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Please follow our post-operative instructions after your implant surgery is completed. They will help you feel more comfortable and will aid healing. If you have any questions or are unsure of anything, please contact us as we will be happy to help you. Please wait until the anesthetic has completely worn off before you attempt to eat. Otherwise you run the risk of biting your tongue or the inside of your cheeks. You will need to relax and take it easy for the rest of the day. This is generalized advice on how to care for your mouth after surgery and we can provide you with more individualized instructions if required when you are at our dental office.
Post-operative instructions for the following dental implants procedures performed in our Midtown implants center:
- All-on-4 Dental Implants
- Denture Implants
- Front Tooth Implants
- Full-Mouth Dental Implants
- Immediate Dental Implants
- Single Tooth Implant
- Zirconia Implants
Dealing with Any Discomfort
- Please make sure you take all prescribed medications as directed and that you complete any antibiotic treatment.
- It can be useful to begin pain relief medication before the anesthetic has worn off, although it is not uncommon to experience little or no pain, particularly if you have only had a single dental implant.
- If you are using over-the-counter pain relief to control any discomfort, then please use as directed on the packet. Ibuprofen, Advil and Tylenol are all very effective but it is important that you do not exceed the dosage during any 24 hour period.
- An ice pack can be used during the first 36 hours after treatment and will help relieve any discomfort. Use the ice-pack for twenty minutes each time, allowing at least twenty minutes in between each application. After 36 hours moist heat packs can be useful in reducing any swelling. It is perfectly normal to have some minor swelling and possibly some mild bruising after implant surgery.
Taking Care of the Implant Site
It is important to keep the implant site clean and you can lightly brush the teeth nearest to the surgical site as it begins to heal. During the first day after surgery, use a warm salt water rinse to gently clean your mouth and you can do this up to 6 times in the first day. After the first day, gently rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouth rinse to help avoid infections. We may prescribe a mouth rinse for you to use. Otherwise Peridex, Chlorhexidine and Periogard are all good choices for short term use. Avoid vigorously rinsing the site and do not swoosh your mouth rinse. Please try to avoid fiddling with the implant site and avoid pulling on any stitches as these will gradually dissolve on their own.
What to Eat and Drink after Surgery
Try to avoid chewing food near the implant site and it can be more comfortable to stick to foods that are soft and easy to eat for the first day or two. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink any alcohol for the first week or so after implant surgery and do not smoke. We would prefer it if you quit completely as smoking does affect healing and does increase the risk of implant failure. If you cannot quit smoking you should avoid it for at least the first few weeks to give your dental implant a better chance of healing.
If you have any questions about post-operative instructions or would like to make an appointment or consultation please call our NYC Dentistry Center in Midtown East.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096