After dental implant placement

The first day

• Some oozing or pink saliva is normal for a day or two. If bleeding continues, fold clean gauze or a damp black tea bag, place it on the area, and press firmly for 30 minutes.
• Hold a cold pack, wrapped in a cloth, against your face near the treated area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off while you are awake.
• Rest, and keep your head raised on pillows the first night.
• Avoid hot food and drinks until the numbness wears off, so you do not burn or bite your cheek or tongue.

Protecting the implant

• Do not chew on the implant site until Dr. Smith says it is ready.
• A small metal healing cap may show through the gum. This is normal.
• If you wear a removable temporary tooth or denture over the area, follow Dr. Smith's instructions about when to wear it. It should not press on the implant.
• Brush the rest of your mouth normally, and clean around the implant only as Dr. Smith instructed. Use the mouth rinse you were given, as directed.

Eating

• Eat soft foods for the first several days, and chew on the other side of your mouth.
• Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods near the implant while it heals.

Activity

• Avoid strenuous exercise for two to three days.

What to expect

• Swelling and bruising usually peak two to three days after surgery and then fade.
• If a bone graft was placed, you may notice a few small, sand-like granules in your mouth over the first few days. This is common.
• Stitches either dissolve on their own or are removed at your follow-up visit.

Medicines

• Take any medicines exactly as Dr. Smith prescribed or recommended, and finish every antibiotic you were given.
• If you take a blood thinner or other regular medicines, follow the plan you discussed before treatment.

Smoking and alcohol

• Avoid smoking and vaping while you heal. They slow healing and raise the risk of problems.
• Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours, and while you are taking prescription pain medicine.

When to call the office

• Bleeding that does not slow after 30 minutes of firm pressure
• Pain or swelling that gets worse after the third day instead of better
• A fever
• Pus, or a bad taste or smell that does not go away
• Numbness that has not worn off by the next day
• A reaction to a medicine, such as a rash, itching, or an upset stomach that does not settle
• The healing cap or temporary tooth comes loose
• The implant itself feels loose

Getting a dental implant →