🕤 3 weeks before surgery

Smoking and Dental Implants don’t go together. Why did you lose your teeth/tooth in the first place? We know smoking can be difficult to quit but we insist that patients stop smoking at least 3 weeks prior to their Dental Implants. In rare cases, we might ask you to quit sooner. Smoking can interfere with healing by constricting and decreasing blood flow all over the body which may prevent the wound from healing properly. Do not resume smoking after surgery until your dental surgeon authorizes it.

🕤 3 weeks before surgery

We know you will be on vacation and the all-inclusive bar might be tempting. Please try and stay away from alcohol consumption for a minimum of 5 days prior to your procedure. Alcohol causes increased bleeding, increases the chances of infection, depresses immune functions, and may interfere with wound healing.

🕤 3 weeks before surgery

(over-the-counter and prescribed)

Please check with your Physician about suspending any medication prior to arrival.

Our surgeon or patient counselor will instruct you about which medications you need temporarily discontinue during the weeks ahead of the placement of the implants.

🕤 3 weeks before surgery

It is important that you maintain a healthy diet. You will be on a soft mechanical diet or some form of a modified diet tailored to your surgery. It is important that you follow these instructions! It is a good idea to stock up on protein supplements like BOOST or Ensure. Various softer foods like well-cooked pasta, eggs, soup/broths, and yogurt are also good ideas. We will provide you with a list of dietary suggestions in your post-op packet as well.

🕤 2 weeks before surgery

• All products including the drugs listed on the enclosed insert.

• All anti-inflammatory drugs are used for arthritis. (Please consult your physician prior to discontinuing).

• All anti-coagulants.

• Vitamin E took internally.

• If a medication is in question, call our office nurse.

IMPORTANT! These products may cause excessive bleeding.

🕤 2 weeks before surgery

• Take a multivitamin tablet daily. Most multivitamins contain some form of vitamin E, however, this is acceptable to take prior to surgery. We do ask that you refrain from taking additional vitamin E.

• Take Vitamin A – 8,000-10,000 units, twice a day. This has well-documented beneficial effects on surgical healing and will also fuel your immune system.

• Take Vitamin C – 1,000 mg., twice a day. This is essential for collagen synthesis, which is part of normal wound healing. Your need for Vitamin C will increase after surgery.

• Take Pineapple enzyme (from a health food store), twice a day, this helps to relieve the swelling associated with surgery. This anti-inflammatory promotes healing.

🕤 1 week before until 2 weeks after surgery

• Eat healthy, regular meals.

• Eat 2 fruits and 3 green vegetables daily (per diet instructions).

• Eat a small amount of protein at each meal.

IMPORTANT! Your diet can aid healing remarkably and reduce swelling and pain!

🕤 1 week before surgery

• You may begin taking topical anti-inflammatory

• Take every 8 hours as directed and continue for 10 days.

• Continue taking Pineapple enzyme as directed every 12 hours between meals. This anti-inflammatory promotes healing. As an alternative, eat fresh pineapple.

Standards of good oral hygiene are critical for the success and functionality of the implants and restoration. The best way to prevent infection and ensure healing is to keep your mouth clean. Clean your mouth thoroughly after each meal beginning the day after surgery. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste after meals and at bedtime. A dental Waterpik is very useful to irrigate underneath the denture to flush out debris.

Minimal bleeding is expected after this implant procedure. The best way to stop bleeding is to place a damp piece of gauze in the mouth and gently bite for 30 minutes. Rest quietly with your head elevated. If bleeding continues, use gauze for an additional 30 minutes. Pink or blood-tinged saliva may be seen for 2-3 days following the surgery and does not indicate a problem. The suture material may last 2 to 3 weeks and should be left alone. Do not pull or cut the sutures yourself.

Swelling is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and healing. The swelling will not become apparent until 24 hours after surgery and will not reach its peak for 2-3 days. After this time, the swelling should decrease but may persist for 7-10 days. Swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs. Apply the ice packs to the outside of the face 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off while awake for the first 24 hours.

Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. If you do not have an allergy to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications we recommend taking this prior to the local anesthetic wearing off. More severe pain may require narcotic pain medication. Narcotic pain medication will make you drowsy, do not drive or operate mechanical machinery while taking the prescription. You may also be prescribed an antibacterial mouth rinse which should be used twice daily in the first two weeks following implant surgery. Post-operative antibiotics should be taken as directed and always take the entire course of the prescription. All medications should not exceed the recommended dosage.

After General anesthetic or I.V. sedation, start with liquids. While numb, patients should avoid hot liquids or foods. Your food intake will be limited for the first few days, compensate for this by increasing your fluid intake. We recommend high protein shakes/smoothies (Ensure, Special K, etc.) as meal replacement supplements. Patients are restricted to a SOFT CHEW diet for the first 6 weeks… if food cannot be easily cut with a fork… DO NOT eat it!

🕤 48 hours after surgery

For the first 48 hours, you should rest and relax with no physical activity. After 48 hours, you may resume activity as tolerated.

Eat:

• Jell-O

• Pudding

• Yogurt

• Ice Cream

• Scrambled Eggs

• Cream of Wheat / Oatmeal

• Soups

• Mashed Potatoes

• Fish

• Pasta

• Pancakes

• Cottage Cheese

• Applesauce

Drink:

• Water

• Juice

• Ice Chips

• Popsicles

• Smoothies / Protein Shakes

• Milkshakes

Add soft foods when numbness is gone / Increase diet as tolerated

• If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.

• Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen and the normal act of swallowing can become painful. This will subside in 2 to 3 days.

• Stiffness of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days. Do not force your mouth open. Massage the muscles and apply moist heat.

• With upper jaw implant treatment, you may develop bleeding from the nose. This is usually a temporary finding and will not persist past 2 to 3 days. Avoid blowing your nose for several days.

• An appointment with your general dentist may be needed within a few days of surgery to make any adjustments to your temporary denture.

• Your case is individual as no two mouths are alike. Discuss all questions or concerns with your oral surgeon or implant coordinator.