Post Procedure Care Instructions
Welcome to our post procedure care page!
We understand that dental procedures can be uncomfortable, so this page is dedicated to providing you with helpful tips and information for post-operative home care to ensure you remain comfortable and healthy after your dental procedure.
Implant Post-Op Care
Discomfort:
-
As soon as you get home, take 600mg of Ibuprofen then alternate between that and 1,000 mg of Tylenol every 4-6 hours as long as discomfort persists.
-
Starting the day after the implant placement, warm saltwater rinses may be done to ease gum discomfort as well as keep the area clean. Make sure not to rinse to vigorously and lightly swish before letting the water passively exit the mouth.
-
Lips may become chapped and cracked following the procedure. Make sure to keep your lips hydrated with some chapstick or vaseline.
Healing:
-
No smoking of any kind for at least 48 hours. Doing so will disrupt the healing and may cause discomfort or even implant failure.
-
Stitches may be placed during the procedure. These stitches will most likely not fall out on their own and will need to be taken out at your 2 week Post-Op appointment.
-
A piece of metal called a “Healing Abutment” may have been attached to the implant during the procedure. If a healing abutment was placed, try to avoid applying any unnecessary pressure to the piece. (Avoid eating anything hard like nuts, hard candies, etc. near the healing abutment.)
Cleaning:
-
You may brush your teeth like normal, however, be gentle for the first 24 hours when brushing around the implant area. Warm salt water rinses (starting the next day) can help keep the area clean as well.
-
It is highly recommended that you rinse daily using an antimicrobial mouthrinse called “Colgate Peroxyl” to help ensure the implant area stays clean.
-
Please note that as per the bottle’s instructions, Colagate Peroxyl should not be used for more than a week consecutively.
-
Food & Drink:
-
Unlike the extraction post op, you are welcome to eat and drink mostly as normal, but it is recommended that you avoid eating anything spicy which can irritate the gums or anything particularly hard such as nuts and hard candies near the area.
What to Expect at Your Next Appointment:
-
Regardless whether a healing abutment or stitches were placed, your next appointment will be a 2 week post-op appointment. At this appointment, Dr. will inspect the implant and make sure it is integrating well with the bone and he will make sure the gums are healing as expected.
-
If stitches were placed, they will be taken out during this appointment as well.
Please give our office a call at (405) 340-8011 or send us a message using the Contact Us page if you have any questions or concerns following the procedure.