It’s normal to bleed after dental implant surgery because your gums have just been opened and your jawbone has been drilled into to place the titanium post in the jawbone. Slight oozing of blood at the site of the implant can last for up to 72 hours. Forming blood clots is vital to the successful healing of your implants, as they protect the nerves endings in the bone.
Disturbing these blood clots can lead to dry socket and excessive bleeding. Be careful to look out for prolonged or excessive bleeding, as these can be signs of inflammatory conditions such as mucositis or peri-implantitis. Prompt treatment is necessary to prevent implant failure.
Bleeding After Implant Surgery
To encourage blood clotting directly after receiving your dental implant, you will be given gauze to bite down on for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, place a fresh piece of dampened gauze on the site and change it every 3 hours or so. If bleeding does not stop, a better solution may be to bite down on a wet caffeinated tea bag.
These tea bags contain tannic acid, which constricts the blood vessels to promote blood clotting. Disturbing or dislodging blood clots can lead to alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket, which is a very painful condition that exposes underlying nerves and bone in the absence of a blood clot.
How Much Bleeding Is Normal & How Do I Stop It?
If biting down on gauze or a caffeinated tea bag is doing nothing to curb excess bleeding, or if the bleeding persists for more than 72 hours, you should contact your dentist right away. Excessive and prolonged bleeding can be a sign of conditions such as mucositis and peri-implantitis, which are complications or infections from the implant procedure.
You should also take precautions in your aftercare to make sure you are avoiding habits that could be increasing the bleeding you are experiencing. You should avoid all forms of suction, including sipping through a straw, spitting, and smoking, because these can all dislodge blood clots.
You should also not consume hot foods or drinks, which can increase blood flow. Applying a cold compress to your jaw around the area of the implant will reduce swelling and bleeding. Also, keep in mind that more complicated procedures, like gum grafts, may produce excess bleeding. However, you should still consult with your dentist if bleeding is persistent and excessive.
Bleeding as a Sign of Mucositis
Mucositis is when the soft tissue surrounding your implant becomes inflamed. The condition is reversible and typically does not affect the bone. Symptoms of mucositis include redness, swelling, and bleeding of the soft tissue surrounding the implant.
While it can be caused by an overextension of the crown, it is usually caused by a buildup of plaque caused by improper oral hygiene. It is important to treat mucositis before it develops into peri-implantitis, which is irreversible.
Treatment includes removing excess dental cement or thoroughly cleaning the gum pockets with a laser and air polishing with a glycine powder to remove bacterial plaque.
Bleeding as a Sign of Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis is very similar to mucositis and even presents with all of the same symptoms. However, the additional symptom of bone destruction points to the presence of peri-implantitis. Both mucositis and peri-implantitis are caused by inflammatory reactions, but only peri-implantitis is an infection.
It is not typically painful, but your implant may feel loose and you may feel pain when chewing. If left untreated, it can lead to rare dental implant failure. Peri-implantitis is treated with surgery such as an erbium laser or bone grafts.
In severe cases, the implant may need to be removed and replaced with a bone graft to encourage bone growth and rebuild soft tissue. It may be still be possible to put in another dental implant if there is adequate bone density within 90 days.
Implant Dentistry at Auburn Hills Family Dentistry
Are you interested in receiving dental implants for missing teeth? Contact us at Auburn Hills Family Dentistry by calling (678)-804-8818 and we’d be more than happy to answer any of your questions. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Josh Haycock to find out if dental implants are right for you.
