How to stop bleeding after a dental implant

Bleeding after the dental implant is one of the challenges that may be faced by many patients who have recently undergone dental implant surgery. In this article, we will explain how to stop bleeding after a dental implant. Inflammation of the soft tissue around the gum can be considered the most important cause of bleeding after a dental implant, which is caused by two diseases called mucositis and peri-implantitis. Mucositis is only inflammation in the soft tissue around the dental implant; But in peri-implantitis, this inflammation is accompanied by gingivitis. In many cases, these diseases are painless, and their symptoms are inflammation, redness, itching in the soft tissue around the gums, and bleeding, and if they are diagnosed on time, they can be easily treated. But in case of delay, more damage is done to the soft tissue and bone around the dental implant. The first step to diagnosing the disease is to take a radiograph of the dental implant site to determine the amount of bone loss and the type of treatment.

When you must visit the dentist because of dental implant bleeding?

Usually, the bleeding continues for 48 to 72 hours after the dental implant surgery, and after the surgery, you should gently press a gauze placed on the surgical site for an hour to stop the bleeding.

But if you notice bleeding after this period or while brushing your teeth, you must visit your dentist for the necessary checkups. As mentioned, the cause of bleeding after the dental implant usually is mucositis and peri-implantitis diseases, which can be treated by visiting the dentist on time; But if it is related to non-observance of oral and dental hygiene, by brushing, flossing and using prescription mouthwashes, inflammation and bleeding after dental implant can be eliminated very soon and easily.

How to prevent dental implant bleeding?

If you have recently undergone dental implant surgery and bleeding has not yet occurred, it is better to follow these steps to prevent bleeding.

• Use of antibiotics: After the dental implant, the dentist prescribes antibiotics to prevent infection in the surgical area, and the timely use of these drugs plays an important role in the health of the surgery. Usually, the dentist also recommends the use of mouthwash and salt water, which should be rinsed after every meal.
• Pressing gauze: Bleeding after surgery is caused by cutting the gum and as mentioned by pressing gauze on the surgical site for one hour. but you should know that during the first 24 hours, this is normal and nothing to worry about.
• Diet: use soft foods after dental implants. Eating crunchy foods causes sores and inflammation around the gums.
• Oral and dental hygiene: brushing, flossing, and using saline mouthwashes will help the wound heal quickly and prevent inflammation and bleeding.
• Smoking: One of the important factors in the development of peri-implantitis is smoking. Smoking causes the blood clot to come out of the wound and spread harmful substances in the surgical site, followed by severe infection and inflammation around the dental implant. Therefore, to prevent gum infection and bleeding, you should quit smoking for at least two weeks after dental implant placement.

What to do if bleeding in a dental implant occurs?

After the dental implant is completed, a post-treatment care plan will be provided to you to keep the implants in good condition. You should have regular checkups to maintain your gums. These examinations are the key to maintaining the health of the dental implant. The implant is not a living tissue, but if the surrounding gum and bone are not in good health condition, they can become infected and lead to the failure of the implant treatment. Implants also do not have a shock absorption system, so if you chew hard, the implant may be under too much pressure, and this issue should be regularly controlled by the dentist. As mentioned before, the most effective way to reduce bleeding, is put a piece of gauze on the tooth and press it. Bleeding after 24 hours can be a sign of a specific problem at the surgical site. If this happens, see a dentist as soon as possible. The patient is in pain for two days after the surgery. This pain is much greater in the early hours and gradually decreases. The pain can be reduced with painkillers. If you have pain for more than 2 days, it is better to see a dentist. As much as possible, try to eat watery foods so as not to put pressure on the implant site. Due to blood loss, it is better to drink water and tonic drinks. Pay attention, even though the implant site is a wound, it must be brushed. Just be careful not to touch the wound with the toothbrush. Swelling of the face after surgery is completely normal. You can use an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain. Avoid smoking for two weeks after the implant and surgery. Usually, swelling, pain, and bleeding are normal up to three days after implant surgery. But if it lasts for a long time, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. After planting the crown on the dental implant, it should be treated like a natural tooth. Plaques also accumulate on the implant and can cause infection. So don’t forget to use a toothbrush and floss. Also, avoid eating hard foods and cracking nuts with your teeth.