Your Dental Implant Recovery

Dental implants can truly be life-changing for patients who have no natural teeth. They’ll give you not only an attractive smile but also the ability to use your teeth like you used to back when you had natural teeth. However, in order to get to the place where your dental implants are fully functional, you’ll need to approach recovery the right way. Read on to learn what you can do to have an optimal recovery after getting dental implants.

Handling the Implant Site

On the day of your dental implant surgery, it’s important that you agitate the implant site as little as possible. Don’t touch implant site, and avoid spitting or rinsing your mouth out. You’ll have a metal healing abutment poking through your gums during this time, and it should be avoided as much as possible.

Dealing With Side Effects

It’s normal to experience bleeding after your dental implant surgery. It may range from quite mild (blood tinged saliva) to quite heavy. If you’re bleeding enough to have a mouth full of blood, staunch the bleeding with a clean gauze pad. Put the gauze pad directly atop the dental implant and apply pressure by biting down. This should resolve the heavy bleeding, but if it doesn’t work phone the office for help.

Swelling is quite normal as well, especially for the first day or two. You can use an ice pack on the outside of your jaw to reduce the swelling. It’s fine to apply ice continually until it becomes uncomfortable.

Taking Your Medication

Your anesthesia will wear off later in the day of your dental implant surgery. When you notice that the numbness is wearing off, begin taking pain medication. For moderate pain, you can take Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol, or Ibuprofen as directed on the bottle. If your pain is severe, use your prescribed medicine as directed. Dr. Sedaros prescribes antibiotics to dental implant patients because they help you avoid infection and the pain that goes along with it. Always take your antibiotics as directed, and use all of the medication.

Eating and Drinking

Have plenty of fluids after your dental implant surgery, but avoid hot drinks or food. It’s best to have only soft foods after your dental implant surgery, but you can start to eat a normal diet again as soon as possible. You’ll be able to reintroduce solids gradually over the coming days.

Brushing and Rinsing

Dr. Sedaros prescribes Peridex Oral Rinse after dental implant surgery. You should use it before bed on the day of your surgery and then use it twice a day starting the day after your surgery. Rinse for a minimum of 30 seconds each time. You should supplement this rinse with a warm salt water rinse (1 tsp salt in 1 cup of lukewarm water) a minimum of four times daily. It’s fine to brush, but use extra caution around the implants and avoid applying pressure.

Exercise

It’s best to limit exercise on the day of your surgery and to take it easy for a few days afterward if possible. Exercise can cause excessive bleeding or throbbing pain. If you have these symptoms while exercising, that’s a sign that it’s too early to do so yet. Also, you’ll probably be weaker than usual while on your liquid or soft diet, and this can prevent you from feeling well enough to exercise at your usual level. Wait a while longer and try again when you’re more fully healed.

Get Dental Implants From an Expert

Dr. Steve A. Sedaros is a highly experienced oral surgeon who has been practicing in Florida since 2004. Melbourne area patients trust Dr. Sedaros to help them with restorations that look and feel incredibly natural. Dental implants, corrective jaw surgery, and wisdom teeth extractions are Dr. Sedaros’ specialties. He’s here to help dental implant patients through every stage of their journey, so contact the Sedaros Oral Facial Surgery & Dental Implants office anytime to schedule an appointment.