Patients · Aftercare
Your recovery, step by step.
Good healing isn't luck — it's a checklist. These instructions apply after implant placement, bone grafting, extractions, and other oral surgery at The Smile Bar. When in doubt, call us: 410-874-2222.
The first 24 hours
- Leave the wound aloneDo not rinse, spit, or touch the surgical site on the day of surgery. In some cases a metal healing abutment will protrude through the gum tissue — that's expected.
- Expect a little bloodSome bleeding or redness in your saliva is normal for 24 hours. If your mouth fills rapidly with blood, bite firmly on a gauze pad placed directly on the site for 30 minutes; repeat up to three times. Still bleeding? Call us.
- Ice early and oftenApply an ice bag (or a bag or towel filled with ice) to the cheek over the surgical area for about an hour at a time, 4–5 times the first day. Continue icing through the first 48 hours, keeping your head elevated at about 40 degrees the whole time.
Eating & drinking
- Fluids firstDrink plenty of fluids, but avoid hot liquids and very warm foods.
- Then soft foodsProgress to soft foods once liquids sit well. Keep first-day portions small so your stomach can settle after anesthesia.
- Back to normalReturn to a normal diet as soon as you comfortably can, unless we've directed otherwise.
Pain relief & medications
- Start before it startsBegin pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. Mild to moderate discomfort is often controlled with Aleve, Advil, or Tylenol taken shortly after leaving the office.
- If a prescription was providedSome procedures call for prescription pain medication (such as Vicodin, Lortab, or Percocet). If one was prescribed, it's wise to take the first dose within an hour of leaving. Aleve or Advil may supplement it — but do not add Tylenol to Vicodin, Lortab, or Percocet, since those already contain it.
- Take antibiotics as directedFinish the prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection — even once you feel fine.
- Know your limitsNever take any medication you're allergic to, or one your doctor has told you to avoid. For severe pain, take prescribed medication exactly as directed by Dr. Arielle Forbes, DMD.
Keeping your mouth clean
- Medicated rinse, if prescribedPeridex oral rinse may be prescribed depending on your procedure. Use twice daily — after breakfast and before bed — rinsing for at least 60 seconds, then spitting it out.
- Salt water, oftenRinse with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) at least 4–5 times a day, especially after meals.
- Brush — gentlyBrushing your teeth and any healing abutments is fine; just be gentle around surgical areas at first.
- Bone graft sites need extra careIf bone grafting was performed, brush the area with great care for the first week. Cleansing gently with a Q-tip is usually the best approach until we advise otherwise.
Activity & wearing your prosthesis
- Rest is part of the treatmentKeep physical activity to a minimum right after surgery. Exercise can trigger throbbing or bleeding — if it does, stop and apply gauze for 20–30 minutes.
- Ease back inYou're likely eating and drinking less than usual, which can leave you weaker than you expect. Be careful the first time you exercise again.
- Hold off on removable teethPartial dentures, flippers, or full dentures should not be worn immediately after surgery — and for at least 10 days — unless Dr. Arielle Forbes, DMD discussed an exception at your pre-operative consultation.
When to call us
Call right away for bleeding that won't stop with gauze pressure, pain not controlled by your medication, swelling that worsens after the first 48–72 hours, or anything that simply doesn't feel right. You are never bothering us — a quick call is always the right move.
Call 410-874-2222These are general guidelines — your specific instructions from Dr. Arielle Forbes, DMD always take precedence. Questions about your recovery or your next visit? Schedule a follow-up or call 410-874-2222.