Sometimes, if you’ve lost a tooth or several teeth, your jawbone may atrophy or shrink. When this happens, it may be impossible to carry out dental implants, unless a bone tissue is transplanted into the mouth so that it grows new bone. This procedure to grow new bone to support a dental implant is called bone grafting.
While bone grafting is done routinely, it is still a surgical procedure and carries with it, certain risks. It is important that you know the Do’s and Don’ts to follow after a bone graft surgery. This is what we’ll talk about in this article…
Do’s after a bone graft surgery
There are certain things to follow after a bone graft surgery and these are:
1.Follow postoperative instructions::Your dentist has several years of experience with bone grafting surgery. He will give you recovery instructions that are time tested so that you recover quickly. You should follow his instructions to the letter.
2.Take adequate rest: You should take rest following the surgery. Even though it is probably outpatient surgery it is still surgery! When you lie down ensure that your head is propped up with pillows so that there is adequate blood flow to your head. This will help reduce swelling in your mouth and face, and also prevent excessive bleeding.
3.Use ice to reduce swelling: You should use ice throughout the day post-surgery. Doctors recommend that patients ice their face for 30 minutes on and then 30 minutes off for about 18 hours.
4.Take your pain medication as prescribed: Again, you should follow your dentist’s instructions regarding your pain medication. This will help reduce your postoperative pain considerably. You should also wake up in the middle of the night to take your pain medication, if necessary in order to prevent severe pain from the surgery.
5.Eat soft foods: You should eat soft foods for a while after the bleeding has stopped. Such foods include liquids, soups, mashed potatoes, and yogurt. If you have any questions as to what foods you can eat, you should consult your dentist.
6.Keep your mouth clean: You should keep your mouth clean by rinsing it with warm salt water about four times a day, starting the second day after your surgery. You should do this regularly after eating so that you can gently remove any food debris left in your mouth.
7.Eat healthy foods: You should eat foods rich in Vitamins A and C to promote healing. You can also take other supplemental vitamins.
8.Deal with bleeding: You should keep a gauze pad over the wound for a while to absorb blood. It is normal for some amount of bleeding to occur. However, if bleeding continues, you can bite on a moist tea bag. The latter contains tannic acid, which promotes clotting. If the bleeding still continues, you should consult your dentist immediately.
Don’ts after a bone graft surgery
There are certain things to avoid following a bone graft surgery and these are:
1.Avoid exercise and strenuous activities: You should avoid exercise and strenuous activities for a few days after surgery or till your dentist tells you it is safe to do so. This is the time for you to heal.
2.Do not consume hot beverages and foods: You should not consume hot beverages and foods till the numbness in your mouth has waned. Eating hot foods and drinking hot beverages while your mouth is still numb may cause you to burn your mouth.
3.Avoid hard crunchy foods: You should avoid chewing hard, crunchy foods in the area of your mouth where your surgery was performed for at least 6 to 8 weeks post-surgery or till your dentist tells you it is safe to do so.
4.Avoid brushing and flossing for some time: While the norm is to brush twice a day and floss once a day, you should avoid doing so till your dentist tells you it is fine to do so. This is because you need to be gentle with your mouth to allow for proper healing.
5.Do not smoke: Refrain from smoking for as long as you possibly can. You should certainly refrain from smoking the day of and the day after your bone grafting surgery. This is because smoking not only makes it harder for your wound to heal, but the sucking motion of smoking might cause you to develop dry sockets, which is a painful, oral surgery complication.
6.Avoid alcohol: You should not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours after your bone grafting surgery. This is because ingesting alcohol not only makes it harder for your wound to heal, but it also interferes with the pain or antibiotic medication that your dentist may have prescribed for you.
7.Avoid disturbing the affected area: After you’ve had bone graft surgery, you should not disturb the wound with your tongue or fingers. This is because the wound is still very sensitive and disturbing the wound may lead to movement of the grafted material. Touching your wound with your fingers is especially dangerous as it might lead to infection. Disturbing the wound may also lead to the sutures breaking and may interrupt the healing process.
While bone grafting is now a relatively routine procedure, it is important to choose the right dentist for your bone grafting surgery. At Harbour Pointe Oral Maxillofacial & Advanced Implant Surgery, we are extremely adept at bone grafting. We specialize in a variety of bone grafts depending on what is needed for each individual patient.
We work closely with each individual patient and determine the type of bone graft and timing of the surgery that is right for you. We also conduct the procedure extremely skilfully and also make sure that you are completely clear as to what to do before, during, and after your bone graft surgery.
So, if you need a bone graft, do consult with us at Harbour Pointe for the best bone grafting outcome possible. After all, this is your health we’re talking about!
For more information about bone grafting and other dental procedures and solutions, consult Dr. Brian Hart and Dr. Kathleen Isdith at 425-353-1009 or at hporalsurgery@gmail.com or go to our website https://www.harbourpointeoralsurgery.net for more information.