Aftercare instructions
Follow these instructions alongside the personal plan you received at your appointment.
Protect the implant
- Do not chew on the implant site until your doctor clears you.
- Leave a visible healing cap alone. Do not push or wiggle it with your tongue or fingers.
- Wear a denture or partial over the area only as directed; pressure can disturb healing.
The first 24 hours
- Bite firmly on gauze for 30–45 minutes without lifting it to check. If oozing continues, replace it with fresh, damp gauze and repeat.
- Do not swish, spit, or use a straw. Do not smoke or vape.
- Follow Drill Dental’s rinse instructions: no salt water, peroxide, chlorhexidine, or other rinse unless your doctor prescribed it and gave you a start date.
- Use an ice pack outside your face for 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off, while awake.
- Rest with your head raised. Avoid the gym, heavy lifting, and bending over.
- Wait until numbness is gone before eating. Choose soft, cool foods.
Brushing and the next few days
- Brush your other teeth gently. Keep the brush away from the surgical site until your team clears you.
- Lean over the sink and let saliva fall out instead of spitting. Continue the no-rinse instructions unless your doctor tells you to change them.
- Gentle warmth after the first day may help a stiff jaw, if your doctor has advised it.
- Keep your follow-up appointments, even if you feel well.
If the sinus was involved
- Avoid forceful nose blowing and sneeze with your mouth open.
- Follow your doctor’s restrictions on flying, diving, and other pressure changes.
Medicines and your personal instructions
- Take prescriptions exactly as directed, including the antibiotic course your doctor specified. Do not shorten or extend it on your own.
- Use pain medicine only according to your discharge instructions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before combining products, and do not exceed the label maximum.
- Tell us about your medicines, supplements, allergies, pregnancy, and health conditions. Your instructions may need to be different.
- Do not stop a blood thinner or change any regular prescribed medicine on your own.
Medical emergency? Call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, rapidly spreading swelling, fainting, or other life-threatening symptoms. Do not wait for an office reply. Emergency guidance
Your doctor’s instructions take priority. If you had more than one procedure, ask your team which instructions to follow. Contact your office.
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