The first days after an implant is placed are important for healing to start well. The suggestions below are for general information; the instructions your dentist gives you personally always come first.
The first 24 hours
- Do not eat until the numbness wears off; be careful not to bite your lip or cheek.
- Applying something cold to the outside of the cheek at intervals helps reduce swelling.
- Do not rinse vigorously or spit; keeping the blood clot in place is important for healing.
- Do not drink through a straw and do not smoke.
Diet
In the first days choose lukewarm, soft foods such as soup, yoghurt, mashed vegetables and eggs. Avoid very hot, hard and crunchy foods for a few days. If possible, chew on the side that was not treated.
Oral hygiene
Keep brushing your other teeth as usual. Do not brush the treated area on the first day; in the following days clean it gently with a soft brush. If a mouthwash was recommended, start it from the day your dentist told you.
Swelling, bruising and tenderness
Swelling and tenderness may increase for the first 2–3 days and then start to ease. Slight bruising may appear on the face. Take any medicines you are given as prescribed.
When should you call?
- If bleeding does not stop despite applying pressure
- If swelling keeps increasing after the third day
- If you develop a fever
- If numbness lasts longer than expected
In these cases, call our clinic during opening hours.
Follow-up appointment
Your dentist usually gives you a follow-up appointment between one week and ten days later. Stitches, if any, may be removed at this appointment. Fusion of the implant with the bone takes a few months; regular check-ups during this time are important.