Here at The Center for Implant Dentistry, we want to assist you through every step of your procedure, especially your recovery time. After your dental implant procedure is completed, we recommend that you follow our instructions carefully to aid your recovery. If you have any questions about post-implant care instructions, we encourage you to contact our team. To schedule a visit with our prosthodontists in Bakersfield, California, please call us today at 661-663-9600 and ask for our implant specialist, Dr. Richard Casteen and prosthodontist Dr. Robert Willis.
Our dentists and team want you to have a fast, safe recovery without complications after you have received your dental implants. To do so, we have provided a list of post-implant care instructions:
- Avoid rinsing your mouth for the rest of the day.
- On the day after, start rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mixture of a half teaspoon of salt per eight ounces of water. Rinse every two to three hours, and repeat for several days. After that, rinse after you eat and before you go to sleep at night for two weeks.
- Use any prescribed antibiotics, medications and mouthwashes as instructed.
- If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, use Tylenol, ibuprofen, Advil or other mild pain relievers.
- Resume brushing your teeth the day after receiving your implants, but avoid brushing the new implants for a few days.
- Do not bite down on any temporary crowns until you have received permission from our dentists.
- Also avoid wearing any oral appliances, including dentures or partial dentures, until you have received permission.
- For the first 48 hours, apply cold compresses or ice to your face for 15-minute periods to help combat swelling. Change to heat after 48 hours, and use heat until swelling goes down.
- Avoid cracked lips with Vaseline or lip balm.
- For at least 12 hours after your implants have been placed, avoid operating machinery.
- Avoid smoking and using tobacco products, since they can lead to your implants failing.
- If your implant’s healing abutment or cover screw falls out, call us and bring the loosened piece with you to our office so we can replace it.
- Avoid using an oral contraceptive if you have been prescribed an antibiotic. Until you finish your course of antibiotics, use another birth control method.
If you have any additional questions, please let us know. We are here to help you throughout your recovery.
