301 Trophy Branch Dr., Suite 100, Trophy Club, TX 76262 817-678-7395

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Dental Implant Aftercare

Dental implants allow us to replace one or many teeth in your mouth with permanent, high quality restorations that boost your oral health and give you the ability to eat and speak normally again. Recovery after surgical placement of the implants is a critical step in the dental implant placement process. A good recovery can result in dental implants that last you a lifetime. Here are some tips on how to properly care for your implants following the placement procedure.

Pain Management

Following the placement of your dental implants, pain shouldn’t be a big issue. It is important to note that if you do experience significant pain, you should call us at 817-678-7395 and let us know. Pain can be easily managed with both over the counter and prescribed medications. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen do a great job of mitigating pain and discomfort. We may send you home with a prescription that you can fill at your local pharmacy. Make sure to carefully follow the dosage instructions of any medications that you are taking.

Swelling will usually reach its peak on the second or third day after the surgery. Swelling can be reduced significantly with the application of ice packs. When applying a cold compress, only do so for a maximum of 10 minutes at a time with a rest period of 20 minutes after each application. To help mitigate swelling during the night, try propping your head up a bit with a pillow or two. If significant swelling continues after a few days of recovery, please let us know as this could be a sign of more serious issues.

Eating and Drinking

Immediately following the surgery if you must drink, make sure to limit it to cool drinks until anesthesia has worn off. Avoid hot food and drink for 24 hours following the surgery and make sure not to swill liquid over the area. The goal is to disturb the site as little as possible. Whenever something changes in the mouth, the first inclination of many people is to explore the area with their tongue. Many times this is a subliminal thing that people do without realizing. It is important to fight these urges should you have them and actively avoid probing the site with your tongue.

It may be necessary to go on a soft food diet for a few days following the surgery. During this time, it is very important to avoid hard and crunchy foods that could bump or poke the implant site.

Cleaning

Keeping your mouth clean is one of the most important parts of the recovery process. Avoiding infection is critical and can be greatly aided with the help of the mouthwash that we will send home with you. Other steps that you can take throughout your day to keep your mouth clean are:

•	Rinse with warm salt water after eating
•	Try to keep the area clear of food particles
•	Do not smoke
•	Brush and floss as normal, avoiding the implant site
•	If you notice profuse bleeding, call us