Patient instructions

Rident dental polyclinics work regularly and with the utmost respect for the measures prescribed by our Civil Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Register of Dentists and the Institute for Public Health.

Hygiene of wounds

• Avoid chewing and brushing your teeth on the operated side on your jaw
• Clean the rest of your teeth normally
• Avoid rinsing your mouth cavity within first 24 hrs after surgery
• After 24 hrs you may start using the mouthwash solution based on CHX (chlorhexidine), 2-3 times on daily basis, max. for 2 weeks
• Stitches are removed two weeks after the surgery
• Do not smoke for the first 2-3 days (or at least 2 weeks after implantology)

Pains

•  Take the 1st painkiller pill 30 minutes after the surgical procedure
• During the first few days after the procedure, some pains at/or around the operated area may possibly occur, which should be alleviated with the prescribed painkillers
• Do not use Aspirin, Andol of any other medicaments containing acetylsalicylic acid, because it may possibly cause bleeding

Bleeding

• •  Slight bleeding after the surgery is normal
  • Hold down the cheesecloth (received after the surgery) by pressuring it with your teeth on the operated area, for at least 30 minutes
  • If any heavier bleeding happens later, place a clean cheesecloth on the operated area and hold it tight with your teeth. Avoid mouth washing anyhow.

Swelling

• • •  It is possible for a swelling to arise after the procedure
    • If swelling occurs several hours after the procedure, put some ice on the outer side of the treated area (hold on some ice, not more than 10 minutes ongoing, than perform 5 minutes break), swelling should decrease after

Food

• • • Eat softer food during the first 2-4 days
    • Avoid any hot food and drinks and drinking through a straw for a first 2-3 days

Activities

Avoid physical activities and exposure to sunlight during 48-72 hours after the procedure

Pains

Before the anesthesia eases up, take a painkiller pill. Not more than 6 “Ibuprofen 400 mg” pills may be taken on a daily basis. Moderate pains can last from 3 to 5 days, yet long lasting pain or highly intensive pain are seldom. Contact us in the case of severe or/and protracted pain.

Bleeding

Slight bleeding around the operated area may occur through next 24-48 hrs after the surgical treatment. Blood is combined with saliva, leaving you with impression of stronger bleeding than it actually is. Avoid washing your mouth cavity. If bleeding gets any stronger, try to localize the place of bleeding and perform light pressure with a swab for about half an hour. If necessary, apply additional pressure.

Swelling

To reduce swelling, cool down the cheek in 10-minute intervals ( alternately 10 minutes of cooling and 10 minutes of break ). Make sure to keep your head raised up for a first few days – even when lying down in bed. “Ibuprofen” also acts positively against the swelling. Usually and normally, the strongest swelling appears on 2nd and 3rd day after the procedure. If you experience later swelling or intensified swelling after the 3rd day, please contact us.

Oral cavity hygiene

Proper oral hygiene is crucial for good healing and overall success of the surgery. Wash non-operated teeth normally. Use a cotton swab soaked in recommended chlorhexidine (CHX) solution to remove and clean the plaques from treated teeth and gums.

After 24 hrs, start rinsing your mouth cavity using CHX solution. After each meal, flush your mouth thoroughly with warm water, salt water or tepid chamomile tea. Wash your teeth normally. If implants heal open, wipe them with the cotton wool swab soaked in CHX solution, in order to permanently keep them shiny. After two weeks, you can start cleaning your implants with a soft brush ( eg. Post Surgical, Gum or Meridol ), and with dental floss. You can also use your own toothbrush instead, after having it softened by holding it under running hot water. If it is still painful, then be advised to use a cotton wool swab instead, until you start to use a brush. When the healing procedure of your implant is closed-up, keeping the stitches and the gums clean would be enough – use cotton wool swab at first, and the soft toothbrush later on. Avoid “tryout” implants with your tongue – it has a plenty of power and may stagger your implant.

Nutrition

Implants usually need 2-5 months to “grow together” with bones. During that period, do not use your implants for chewing – it is of crucial importance.

Activities

Avoid any hard physical labor, sports, sauna or sunbathing for at least one week.

Important notice after putting the implants in the mandible

If usual sense in lower lip or chin does not come in return within next 5-6 hours (feeling of numbness lasts), be sure to contact us. Also, contact us if during next couple of hours after the procedure, you suffer from severe pain that persists. In some cases, it is necessary to unscrew the implant for about 1-2 mm.

Shopping list

• 0,12% chlorhexidine (CHX) washing solution
• Painkillers, eg. “Ibuprofen”
• Post Surgical, toothbrush, Gum or Meridol

1. During period of anestesia, do not eat.
2. When anestesia begins to waver, take a painkiller (e.g. “Ibuprofen”) approximately 30 minutes after the procedure. Probably no more pains will occur that require takin painkillers.
3. First couple of days, avoid eating any of hot, hard or spicy food.
4. After each taken meal, rinse your mouth cavity with water, brine and chilled chamomile tea.
5. Do not smoke !!

Proper oral care for first two weeks

1. On very first evening, the teeth and the gums are usually very vulnerable; to clean it properly, use cotton wool stick dipped in 0,12% washing solution containing CHX (chlorhexidine), and rinse your mouth cavity well for one minute using the same liquid.
2. As long as vulnerability of your teeth and the gums lasts, wash them using a soft brush ( e.g. Post Surgical Gum). Also, start cleaning the interdental spaces with dental floss ( which will be individually reccomended from us ) as soon as possible.

Important notice: at least half an hour should pass between brushing your teeth and rinsing with CHX solution

Proper oral care after two weeks

Teeth hypersensitivity to thermal, mechanical and chemical irritation is normal. During periodontal disease, the gums are inflamed and swollen. After the root cleaning procedure, the inflammation is withdrawing together with the swelling, so that the dental neck and root are becoming more exposed. Hypersensitivity usually lasts for several weeks. Use of a product line for sensitive teeth, for example “Sensi Vital” toothbrush, toothpastes and mouth cavity rinsing liquids is highly recommendable.

Shopping lista

• CHX (chlorhexidine) rinsing solution: 0,12%, 3x daily care, max. 2 weeks
• Soft brush ( eg. Postsurgical toothbrush ) or Meridol
• Oral-B Super Floss – dental floss, Curaprox – interdental brushes
• Sensi Vital toothbrush, toothpaste and the oral cavity rinsing solution
• CHX (chlorhexidine) toothpaste ( eg. Curasept, Paroex)

Instructions following the closure of the anthropo-oral communication or sinus lift operation

Avoid blowing the nose, sneezing, any heating of the wound, and any heavy physical effort, during the first two weeks after the surgery. Be advised to take a softer food (lukewarm), and to chew on the opposite side of the operated area.

Use a nasal spray ( eg. “Olynth”, “Opera” ), 3 x daily, at following 5 days.
Do not brush operated area during next 2 weeks following surgery. 24 hrs after the surgery, start using the oral cavity rinsing solution containing 0,12% CHX (chlorhexidine) 2-3 times on daily basis, max. for 2 weeks. Brush your other (non-treated) teeth normally.

• Take your medications as instructed
• After the procedure, cool down your cheek at 10 minutes intervals
• Stitches are removed two weeks after the surgery