Special instructions for patients undergoing implant surgery
Before Your Treatment
Do arrange for a responsible adult / chaperone to accompany you home if you are being sedated
Do remove contact lenses prior to treatment
Do remove all make-up and artificial nails (particularly lipstick and nail varnish)
Do remove all jewellery
Do continue to take routine medicines / tablets / pills (Do tell us about all medicines and tablets you are taking)
Do tell your dental surgeon if you have been to your doctor or attended hospital since your appointment was made
Do wear short sleeves and loose fitting, comfortable clothing
Do eat a light meal at least two hours before your appointment (Avoid heavy meals or fatty foods on the day of treatment)
Do not drink any alcohol on the day of treatment
Do not wear tight clothing
Do not bring anyone with you except the responsible adult who will take you home
Please do not bring any children with you
After Your Treatment; The first 24 hours
You may be sleepy or possibly very alert. Please rest for a few hours and take the rest of the day quietly. Avoid exertion and sleep on several pillows
Do eat soft, light and easily digestible food during the day and drink plenty of fluids but avoid using a straw – it can cause bleeding
Do take medicines / tablets / pills that have been prescribed for you
If you have been sedated, do not drive any vehicle, operate machinery, use cookers, kettles, and irons or make any business decisions on the same day as your treatment. Your reflexes and judgement have been affected. Stay at home with your chaperone
You may feel wobbly when walking. Do not use stairs unattended, your balance may be affected
Do not drink any form of alcohol or smoke, it interferes with healing and may cause infection
Do not brush the treatment area but keep the rest of your mouth clean in the normal way
Do not rinse your mouth or use a Water Pik
Please call us if you have any concerns
After Your Treatment; 24 hours – 2 weeks
Maintain a soft diet; soups, stews and smoothies are nutritious and easy.
Drink plenty of fluids but avoid using a straw – it can cause bleeding.
Use hot/salty mouth rinses to bathe the area gently
Do not smoke, it interferes with healing and may cause infection
Do not drink alcohol whilst taking the medications we prescribe
Do not brush the treatment area but keep the rest of your mouth clean in the normal way
After Your Treatment; 2 weeks – 2 months
Use hot/salty mouth rinses 3-4 times/day for a further 3 days, this will soothe the area where the stitches have been
Brush the treatment area with a soft toothbrush
Remove any dentures nightly and clean as normal
Do not use a Water Pik
Do not use alcohol containing mouth-rinses.
After Your Treatment; 2 months onwards
You may now use floss / super-floss and soft electric toothbrushes
If you have had a bone augmentation
It is normal to find a few small white granules
Do not rinse vigorously for 2 weeks
Do not press on the surgical area with your tongue or fingers
Do not be tempted to lift your cheek or lip to look at the stitches, this can cause tearing
If you have had a sinus lift
Small nosebleeds are normal for the first few days
Do not blow your nose, suck drinks through a straw or go swimming
Do not take an aircraft journey
Take all of the antibiotics
Chaperone / companion tips (for the first 24 hours):
The patient may be very sleepy or very alert, so it’s important to stay with them throughout the first 24 hours
They might have difficult walking after sedation, so assist them gently
Ensure that the patient does not operate a motorised vehicle, machinery, ovens, irons, toasters or kettles. Their reactions are delayed and they may hurt themselves
Do not let the patient go up/down stairs unattended
Ensure that the patient drinks plenty of fluids
Call if you have questions or difficulties
If you feel the patient is experiencing dangerous symptoms, take them to the nearest A&E
Medications
It’s normal to feel some mild discomfort after surgery, once the anaesthetic has worn off. You will be provided with appropriate pain medication. In most cases, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol will be prescribed. When taken together, these two medications are very effective, but without any of the side effects. If you have any questions about your medication, please speak with your dentist prior to surgery.
Please take any medication we have prescribed. It will be ok to take any regularly-scheduled medication (for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.) on your regular schedule, unless advised otherwise by your dentist.
Potential side effects
Temporary amnesia: Not remembering the details of the procedure
Over-sedation: This can occur within sensitive individuals, or patients who have taken alcohol, sleeping pills or pain relievers without discussing it with the dentist
Swelling: Some swelling after surgery is a normal body reaction, and it tends to reach its maximum 36-48 hours after surgery – lasting up to six days. To help control any swelling, apply a gel icepack over the surgical area (30 minutes on, 30 minutes off) for the first 24 hours. Continue to take the medication we have provided for you. Remember that you must avoid heat for the first 24 hours after surgery
Bruising: Mild bruising around the surgical area is normal, and should disappear within a week or two
Stiffness: After surgery, you may experience jaw muscle stiffness and have difficulty opening your mouth. This is normal, and should improve in 5-7 days
Stitches (Sutures): If you have stitches, you will need to have them removed at short appointment 7-14 days after the procedure. Dissolving sutures will disappear on their own in about 14-18 days
Bleeding: It is normal for some blood may ooze from the surgery area for a day or two, which can be quite alarming, particularly if you spit out into a white basin. Please do not worry, it is rarely as bad as it looks! If bleeding persists, bite firmly on moist gauze or a cotton handkerchief for a timed 10 minutes. Replace with new moist gauze if needed. If the bleeding begins again, place a damp teabag directly over the surgical area and bite firmly until the bleeding stops. If bleeding persists, contact the practice
Other stuff
It’s natural to lose a bit of weight after surgery, since you aren’t able to eat a regular diet – so it’s very important to get vitamins, minerals and calories however possible. Maintain a high protein diet throughout the healing phase. Foods that are a good source of protein are: eggs, soup, cottage cheese, ground lean beef and milk products. A blender may be used to chop up foods. Food supplements such as Complan are available at your local pharmacy. A fairly soft diet (cooked food) should be maintained for several months following surgery while the implant heals. Avoid nuts, muesli, crusty bread, raw vegetables. The implant should remain covered, if it does become exposed please contact the practice. Avoid traumatising the implant. Do not use a ‘water pik’, play with the area with your tongue or eat hard crusty food
Take a daily supplement of 500mg of Vitamin C to balance your diet
If you are taking antibiotics, yogurt with active cultures or acidophilus can be eaten to prevent diarrhoe
