than nonsmokers.
Tip #8: Make a Follow-up Appointment for Dental Implant Surgery
Your implant provider will most likely want to see you about three weeks after your implant procedure. If your implant was placed in a two-stage process, the healing of the implant will be evaluated at this follow-up exam or at the second part of the surgery, when the implant is exposed and the healing abutment is inserted.
Got more questions on Dental Implant Surgery in Tennessee?
If you have any further questions about oral health and dental implants, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Adatrow. Dr. Adatrow has more than 30 years of experience in placing dental implants, with a success rate of over 97%, and can provide you with the best possible dental treatment. He is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and Periodontist in Hernando, MS region. Please get in touch with our office for your consultation now!
Dental implant surgery: talk to a specialist
Every mouth is different, so the right answer on dental implant surgery depends on your teeth, gums and health history. Our board-certified specialists in Southaven, MS, near Memphis, can examine you, explain your options and give you a clear written plan. Call (662) 655-4868 or book a consultation.