Congratulations on receiving your new smile! Full arch implant surgery is a significant procedure, and proper aftercare over the coming weeks will help ensure your implants integrate successfully and your temporary teeth remain secure. Some discomfort, swelling, and bleeding are completely normal following this surgery. We’ve organized this guide to walk you through each stage of your recovery so you know exactly what to expect.
The First 24 Hours: Immediate Care
What to Expect
Your lip, tongue, and cheek may be numb for up to 24 hours following surgery. During this time:
- Maintain pressure on the gauze, but be careful not to bite the numb areas
- While you are still numb, avoid hot food and drink
- It is common to have a nosebleed during this period
- You may also have oozing or intermittent bleeding from the surgery site
The medication given to you through the IV and the prescribed pain medication can make you feel dizzy and impair your judgment. It is advisable to have someone help you while walking, climbing stairs, or using the restroom. Have someone stay with you at home to assist you for the first 24 hours.
Managing Bleeding
Some bleeding over the first few days is normal. Here’s what to expect:
- Over the course of one week, bleeding should decrease
- The color should gradually change from red to brown until it disappears
- Some oozing and intermittent bleeding from the surgical sites is expected
Important: If bleeding has not stopped or the color remains bright red after several days, please call us as we will need to see you to control the bleeding.
Cold Therapy (First 24 Hours)
Apply ice to the treatment area immediately after surgery:
- Apply for 30 minutes on, then 10 minutes off
- Continue this pattern for the first 8 to 10 hours after surgery
- Wrap the ice pack, cold pack, or bag of frozen peas in a towel
- Never apply ice directly to your skin
- Continue cold therapy for the first 3 days, applying 30 minutes of every hour
Protecting Your Surgical Sites
Do NOT disturb the surgical sites:
- Do NOT forcefully rinse your mouth
- Do NOT attempt to clean the area under your new teeth with any instruments
- You are encouraged to brush the white part of your teeth gently
- Do NOT smoke for at least 72 hours; smoking will negatively affect your healing
What to Avoid
During the first 72 hours, do NOT:
- Use a straw
- Smoke
- Rinse your mouth (wait 48 hours)
- Eat hot foods or liquids
- Exercise or participate in strenuous activity
Managing Pain
The days following surgery will most likely be accompanied by some discomfort. For best results, take your first pain pill before the surgical anesthetic wears off.
Pain Medication Schedule
- Pain medication (such as Norco): Take every 4 hours as needed
- Ibuprofen (600mg, such as Motrin or Advil): Take 1 tablet every 6 hours
- Alternate the medications for best results: take pain medication, then 4 hours later take ibuprofen, then 4 hours later take pain medication again
- DO NOT USE TYLENOL
- Always take medication with a small amount of food
- Stay on top of your pain medication to maintain a tolerable pain level
Important: Do not abuse pain medication; use it according to the prescription.
Antibiotics
If taking Amoxicillin:
- You will have taken 2 tablets 1 hour before surgery
- Take 2 tablets the evening after surgery
- Then take 3 times a day at breakfast, lunch, and dinner until the antibiotics are gone
If taking Cleocin:
- Take 4 times a day at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime
Diet Restrictions
Avoid hot foods and liquids during the first week. Eat very soft or puréed foods as needed until it becomes comfortable to have more normal foods. Do NOT eat foods like chips, crackers, popcorn, or other hard or crunchy items that may get stuck in the surgical healing sites.
Good options include:
- Soups (lukewarm, not hot)
- Smoothies (no straw for 72 hours)
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Scrambled eggs
- Puréed foods
- Protein shakes
Important: Always refer to the soft food dietary restrictions provided to make sure you do not harm your implants or your temporary teeth.
Rest and Energy Levels
It is common to experience lower than normal energy levels while you heal due to blood loss. Get as much rest as possible and drink lots of fluids. Do NOT exercise or participate in any strenuous activity for the next 7 days.
