After Sinus Grafting
If you had sinus grafting or a sinus lift procedure done, you may or may not have had a dental implant placed at the same time as surgery. If you had implants placed, there might be a round metal cylinder (healing abutment) protruding through the gums. Be very gentle with the areas and do not disturb the sutures. Do not rinse the first day, and take your prescriptions as prescribed.
After this sinus grafting, it is common to have swelling below the eyelids and discoloration or bruising. This will take time to resolve. You may also notice some bleeding from the nose; this is normal following sinus grafting, as long as it is not excess or severe. If it is severe, call us immediately.
Avoid blowing your nose or bending down. Avoid anything that will increase pressure to your sinus area, such as bending your head down or heavy lifting. Also, if you have to sneeze or cough, keep your mouth open and do not pinch your nose while sneezing or coughing to prevent pressure build-up in the sinus and nasal regions.
Immediately Following Sinus Grafting Surgery
The gauze pack should be kept in place with firm pressure over the area of the sinus graft. Remove the pack after 30 minutes. If there is continued excessive bleeding, replace with new gauze and bite firmly again. Vigorous mouth rinsing or chewing in the areas of the extraction should be avoided. This may cause increased bleeding or the blood clot to dislodge.
A liquid or soft diet is recommended for the first 24 hours. Avoid sucking through straws and eating hard or crunchy foods and spicy foods. Take the prescribed pain medication before the numbness from the local anesthesia wears off. Restrict your activities on the day of surgery and return to normal activities slowly. Place ice packs on the outside of the face where the sinus grafting was done. Use ice for the first 24 hours to decrease swelling by applying it on and off 20–30 minutes at a time.
Bleeding After Sinus Grafting
Slight bleeding and redness in the saliva are common after sinus grafting surgery. If there is excess bleeding, gently wipe any old clots from the mouth and then place clean new gauze over the area and bite firmly for 30–40 minutes. Repeat every 30–40 minutes with new gauze. If excessive bleeding continues, bite on a cold-water-moistened tea bag firmly for 30–40 minutes. Slowly remove the tea bag and leave the area alone. If there is still continued excessive bleeding, call our office for further instructions. Also, avoid excessive talking, drinking from a straw, or excessive chewing if there is continued bleeding.
Swelling After Sinus Grafting
Swelling is normal after any surgical procedure, including sinus grafting for dental implants. The extent of swelling varies and depends on the extent of the surgery and each individual patient. Swelling around the mouth, jaws, cheeks, and below the eyes is not uncommon. The swelling will usually reach its maximum 2–3 days after the surgical procedure. The swelling can be decreased by the immediate use of ice packs in the first 24 hours. Ice packs should be applied to the outside next to where the surgery was done. Keep the ice on for 20–30 minutes at a time, then remove for 20–30 minutes. Also, sitting upright and not lying flat on the first day will help to decrease the amount of swelling. You may have been prescribed other anti-inflammatory medications such as dexamethasone (Decadron). If you were prescribed these medications, follow the instructions written on the bottle.
Pain After Sinus Grafting
Pain medications are normally required after a sinus grafting procedure. If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen…
