Treatment After Care
Guidelines For Care of Your Mouth After Dental Implant Treatment
- Take care to only have cold drinks and do not eat until the local anaesthetic has worn off. Avoid hot drinks or hot food for the first day and do not 'swill' liquid over the area. Try not to disturb the area with your tongue or fingers. Do not undertake strenuous exercise for the first 48 hours (running / gym).
- Some swelling is normal and will start to resolve after 48 hours. There may be bruising on the skin which will clear after a few days. Swelling can be reduced with ice packs (or frozen peas) wrapped in a towel. Hold on the cheek area for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time with 20 minutes break. After 24 hours gentle heat is more beneficial. Sleeping on 2-3 pillows may also help.
- Pain should not be a problem. Although you will be sore for a few days this can be easily managed with simple analgesics (pain killers) which you should take regularly for 2 days at the stated dose. Take your first dose before the local anaesthetic has worn off. If pain increases after 48 hours you should contact The Implant Centre.
- If you have a denture that covers the surgical area please wear as little as possible for the first 4 weeks to protect the implants or graft. Do not bite into any food with this denture.
- The stitches are dissolvable but often remain for around 2-3 weeks, if they are uncomfortable or annoying you may contact us to remove them after 1 week.
- Some bleeding is normal. If this persists apply pressure with a dampened gauze or clean handkerchief for 30 minutes.
- If you have had a graft you may notice some small granules appearing in your mouth.
- If you have been given antibiotics please complete the course.
- If you experience increasing pain or swelling after 3-4 days you should contact us for a review.
Cleaning - Successful implant surgery depends on keeping the mouth as clean as possible
- Please start to use Corsodyl mouthwash the evening of surgery and continue for 1 week. You should hold half a cap-full over the surgical site for 1 minute 3 times a day for 7 days. This is very important.
- You should also start cleaning your other teeth on the evening of surgery. Avoid the surgical site for the first 2 days, but then very carefully clean this area as well when tenderness permits.
- Hot salt mouthwashes (cup of hot water with a teaspoon of salt) are beneficial for healing in the first week but taste awful.
- Try to keep food away from the surgical area as long as possible. Rinse following eating to keep the area as clean as possible.
- You are advised not to smoke until the wound has healed as this severely limits healing in the mouth.
