Surgical Instructions

• Before Anesthesia
• Dental Implant Surgery
• Wisdom Tooth Removal
• Exposure of an Impacted Tooth
• Extractions
• Multiple Extractions

After Placement of Dental Implants

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.

Bleeding

Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the wound for 60 minutes. If it continues please call for further instructions.

Swelling

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To help prevent swelling, apply ice to the area.  Apply the ice intermittently, as much as possible, for the first 48 hours.

Diet

Start off with plenty of fluids, adding soft foods when your local anaesthetic wears off. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unlees you've been told otherwise.

Pain

You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For moderate pain, 1 or 2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol may be taken every 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) may be taken instead of Tylenol. Ibuprofen, bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 3-4 hours as needed for pain. For severe pain, the prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it.

Antibiotics

Be sure to take the prescribed antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.

Nausea and Vomiting

In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour including the prescribed medicine. You should then sip on clear fluids like water,tea, gatorade or flat ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period. When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine. Be sure to call us if this doesn't improve.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. Starting the day after surgery  warm salt water rinses (teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 5-6 times a day, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially with brushing the surgical areas.

Activity

Keep physical activities to a minimum for 5 to 7 days following surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. 

Wearing your Prosthesis

Partial dentures, flippers, or full dentures may be used immediately after surgery.You should take care not to chew with them for at least 10 days.