Usually, dental implant surgeries go smoothly. After all, 9 out of 10 dental implant procedures go without an incident. Finding a little bit of blood in your saliva after a dental implant procedure is nothing too out of the ordinary.
However, for some people, it may be worrisome, especially if it’s their first surgery. But how much blood is too much blood? When should you start worrying? Today, Jackson Family Dentistry will help you learn all about it.
Getting a dental implant is a serious procedure. That’s why you need to treat it seriously. Post-procedure care is important. Proper care will help you minimize pain and decrease the chances of developing an infection. The best advice is to follow the medical professional’s orders. Unfortunately, that’s something many people fail to do. Don't worry, your dentist won't force you to do anything out of the ordinary: avoid hard food, don’t mess with the flash around the implant, and keep your mouth clean without brushing or flossing.
The gauze over the spot where the implant was placed should be kept in place for 30 minutes. It should be changed at regular intervals until blood flow subsides. Usually, the spot will stop bleeding heavily after 30 to 60 minutes. As soon as the local anesthesia wears off, which will take a couple of hours, take your prescribed medication to alleviate the pain.
Here are a couple of things you should also do:
Oozing pus, light bleeding, or having red saliva is usually expected in the first 3 days after the operation. If the bleeding persists, stay calm and use gauze on the area to stop the bleeding. Put the gauze in place and bite firmly for about 30 minutes.
The gauze should be moistened with cold water to prevent it from absorbing any blood. As a new clot starts forming, the gauze should get whiter and less red. If the gauze doesn't stop the bleeding, use a tea bag instead.
The Jackson Family Dentistry office has been helping patients from Hartford, West Bend, Jackson, and Germantown for years at this point. If you need dental implant surgery or if you want to find out more about it, don’t be afraid to get in touch. You can contact our Jackson office online or give us a call at (262) 677-3003.