Post-Dental Implant Instructions
Wound care
- Avoid brushing the wound on the same day of surgery. If you see dental implants emerging from the gum on the following day, they have to be brushed as soon as possible, with a soft brush. The wound has to be kept clean, removing food remains also with a soft brush. In case the wound bleeds while cleaning, it is of no importance.
- Apply cold compress on the external side of the wound during the first 24 to 48 hours in order to reduce the inflammation and recovery time. You can also eat ice-cream, trying to place it so that it melts on the wound, with a frequency of 20 minutes or an hour, as you prefer. After two days after the surgery ice have no effect.
- Sleep with your head higher than the rest of the body. This will help mitigating the inflammation.
Antibiotics
If your Buenos Aires dentist prescribes antibiotics, take them as indicated. Some antibiotics such as amoxicillin with clavulanic acid can cause stomachache or diarrhea. If you show any other symptom, please contact us.
The following are the most common prescribed antibiotics for surgeries, and its doses:
1 gram Amoxicillin: Take one every 12 hours for 7 days. There is no restriction regarding food.
875 mg Amoxicillin with 125 mg Clavulanic Acid: Take one every 12 hours for 7 days. There is no restriction regarding food.
500 mg Azithromycin: Take 3 to 6, depending on the case. Take one every 24 hours, 2 hours before or after a meal minimum.
1 gram Cephalosporin: Take 1 every 12 hours for 7 days.
500 mg Ciprofloxacin: Take 1 every 12 hours for 7 days.
Manage of pain
There are two different ways of managing pain after a surgery, with non-steroid analgesics or corticoids. Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Ketrolak, Aspirin, etc. are in the first group. They have to be taken in case there is pain, with a minimum frequency of 6 hours. Corticoids are used in bigger surgeries to reduce pain and inflammation.
Contusion and inflammation
It is normal to present a moderated inflammation and contusion during the first 3 days after surgery. As time goes by, you will notice how inflammation and contusion vanish. If you still feel pain 7 days after the surgery, please let us know as soon as possible.
Physical exercise
Avoid vigorous exercise during the first 5 days after surgery.
Dental prostheses
If you wear a dental prosthesis after a surgery, do not apply glue during the first post-surgical day. The glue can get in the wound and delay the healing process.
Because the prosthesis acts avoiding excessive inflammation of the tissues, it is better if you do not take it off until the next day. You might not be able to put it back in the same place if you do for a long period of time.
Immediate implants
With no exception, avoid applying any kind of pressure on the temporary dental crown (although thoroughly but gently brush the implants). Consider the fact that the slightest chewing can bring the implant to failure and, therefore, to a new surgery. Avoid the ingestion of sandwiches or apples with the temporary crowns.
