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Instructions Following Implant Surgery / Bone Grafting

Implant Surgery

An implant placement and or sinus/bone graft is a surgical operation. The following are temporary side effects as they are part of the normal healing process after this surgery:

  • Bleeding, swelling, and bruising 
    • Blood thinning medications (baby aspirin, Coumadin, Plavix, etc.) can increase this
  • Nose bleed
  • Discomfort
  • Throbbing
  • Difficulty opening your mouth, eating, speaking

Do Not:

  • Smoke
  • Perform vigorous exercise for 7-14 days
  • Drink excessive amounts of alcohol for 3-5 days
  • Drink through a straw for 24 hours
  • Lift or pull your cheek to look at the sutures
  • Blow your nose holding both nostrils
  • Spit for 24 hours

* Blowing your nose, spitting, hard rinsing, and other similar activities can cause the blood clot or bone graft to dislodge. The blood clot acts as your body’s protective band-aid. This can cause increased bleeding and pain

*If you sneeze or blow your nose, do so with your mouth open to lessen the pressure.

*Sudafed or Olbas oil (available at your local pharmacy) will help if your nose feels blocked

Bone Grafting

It is normal to feel some small particles over the course of the next several days. These are excess bone particles from the graft.

If bleeding continues, bite on gauze for 30 minutes with continuous pressure. After 30 minutes, remove the gauze. If the area is still bleeding, apply new gauze to the area for an additional 30 minutes until the bleeding stops. In addition, you can wrap a tea bag around the gauze and bite to help control bleeding.

Certain sutures used will dissolve on their own of the course of several weeks but are usually removed at your follow up appointment

If you have a denture, leave it out as much as possible for the first two to three weeks. It is important that the denture does not press on the graft. Swelling may cause the need for adjustment of the denture during the healing phase.

Pain relief

600-800 mg of Ibuprofen is recommended.

In some instances, a stronger pain reliever may be prescribed. Do not drink or drive on such medications. Nausea is common with such medications.

Oral hygiene

Oral hygiene is the key to success.

Use the prescribed Peridex mouth rinse 2-3 times daily until your follow up appointment.

Clean the rest of your teeth as usual.

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