After dental implant surgery, patients should pay close attention to the area surrounding their new implant. During the first month, the dental implant is still integrating with bone and tissues, so the patient’s care routine will be slightly more affected during this initial period.
Above all, do not disturb the wound in the first days following surgery. Avoid rinsing, spitting, and touching your mouth for 24 hours after surgery to avoid contaminating or irritating the surgical site. It is important to follow these care instructions after dental implant surgery;
Antibiotics: Patients should take all prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection at the surgical site. Twenty-four hours after surgery, patients should begin using the prescribed oral rinse 4-5 times a day (preferably after each meal) along with a twice-daily warm salt water rinse.
Bleeding: The blood in the patient’s saliva is normal for the first 24 hours after surgery. We recommend biting into gauze pads to help control and reduce blood flow. Bite gently on the gauze and try to maintain steady pressure, repeating as needed or until the bleeding subsides.
Coping with pain: The anesthetic effect will subside shortly after your dental implant surgery. You should start taking pain medication before this happens.
Diet: We recommend the initial diet with soft foods, but patients can resume a normal diet once they feel they can. It is also important that you drink plenty of fluids.
Hygiene: The surgical area must be kept clean for the dental implants to heal properly. Continue to brush your teeth as you normally would, but avoid sutures and do not brush the implant. Antibiotic and salt water rinses will disinfect the implant itself.
Swelling: Some swelling is expected after dental implant surgery. Try to keep your head elevated and lower your activity level as much as possible to help minimize swelling. Use ice packs for the first 48 hours and apply continuously or as often as possible to minimize facial swelling.
Wearing your denture or night guard: Partial dentures, full dentures, retainers or night guards should not be worn for at least 10 days after surgery. If there is any special situation, your doctor will meet with you during your pre-operative consultation.
Smoking: Smoking after dental implant surgery increases the risk of infection, which increases the risk of dental implants not being integrated. We recommend that patients not smoke for at least 2 weeks after dental implant surgery.
What does recovery involve?
Although every patient’s situation is different, recovery after dental implant surgery takes place in a number of stages. With your new dental implants, maintaining proper oral hygiene should be your primary focus. In order for the implant to fuse properly with the jawbone, it must remain clean. Also, do not forget that with proper care, a dental implant can serve its owner for a lifetime.
Oral discomfort should gradually decrease while maintaining proper hygiene. Swelling, bruising, and minor bleeding may still occur. If any pain persists, feel free to continue using pain medication.
Recovery time will vary depending on whether the patient receives a crown immediately or waits for the implant to fuse with the jawbone. Your recovery time frame depends on your individual case and treatment plan; Follow-up appointments will be made accordingly.