Nausea
It is common to experience nausea after surgery, and it should pass within a short period of time. If the nausea does not improve within a few days, please call our office.
Days 2-3: Peak Swelling and Bruising
What to Expect
Over the next few days, you will experience soreness. It is typical to experience the most swelling and bruising around the third day. Bruising and swelling all around the face and neck is normal. Tenderness in these areas is expected.
Continue using your prescribed pain medication so you do not experience pain unexpectedly.
Swelling Management
Continue applying cold compresses:
- Apply for 30 minutes of every hour during the first 3 days
- Never leave ice on the area for more than 30 minutes at a time
- Never apply ice in direct contact with the skin
Starting Oral Hygiene
Mouth Rinses (Starting 48 Hours After Surgery)
Rinsing should not start until 48 hours after surgery. Once you begin:
- Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water
- Gradually rinse out your mouth, one sip at a time, over five minutes
- Do this at least two or three times a day, or as often as you like
- Do NOT rinse forcefully
Chlorhexidine Rinse
In addition to salt water rinses:
- Apply the prescribed Chlorhexidine rinse three times a day
- Use a cotton tipped applicator (Q-tip) to apply
- Continue this for the first two weeks
Brushing
Due to soreness and swelling, vigorous brushing may not be possible, but it is still important that you make every effort to clean your teeth:
- Begin gently brushing with a manual toothbrush as you are able
- Do not disturb the sutures or healing tissue around the surgical sites
- Only mild brushing is suggested until sutures dissolve (about 10 days)
- DO NOT USE a Waterpik or rotary toothbrush (such as Oral-B Braun)
After Day 3: Continued Healing
Warm Therapy
After the third day, switch from cold to warm compresses:
- Use warm compresses to the skin over the areas of swelling
- Options include a hot water bottle, hot moist towels, or heating pad
- Apply for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off
- This helps soothe tender areas and reduce remaining swelling
Understanding Normal Healing
Normal healing after full arch immediate load implant surgery follows this pattern:
- Days 1-2: Most swelling occurs
- Day 3: Greatest discoloration and bruising
- After Day 3: If you feel up to it, you may begin a more substantial diet, but remain mindful of soft food restrictions
- Weeks 1-4: Soft tissue healing
- Weeks 4-12: Bone integration around implants
The remainder of your healing should show steady improvement. If you don’t see slow improvement, please contact our office so we can evaluate any issues.
Sharp Spots
If you feel something sharp in the surgical areas, it is likely a bone spur from the walls that once supported the extracted teeth. Small slivers of bone may work themselves out of the gum tissue over the healing phase. This is normal.
The temporary teeth themselves may also have rough or sharp areas. Please contact our office to set up a visit for evaluation if you experience these issues.
Protecting Your Implants and Temporary Teeth
Your soft tissues will heal within 4 weeks, but the bone around your implants requires 12 weeks to fully heal. Please be cautious with your temporary teeth during this time:
- Continue following soft food dietary restrictions
- Avoid biting into hard foods
- Do not chew ice or hard candy
- Be gentle when eating
Your 10-Day Post-Op Appointment
This is essential: We will see you back in our office in 10 days. This appointment is very important for us to monitor your healing and ensure your implants and temporary teeth are functioning properly.
When to Call Our Office
Contact us if you experience:
- Persistent bleeding that remains bright red after several days
- Severe pain that is not controlled by medication
- Swelling that worsens after day 3 rather than improves
- Nausea that does not improve within a few days
- Signs of infection (fever, increasing pain, pus, or foul taste)
- Sharp spots from bone spurs or rough areas on your temporary teeth
- Any concerns about your healing progress
If you have any questions or if an emergency situation arises, please contact our office.
Please note: Telephone calls for pain medication prescription refills are ONLY accepted during office hours.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, please call our office. We’re here to support you through every stage of healing toward your new, confident smile.
