Surgical instructions - WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA & ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Some bleeding or redness in your saliva is normal 24 hours after dental implant surgery.

Bite on a gauze pad for 30 minutes to control excess bleeding. Our office provides gauze pads in your post-operative bag.

If you find the bleeding continues, please call our office for further instructions.

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice cubes on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously as much as possible for the first 36 hours.

After surgery drink plenty of fluids. However, make sure to avoid hot foods or liquids. On the day of surgery soft food and liquids should be eaten. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Begin taking pain medication once the local anesthetic wears off. Take 1-2 Tylenol or Extra Strength every 3-4 hours for moderate pain, or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) may be taken instead. Ibuprofen bought over the counter comes in 200 mg tablets: 2-3 tablets may be taken every 3-4 hours as needed. Take the prescribed medication as directed for severe pain.

Mouth cleanliness is essential to good healing, so clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery. Brush your teeth as best you can, and rinse with warm salt water (1/2 tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water) 6 times a day. Continue until healing is complete. REMEMBER: A clean wound heals better and faster.

Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you are considering exercise after extraction surgery, throbbing or bleeding may occur so you should discontinue exercising. In addition, since your normal nourishment intake is reduced, exercise may weaken you. If you begin to feel light headed, stop exercising.