What to do after implant surgery

Have you just had your new implant-retained dentures fitted? Or are you interested in implants and would like to know what happens after the operation?

In this blog article you will learn …

• the best way to act after an implant operation.
• why you should take it easy on yourself and your new teeth.
• when you can enjoy your favourite foods again.
• and how best to care for your new teeth.

Perhaps you’ve been dreaming of permanent replacement teeth for a long time. Perhaps you need an unplanned dental implant following an accident. There are many different reasons why patients come to our practice for one or more implants.

What you should know about implant surgery:

• Depending on the implant procedure you choose, you will either receive your fixed prosthesis straight away or a temporary restoration first.
• In either case, the initial days and hours after the implant procedure are crucial for rapid healing.
• We give you personal tips on how best to look after your new dental implant.

The following advice is therefore general and varies slightly depending on the implantation method chosen.

We also perform implant surgery as a minimally invasive procedure:

• We only make tiny incisions to insert your artificial tooth roots.
• This means that the affected areas swell less, and pain is usually significantly reduced.
• After the anaesthetic wears off, the surgical sites may pull and pinch awkwardly. This should stop within a few days.

If you have pain after implant treatment …

• … take the painkillers we prescribed.
• … cool the affected area with an ice pack or cold flannel.
• … take it easy and avoid any strenuous activities for a few days.

The healing of your implant takes some time. If pain does not subside after one or two days or becomes more severe, please contact us. Please also get in touch if surgical wounds bleed or swell up again.

Allow yourself a few days’ rest. We’ll discuss with you beforehand whether sick leave is necessary following the implant operation. We’ll provide you with a sick note accordingly. If you are having a single implant, you will usually be able to work the next day.

During the preliminary examination, we’ll discuss how long you should refrain from sport after receiving the dental implant. As a rule, we recommend avoiding sport or strenuous physical activity for the first week.

We sometimes prescribe an antibiotic after dental implant surgery. This reduces the risk of infection, especially in the case of major procedures. You take the antibiotic from the day of the procedure itself, usually for four to seven days. After around seven to ten days, we remove the stitches and check the healing process.

Implants and fixed dentures in one day?

As a rule, you will initially receive a temporary restoration immediately after implant placement. A few weeks later, we check whether the artificial tooth roots are firmly seated in the jaw. Only then will you receive your fixed dentures.

This is different under the All-on-4 method: here you receive your first fixed prosthesis on the day of the implant procedure. We explain how this works here:

Many of our patients opt for implants because they want a different quality of life. Enjoying their favourite food, laughing and having lively discussions – all with the secure feeling of real, firm teeth in their mouth.

When can you bite into a juicy steak or crispy bread roll following a dental implant? This varies depending on the implant procedure:

1. With an immediate restoration such as All-on-4, you can often eat normally the very next day. Nevertheless, we recommend eating primarily soft foods during the first week.
2. If you initially receive a temporary restoration, you should wait a little longer before eating hard foods. Once the implants are firmly seated in your jaw, you can enjoy biting into your favourite food.

In both cases, we will provide you with a schedule of when and what you can eat and drink.

What is appropriate food to eat after the dental implant has been inserted?

What can I eat after implant surgery? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in our practice. We understand – many of you have gone without your favourite food for years.

What you can eat after a dental implant depends on …

• … how many implants you are getting.
• … which method your implantologist uses.
• … whether bone augmentation is necessary beforehand.

In all cases, try practising a little patience. Opt for softer, easy-to-chew food in the first few weeks. Avoid sugary and acidic foods. This will allow your implants to heal in the best possible way.

We recommend you avoid coffee and other drinks containing caffeine for at least a week. Caffeine can stimulate blood circulation, which can slow down wound healing.

Wondering how long you should refrain from drinking alcohol following dental implant surgery? The same rule applies as for coffee: avoid alcoholic drinks for at least a week.

Looking after your implant following placement also includes aftercare and preventive treatment. You should clean your new implant-retained dentures just as well as your natural teeth. Our preventive care team will be happy to show you how to gently clean your teeth following implant surgery.

Make an appointment for professional tooth and implant cleaning at least twice a year. Find out more here:

Do gums recover after an implant operation?

If gums recede, this is usually a sign of inflammation. You should get this checked by a dentist. If you suffer from periodontitis, your gums can continue to recede as the disease progresses. We can only stop this process, not reverse it.

Gum augmentation is one option after implant surgery. This will eventually improve the aesthetics of the gums around your new teeth. We’ll be happy to advise you on this.

In addition, chronic inflammation can also develop around a dental implant. In technical terms, we call this peri-implantitis:

• It is the most common reason why people lose implants.
• If you have dental implants, you shouldn’t scrimp on aftercare costs.
• Regular preventive care and implant cleaning ensure that you can enjoy your new teeth for as long as possible.

We’d love to share with you our perfect prescription for long-lasting enjoyment of your new dental implants. Come and see us for a no-obligation appointment at our dental practice in Egerkingen.