The Archer Dental Blog
After Care for Dental Implants
What to Expect After Your Dental Implant Procedure
After getting a dental implant, it’s common to experience some swelling, mild discomfort, and even minor bleeding at the implant site. These effects typically subside within a few days, but following proper aftercare is crucial to ensuring successful healing and implant integration with the jawbone.You should be able to return to your normal routine within a day of treatment. Most people will be able to go back to work, but you should avoid anything too strenuous, such as intense exercise.
You’re also likely to experience some light bleeding which should ease over the first day or two. This is completely normal. You can try biting with some gentle pressure with a damp gauze over your implant. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, or gets worse, contact your dentist who will be happy to help.
Here’s what else you need to know to care for your dental implant.
How Long Should I Wait to Eat?
After your dental implant surgery, it’s best to wait at least an hour before eating, or until the numbness from anesthesia completely wears off, to avoid accidentally biting your tongue or cheek. Once ready to eat, stick to soft foods like yogurt, soup, and mashed potatoes for the first week. It’s important to avoid chewing on the side where the implant was placed and stay away from hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could disturb the healing implant. Over time, you can slowly reintroduce solid foods as healing progresses.
When Is It Safe to Smoke Again?
It’s strongly advised to avoid smoking for at least 2 weeks after dental implant surgery, though refraining for longer is ideal. Smoking can significantly delay healing and increase the risk of implant failure. The chemicals in tobacco restrict blood flow to the gums, which can impair the healing process and lead to infection or poor integration of the implant. For the best results, try to quit smoking entirely during the implant healing period.
Can I Drink Alcohol After My Dental Implant Procedure?
It’s best to avoid alcohol for at least 2 weeks following a dental implant procedure. Alcohol can slow down the healing process, increase bleeding, and negatively interact with any prescribed pain medications and antibiotics. Drinking alcohol can also lead to dehydration, which may delay recovery. For optimal healing, stick to water or non-alcoholic beverages until you are done taking the antibiotics that you were prescribed.
What Pain Relief Options Are Available?
Some discomfort and swelling are normal after dental implant surgery, especially in the first few days. Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help manage discomfort. Your dentist may also prescribe medication for pain relief. Applying an ice pack to the outside of your cheek near the implant site for 15-20 minutes at a time can reduce swelling in the first 24 hours. If pain persists beyond the initial recovery period, reach out to your dentist for further evaluation.
How Should I Care for the Implant Site?
Caring for the implant site properly is essential to ensure successful healing and long-term success. Here are some aftercare tips:
- Avoid brushing the implant area directly for the first few days to prevent irritation.
- Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water after the first 24 hours to reduce swelling and prevent infection.
- Keep your head elevated when resting to minimize swelling.
- Stick to soft foods for the first few days and avoid any hard or crunchy foods that could disturb the implant site.
- Avoid vigorous activity for at least 48 hours after surgery to reduce the risk of bleeding or discomfort.
When Should I Call the Office?
You should contact your Archer Dental team if you experience throbbing pain on the day of the surgery, numbness at the implant site that lasts more than 12 hours, persistent pain or swelling that continues beyond 10 days, or bleeding that doesn’t stop after 30 minutes, even with pressure from damp gauze. Additionally, if the implant feels loose at any point, it’s important to reach out to us right away so we can help resolve the issue.