Planning ahead

1. Plan for a few days of lower activity after surgery. Soreness, swelling, bruising, jaw stiffness, and low energy are common during the first week and usually improve gradually.

2. Prepare soft foods before surgery: smoothies, protein shakes, yogurt, pudding, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, blended soups, soft pasta, cottage cheese, hummus, avocado, and other foods that do not require hard chewing near the surgical site.

3. Call your pharmacy to make sure prescriptions are available before surgery if they were sent in advance.

4. Do not eat or drink before surgery as instructed by Bluebird Oral Surgery or the anesthesia team. If you are having sedation or general anesthesia, this is important for your safety.

5. Tell the office if you take blood thinners, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, diabetes medications, weight-loss medications, heart medications, seizure medications, steroids, recreational substances, osteoporosis medications such as bisphosphonates or denosumab, or medications prescribed by another doctor.

6. Do not smoke or vape before or after surgery. Nicotine can slow healing and increase the risk of infection, wound breakdown, bone graft failure, implant failure, and delayed healing.

About the procedure

Dental implants are placed to replace missing teeth with a titanium or ceramic implant that heals in the jaw bone. A bone graft may be placed at the same visit or at a separate visit to rebuild or preserve bone for an implant, improve the shape of the ridge, or fill a socket after a tooth is removed.

Bone graft material may feel like tiny grains of sand. It is normal for a few small particles to come out during the first several days. The goal is to keep the area protected while your body turns the grafted area into living bone over time.

Some implants receive a small healing cap visible above the gum tissue. Other implants are covered by the gums and uncovered at a later visit. Your surgeon will tell you which approach was used and when the implant can be restored by your dentist.

Healing time varies. Many implants need 3–4 months of bone healing before the final crown, bridge, or denture attachment can be made. Bone grafts may also require several months before an implant can be placed or restored.

Going home and at home

• Have a responsible adult drive you home if you received sedation or general anesthesia. Rest with your head elevated and use ice packs as instructed for the first 24 to 48 hours.

• Bite gently on gauze if it was placed. Replace gauze as needed until bleeding slows. Some blood-tinged saliva is normal early after surgery.

• Eat and drink as soon as you are able. Good nutrition and hydration help you heal.

• Do not smoke, vape, spit forcefully, use a straw, or drink alcohol during early healing.

• Do not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery, sign legal documents, or make major decisions for 24 hours after anesthesia or while taking narcotic pain medication.

• Take all medications exactly as prescribed. With dental implants, take antibiotics until they are finished. Call us immediately if you experience itching, hives, or stomach upset.

• Do not pull on your lip or cheek to look at the area, and do not touch the implant, healing cap, bone graft, membrane, or stitches with your fingers or tongue.

Bleeding

Mild oozing or blood-tinged saliva can occur during the first day. If bleeding increases, place folded gauze over the surgical site and bite with steady gentle pressure for 30 to 45 minutes. A damp black tea bag can be used the same way if gauze is not available. Avoid checking the site repeatedly, rinsing, spitting, or changing gauze too often because this can restart bleeding. Call Bluebird Oral Surgery if bleeding remains heavy despite steady pressure.

Swelling, bruising, and discomfort

Swelling and bruising are common after implant placement and bone grafting. Swelling often peaks around day 2 to 3 and then slowly improves. Use ice packs as needed for the first day. After the first couple of days, warm compresses may feel better for stiffness or bruising. Please call us if pain is worsening after the procedure rather than improving day by day.

Diet

Eat soft foods for the first several days and advance as comfort allows, but avoid chewing directly on the surgical site until your surgeon says it is okay. Larger bone grafts, sinus grafts, ridge augmentation, or multiple implants may require a longer soft-food period.

• Good options include smoothies and protein shakes without a straw, yogurt, pudding, applesauce, cottage cheese, hummus, avocado, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, blended soups, soft vegetables, soft pasta, and soft fish.

• Avoid chips, nuts, seeds, popcorn, crusty bread, rice grains that pack into the site, spicy foods if they burn, very hot foods or drinks on the first day, hard candy, chewing on the implant site, straws, and alcohol during early healing or while taking narcotic pain medication.

Oral hygiene

Keep your mouth clean, but be gentle around the surgical area. Brush the other teeth as usual and brush near the surgical site carefully with a soft toothbrush unless your surgeon gives different instructions. Do not rinse vigorously, spit forcefully, or use a Waterpik directly on the surgical site during early healing. Use any prescribed mouth rinse exactly as directed. Warm salt-water rinses may be started as directed, usually after meals, but let the water fall out of your mouth rather than spitting forcefully.

Bone graft and implant care

A few small graft particles may come out during the first several days. This can be normal. Do not try to remove particles from the site, and avoid pressure, suction, and vigorous rinsing so the graft and protective membrane can stay in place. If you can see a healing cap, keep it clean but do not pick at it. Call Bluebird Oral Surgery if the healing cap, implant, membrane, or any screw-like part feels loose or falls out.

Sinus precautions, if instructed

Upper back tooth implants or bone grafts can be close to the sinus. If your surgeon gives you sinus precautions, do not blow your nose for the recommended time, sneeze with your mouth open, and do not pinch your nose closed. Call the office if you feel air or liquid passing between your mouth and nose, have worsening sinus pressure, or develop persistent fluid from the nose.

Follow-up visits and restorative timeline

Not every patient needs the same follow-up schedule. Your surgeon will let you know whether an office follow-up visit is needed. Your dentist or restoring provider usually makes the final crown, bridge, or denture attachment after the implant has healed. Do not assume the implant is ready to restore until Bluebird Oral Surgery confirms that it is ready.

FAQs

• Stitches are usually dissolvable and will loosen and fall out on their own. Do not pull on them.

• A few bone graft particles can come out during the first several days. Call if a large amount comes out, the incision opens, or pain, swelling, drainage, or bad taste is getting worse.

• You may brush your teeth, but brush gently near the surgical site and do not scrub stitches, graft material, membrane, or healing cap.

• Use straws carefully. Too much suction can disturb the blood clot, graft, or incision.

• Only wear a denture, flipper, retainer, or nightguard if your surgeon says it is okay. If it touches the implant, graft, stitches, or gums, stop wearing it and call the office.

• Call us anytime at 541.382.7981 with questions or concerns. For difficulty breathing, choking, severe allergic reaction, chest pain, severe uncontrolled bleeding, or life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room.