Rinse with warm salt water

Homecare-After Implant Surgery

How to care for your new implant

After implants have been placed, it's important to follow these recommendations during the healing period:

General care

To control minor bleeding after surgery, apply moderate pressure with gauze pads or a clean, moist tea bag wrapped in a gauze pad.

If you usually wear removable appliances, such as dentures or partial dentures, we may advise you not to wear them while the implant sites heal.

Medication and discomfort

Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.

To reduce discomfort or swelling for several days after surgery, use ice packs. It's normal for your gums to be sore and swollen for several days. Beginning 24 hours after surgery, rinse your mouth three times a day for two weeks with warm salt water. Use about 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. Swish very gently so you don't disturb the implant sites.

Avoid chewing until
numbness wears off

Chewing and eating

Avoid chewing until the numbness from the anesthetic has completely worn off. If we placed any temporary restorations, avoid chewing for at least one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.

Limit your diet to soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, soups, softcooked eggs, and ground meat for the first several months after surgery. Do not chew hard, crusty foods. Also avoid very hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed.

Avoid tobacco products

When to call us

Call us if the tops of the implants gradually show through the gum. This is usually not a problem, but we should check it.

Call our office if you have persistent numbness, bleeding, or discomfort or if you have any other concerns.

About tobacco

Do not smoke or use any tobacco products until healing is complete. Using tobacco increases the risk that your body will reject the implants. Brushing and flossing

Brush and floss very gently. We may recommend that you clean implant sites carefully with gauze or a cotton swab. If we have recommended a mouth rinse, use it as directed.

Homecare-After Implant Restoration

How to care for the new restoration on your implant

After final restorations have been placed, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure long-term success:

Chewing and eating

If we used an anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

Avoid hard chewing and grinding because these habits can damage implants and their restorations. If this is a continuing problem, we may need to adjust the restorations or have you wear a nightguard.

Brushing and flossing

Brush and floss around the implants thoroughly but gently. We may also recommend special floss, brushes, mouth rinses, or other cleaning aids to keep the area free of bacteria.

Medication and discomfort

Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed. To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use about 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. It's normal for your gums to be sore and swollen for a few days.

About tobacco

Avoid using any tobacco products. Ideally, you should quit altogether because using tobacco increases the risk that your body will reject the implants.

When to call us

Call us if your restorations feel loose so that we can tighten them.

Call our office if you have persistent discomfort or if you have any other questions or concerns.