When both the tooth and root are damaged, the best permanent replacement is a dental implant in conjunction with a crown. This solution both looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

When dental implants are used in combination with modern restorative dentistry, their appearance, comfort and function are very likely to exceed your expectations. Often they are hard to tell apart from your natural teeth.

PRE-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

• Confirm your appointment with your escort.
• Escort should remain in the office during surgery and recovery.
• Someone should be at home with you the remainder of the day.
• Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day before surgery.
• If you take medications in the morning, discuss which ones should be taken the day of surgery.
• Most heart or blood pressure medications should be taken with a small sip of water on the day of surgery.

Download the Pre-Operative Instructions (PDF).

POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

• Close gently on moistened folded gauze for one hour after surgery, then remove.
• If bright red bleeding continues, replace with moistened gauze pack(s) for one additional hour.
• One hour after surgery, take out gauze and spoon in something soft and cool (i.e. milk shake, etc.)
• Do not chew anything until the numbness begins to disappear.
• Do not smoke, drink from a straw or spit for four days.
• Do not rinse your mouth for the first 12 to 24 hours immediately following surgery.
• To help prevent swelling:
  • Lie down with your head elevated.
  • Apply ice pack(s) that is wrapped in a towel on the outside of your face over the surgical area(s) for the first 12 to 24 hours immediately following surgery. Keep the ice from directly touching the skin.
• Make sure to eat before taking pain medication.
• Do not drive or drink alcohol while using pain medication.
• On the third day after surgery, apply moist heat to the outside of your face over the surgical area(s). You may do this with a warm towel or washcloth.
• On the fourth day, begin gentle warm saltwater rinses. Rinse three times a day for two minutes.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat cool, soft foods for the first 6-8 hours.
• Eat soft, easy to chew foods for 24-48 hours. Avoid anything crunchy.
• Take antibiotics for the full number of days prescribed.
• The stitches will usually fall out three to seven days after surgery.

CALL THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY IF

• Bleeding cannot be controlled.
• You develop a temperature or rash.
• You have persistent vomiting.
• You have any questions or concerns.

Download the Post-Operative Instructions (PDF).

IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVING HOME

• Lie down with your head elevated on pillows.
• Wrap ice pack in a towel and apply to outside of face over surgical site for the first 12 to 24 hours. Keep the ice from directly touching the skin.

GAUZE PACKS

• Close gently on moistened folded gauze pack(s) for at least one hour after surgery. If a new gauze pack is needed, moisten gauze, squeeze out as much water as possible then fold in a small square and place over surgical site applying gentle pressure for another hour. It is important not to talk while gauze pack is in your mouth.

MEDICATION

• Make sure to eat something before taking pain medication. Make sure to take pain medication as prescribed. Also, do not drive or drink alcohol while taking pain medication.
• Take prescribed antibiotics until they are all gone and take as directed.

DIET

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat only cool soft foods for 6-8 hours.
• Eat soft, easy to chew foods for 24-48 hours. Avoid crunchy foods.

IMPORTANT

• You must return to the office in ten (10) days for your first follow-up appointment.
• Do not smoke, drink from a straw or spit for four (4) days.
• If you have a sinus lift accomplished, please strictly follow all of the sinus precautions and instructions.

CALL THE OFFICE IF

• Bleeding cannot be controlled.
• You develop a temperature or rash.
• You have persistent vomiting.
• You have any concerns or questions.

Download the Implant Post-Operative Instructions (PDF).

Avoid anything that creates a positive and/or negative pressure within the sinuses.

NEGATIVE PRESSURES

• Any suction
• Sucking on a straw
• Sucking on a cigarette
• Vigorous rinsing and creating a vacuum as the liquid is propelled from cheek to cheek
• Aggressive spitting

POSITIVE PRESSURES

• Blowing up a balloon
• Aggressively blowing nose
  • If you need to blow be very gentle
  • If you gently blow and there is a little bloody discharge from the nostril on the sinus side that was worked on do not be concerned
• Aggressive sneezing
  • If you need to sneeze let it out and do not try to hold it in as this creates a tremendous pressure within in the sinuses

Download the Sinus Precautions (PDF).