Immediately after the procedure
Do not spit or rinse your mouth on the day of the procedure.
Wait to eat until the anesthesia has completely worn off. This prevents you from accidentally biting your lip, tongue, or cheek, or burning yourself with a hot drink.
Take a painkiller before the local anesthesia has completely worn off.
Pain and medication
It is normal to feel some pain after the procedure. By following the advice given, the pain is usually well controlled.
Start taking painkillers before the anesthesia wears off (about 2–4 hours after the procedure).
Most patients have sufficient relief with:
- Paracetamol 1 g up to 4 times per day (every 6 hours)
- Ibuprofen 600 mg up to 3 times per day (with meals or every 8 hours)
You may combine both medications if necessary.
Do not use aspirin or medications containing aspirin, as these increase the risk of bleeding.
Sometimes the surgeon may prescribe antibiotics. Take them as prescribed and complete the full course.
Swelling and discomfort
Swelling after implant placement is usually very minimal. If swelling does occur, it is typically most noticeable on the second and third day after the procedure and gradually decreases afterward.
You may temporarily experience difficulty opening your mouth or stiffness in the jaw muscles.
Avoid heat (sun, sauna) and do not eat hot or hard foods during the first few days.
Eating and drinking
Wait to eat until the anesthesia has completely worn off. This prevents you from accidentally biting your lip, tongue, or cheek or burning yourself with a hot drink.
- Avoid chewing hard foods on the side where the implant was placed.
Oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential for proper healing around the implant.
Do not rinse your mouth on the day of the procedure.
From day 1 until 14 days after the procedure:
- Rinse twice daily with the prescribed mouthwash (usually Perio-Aid or Chlorhexidine 0.12%). Do this after brushing your teeth.
- Continue brushing your teeth twice daily, but be careful around the implant.
After 2 weeks, you may stop using the mouthwash and start gently brushing the healing cap on the implant using a soft manual toothbrush (not an electric one).
Smoking slows healing and increases the risk of implant failure.
Stitches
The stitches are self-dissolving and will fall out on their own after about two weeks.
Rest and recovery
After implant placement, a strict rest period is usually not necessary. During the first few days you can generally continue normal daily activities, if necessary with pain medication.
If a bone graft was performed, it is recommended to take it easy for the first 2 days.
Depending on your sport, you can usually resume activities after about 1 week.
Specific advice after a sinus lift
During a sinus lift, the upper jaw is augmented by placing natural bone and/or bone substitute material beneath the membrane of the maxillary sinus where an implant will be placed either simultaneously or later.
This is a very delicate procedure, as the sinus membrane is on average only 0.3–0.8 mm thick.
Because the surgery is more extensive than implant placement alone, you may experience some swelling of the jaw or cheek.
For two weeks, you must avoid pressure on the nose, which means:
- Do not blow your nose
- Do not hold your nose closed when sneezing
- An antibiotic course will be prescribed to prevent infection.
When should you contact us?
Call us if you:
- Notice that the healing cap on the implant has come loose in your mouth
- Have bleeding that does not stop after 30–60 minutes of pressure with gauze
- Experience increasing swelling or pain after 4 days
- Develop a fever above 38.5°C
- Still have numbness or tingling in the lip or chin after one week that does not improve
- Have difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth
- Or if you are concerned about anything you notice
Finally
Implant placement usually causes less discomfort than the removal of a tooth or molar.
Most people need only minimal pain medication.
Good oral hygiene and following the above instructions will help ensure smooth healing.
If you have any doubts or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.