Full-Mouth Dental Implant Aftercare
Taking care of your dental implants after your procedure is important to the longevity and efficacy of the implants. Follow our aftercare steps below to ensure you love your smile for life.
Post-Op Care
Following the procedure, it’s normal to experience the typical discomforts associated with any oral surgery. These can include swelling of the gums and face, aches near the surgical sites, and minor bleeding. All of these symptoms should last no longer than a week.
- Bleeding. It’s common to experience a small amount of bleeding for a day or two following the procedure. Biting down on a moistened gauze pad will help stop the bleeding. If bleeding persists for more than a couple of days, call our office right away.
- Swelling. To help reduce swelling, place an ice pack on the face near the surgical site for 10 minutes then remove for 20 minutes and repeat.
- Oral Hygiene. Practicing good oral hygiene will help the implants heal faster. It is important to gently brush near the surgical site to keep the area clean. Additionally, make sure that you keep coming in for regular dental checkups.
- Pain. We will prescribe you painkillers following the surgery. You will likely want to take pain medication for the first couple of days following your surgery. Many of our patients only need to take over-the-counter pain medication to manage their pain.
It is important to avoid smoking, spitting, or sucking on straws for at least a week following your procedure. These can dislodge the blood clot and slow the healing process. Staying hydrated and eating nourishing foods are also important for a quick recovery. While your implants are healing, we recommend sticking to a diet of primarily soft foods for 4-6 months.
General Implant Care
Once your implants are healed, it is important to continue to take good care of your implants and overall oral health. At this time we will lift any dietary suggestions. Even though your new teeth cannot get cavities, you still need to brush twice a day to ensure your gums stay healthy. We also recommend using a water flosser to clean along the gum line. Attend regular dental check-ups where we will deep clean your new teeth to make sure they last as long as possible.
