How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery: A Patient's Checklist

Feeling ready for implant surgery makes the day itself much easier. This checklist walks you through the practical steps we recommend to patients at Morgan Heights Dental Centre in the week leading up to placement.

A week before your appointment

1. Confirm your medications. Share your full medication list, including supplements and blood thinners, so we can flag anything that needs to pause.
2. Stock the fridge. Pick up soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, eggs, soup, and mashed potatoes so you don't have to shop afterward.
3. Arrange a driver if you've chosen sedation. You'll need someone to bring you home.

The day before

1. Get a full night's sleep and avoid alcohol.
2. Lay out a loose, comfortable shirt for the appointment.
3. Prepare an ice pack and clean gauze at home for post-op swelling.

The morning of surgery

1. Follow the eating instructions we provided (sedation patients typically fast; local-anesthetic-only patients can eat a light meal).
2. Brush and rinse gently before you leave.
3. Skip makeup, contact lenses, and jewellery.
4. Arrive 10 minutes early so we can review the plan together.

After you get home

Rest with your head slightly elevated, apply ice in 20-minute intervals for the first day, and stick to soft foods while the site settles. If anything feels off, contact our South Surrey office — we'd rather answer a small question early than have you wait.

For a full walk-through of what the procedure itself involves, see our guide to dental implants.