Implants
Implant Placement
This instruction sheet will help you to understand the dental implant placement procedure.
- Please have a good nights rest before the day of implant placement, and eat a moderate breakfast or lunch.
- A local anesthetic will be used to block sensation in the area where the implant is to be placed.
- Sterile covers will be placed over your clothing and hair, and our work station to reduce the presence of bacteria.
- We will wear sterile outer clothing to eliminate any contamination.
- A small incision will be made in your gums to obtain access to the location where the implant will be placed.
- Several sizes of small drills will be used to make precise and painless preparations in the locations where the implants will be placed.
- Implants will be placed into the prepared sites.
- Your gum tissue will be stitched together to isolate the newly placed implants from oral fluids and foods. The stitches will dissolve, or come out by themselves, unless we advise you differently.
- You will be asked to bite on gauze sponges far at least 30 minutes to stabilize the site and stop any slight blood flow.
- You will be given at least (2) prescriptions which you should have filled and begin to use immediately:
- An antibiotic to control any potential infection. Please take this medication as directed until the tablets are gone.
- A pain medication to control discomfort. Take this medication only until you do not need it anymore.
- Anesthesia should remain in your mouth for at least 1 hour after we are finished.
- As soon as possible after treatment, place ice in a plastic bag and put it on the outside of your face for a few hours over the sites where the implants were placed. This reduces the potential swelling and bruising. However, you may still have some swelling and bruising for a few days.
- There may be a feeling of numbness caused by the surgery that lingers for a time. Usually this goes away within a few days. In a very few cases, it does not go away totally.
- Eat and drink only soft foods for a few days. The less force you put on the implants at this time, the better the chance of their optimum healing. Over 95% of implants are accepted well by the body, but about one in 20 is rejected and must be replaced.
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