Placement of Dental Implant
Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized if the instructions are followed carefully. If you have had any form of sedation, please refrain from driving for at least 24 hours.
Bleeding:
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Bleeding should never be severe. If oozing persists, place gauze over surgical site and bite for 15-20 min. You may need to repeat this process.
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Apply an ice pack to keep any swelling to a minimum, 20min on every hour for first day. Swelling may peak at days 3-4 after surgery, and then subside.
Hygiene:
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Resume normal brushing 24 hours after surgery; AVOID brushing over implant site until your post-operative appointment. DO NOT probe area.
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Drink lots of fluids and stick to soft foods. AVOID CHEWING OVER IMPLANT SITE for the first 3-6 months. Chewing over implant site can disrupt healing.
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Gently rinse with warm salt water 48 hours after surgery; 2-3 times daily. (1tsp of salt in 8oz of water.) If you we’re prescribed an oral rinse, use that prescription until gone then switch to salt water rinses.
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If your general dentist made a temporary for you to wear, DO NOT wear it until after Drs. Pavlick or Reppas have checked to ensure it will not affect or harm the implant.
- Smoking is NOT advised. Smoking can be extremely harmful to dental implants and can lead to failure of implants.
PAIN CONTROL:
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It is important start pain medication before numbness has worn off.
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The main medication used in our office for post-operative pain is a high strength Ibuprofen. You can take prescribed 600mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours.
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For additional pain control; it is safe to take 2 Extra Strength Tylenol, (Two 500mg tablets to equal 1000mg) in the middle of the ibuprofen (3hrs into the 6hrs). Alternating between the two medications every 3 hours. That equals 1000mg of Tylenol every 6 hours. (DO NOT exceed 4000mg of Tylenol in 24 hrs).
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If you do not have a prescription for Ibuprofen 600mg. Over the counter Advil/Motrin is ibuprofen and is usually supplied in 200mg. Therefore you can take three 200mg tabs to equal 600mg, every 6 hours. )
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If a medical issue prevents you from taking ibuprofen, Tylenol is the only alternative.
Sinus Precautions:
Please follow precautions if you’ve had an upper implant placed and continue until your follow up appointment.
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DO NOT forcefully spit or vigorously rinse.
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DO NOT smoke
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DO NOT use a straw
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DO NOT forcefully blow your nose
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TRY NOT to sneeze; if you must, keep your mouth open. (It is not uncommon to have slight bleeding from your nose.