If you are missing teeth, our start-to-finish dental implant services will surely improve the look and feel of your smile. But for those considering this permanent tooth replacement option, it’s important to know how to best care for your mouth following the procedure.
The 6-12 weeks following dental implant surgery are for healing as the biocompatible titanium post fuses with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration. You’ll need to prepare a few things to make sure you heal as quickly and comfortably as possible. Here are some instructions on how you can care for yourself after a dental implant procedure.
- Assistance Getting Home
- Keep Gauze Handy
- Rest
- Eat Soft Foods
- Take Medications as Prescribed
- Avoid Alcohol, Tobacco Products & Straws
Once your implant is placed, the sedation will begin to slowly wear off. This means you will feel groggy and will require assistance getting home and into bed. Don’t risk driving afterward. The combination of pain and medication will be too much for you to do so comfortably and safely. Make sure you have a friend or family member available to take you home.
Bleeding immediately following any oral surgery is very common. You’ll need fresh, clean gauze to place near the area to stanch the bleeding. Do this until the bleeding stops, changing the gauze as needed. Let us know if the bleeding persists or increases!
Take it easy in the days following your surgery because you’ll need plenty of time to rest. The sedation and discomfort will both require you to have down time. Forget your to-do list and instead rest in bed or on your couch for several hours. When you are ready to begin moving again, use caution. Don’t engage in strenuous physical activities or sports until we say it’s safe.
To allow the area to heal, we recommend eating a diet of soft foods like purees, soups, applesauce, mashed banana, yogurt, smoothies, and scrambled eggs. Additionally, try to chew on the unaffected side of your mouth.
Please follow instructions when taking prescription or over-the-counter medication. If you feel the dosage isn’t high enough, call us. We can advise you and help adjust as needed.
In order to avoid problems with poor healing, increased bleeding, or dry sockets, please do not drink alcohol, use tobacco, or drink through straws. Doing so can derail your recovery and land you back in our office to solve problems.
Contact us if you have any questions about dental implant surgery or its recovery. We are happy to help!
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