[Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Pre-Op Instructions] [Home Care] [Dry Socket] [Implant Home Care] [Financial Policy] [Botox Cosmetic] Home Care Following Implant Surgery   Swelling. Some swelling is to be expected following surgery.  To help this, apply an ice pack to the operated side of the face for 20 minutes; remove for 20 minutes.  Repeat this alternating procedure during the first day.  To be most effective, the application of ice packs should begin as soon as possible.  It is usual after implant surgery to have a decrease in mouth opening and this resolves over 1-2 weeks.  Should your swelling increase after 1-2 weeks, contact your oral surgeon.   Rinses. Do not rinse your mouth the day of surgery.  Beginning the next day, rinse your mouth gently using a full glass of warm water, in which a half teaspoon of salt has been dissolved.  This is important both for healing and hygienic purposes.  These rinses should be repeated after meals and at bedtime.  In addition, use Peridex mouth rinse two times per day starting the day after surgery.  Resume regular oral hygiene (tooth brushing and flossing) as soon as possible. Pain. The amount and duration of pain one should expect are very unpredictable.  If you are having more pain than can be controlled with ibuprophen (or similar medications) or with the prescription you may have received, it would be best to call the office during regular office hours if possible.  There can be muscle discomfort after surgery which limits your mouth opening for 1-2 weeks.  Hot packs and/or ibuprofen 600mg 3 times a day for 3 days will help with the tightness and pain. Bleeding. After your implants were placed, a gauze compress was placed on the wound and you were asked to keep your jaws closed tightly for 30 minutes.  This was to help stop the bleeding and keep saliva away from the wound.  This compress may be discarded after 30 minutes.  Some oozing will continue and is to be expected.  This is normal and is no cause for alarm.  If excessive bleeding occurs, take a piece of gauze, fold to make a firm compress, place directly on the area which is bleeding, and apply firm, steady biting pressure for 40 minutes.  Sit upright, keep quiet, and avoid spitting or talking while biting on the pack.  This may have to be repeated.  Also, a pack soaked in a strong solution of tea may be more effective.  If these measures do not succeed, call our office.  After office hours an answering service will take your call and reach the doctor on call.   Diet. You will feel better, have more strength, less pain and heal faster if you continue to eat, but it is best to eat non-chewy foods and drink plenty liquids of for a few days.  Because of surgery, it may be necessary to eat soft foods such as soup, bread, milk, jello, cooked cereal or milk shakes for several days.  Some of the liquid diet preparations are helpful.  It is very important that fluid intake be adequate.  Even though it may be awkward, an adult should consume 2-3 quarts of fluids each day.  Children should have a proportional amount.  Avoid alcoholic beverages. Activity Patients are instructed to return home immediately on discharge from our office with their driver or adult escort.  It is always important to get plenty of rest with any surgery or illness.  A low grade fever is usual after even a simple procedure.  It can also be caused by inadequate fluid intake.  If excessive or at all questionable, do not hesitate to phone the office. Stitches. You will have stitches placed in the gums. Usually dissolving stitches are used. An appointment for suture removal should be made if stitches have not dissolved after 7 days. Emergency Calls. If you have an after hours call of an emergency nature, please call the office at (952) 925-2525. The answering service will contact the oral surgeon on call.   [Home] [Meet the Doctors] [Pre-Op Instructions] [Home Care] [Dry Socket] [Implant Home Care] [Financial Policy] [Botox Cosmetic]   6545 France Ave. S, Suite 690; 952-925-2525 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 670; 763-520-1234 dr@metro-oms.com