After Placement of Dental Implants

Home Instructions After Dental Implant Surgery

• If you received dental implants, please follow your general postoperative instructions as they pertain to your treatment.
• THE AREA THAT RECEIVED THE IMPLANT OR IMPLANTS MUST BE TREATED GENTLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DISTURBED WHILE HEALING.  In some cases implants will be completely covered by stitched gums.  In some cases the implant may have received a metal abutment that protrudes through the gums with the gums stitched around the abutment.  In other cases a temporary tooth may be attached to the implant.  In any of these scenarios it is important to treat the site gently and prevent anything from disturbing the site while healing.
• DO NOT CHEW FOOD DIRECTLY OVER THE AREA WHICH RECEIVED IMPLANTS.  IF YOU WERE GIVEN A DENTURE TO WEAR, OR IF A TEMPORARY CROWN WAS FIXED TO THE IMPLANT, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO NOT CHEW WITH THEM AS THEY ARE FOR ESTHETICS ONLY AND CHEWING DIRECTLY WITH THEM CAN HARM HEALING IMPLANTS AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL TO FUSE TO THE BONE.
  
• Attention to oral hygiene is extremely important and you must brush your mouth and teeth as normal but avoid the surgical area.
• It is important to keep the incisions clean and free of food debris. A Q-tip with saltwater can be used to lightly clean the incisions. Once stitches begin to dissolve, extremely gentle and light brushing with toothpaste can begin taking care not to displace the healing wound edges that were stitched together.
• Light bleeding after brushing is normal and will decrease as healing occurs.
• If you received several implants, there may be a second set of individual stitches that will not dissolve and brushing can be done around these without issue until they are removed in the office.
• Implants take 4-6 months to fuse to the bone and it is important that you keep your follow-up to have an evaluation for the next step.