The first two weeks after an implant

Implant surgery is often more comfortable than people expect. The real work happens over the next two weeks: healing in this period is the first step towards the implant fusing soundly with the bone. This article does not replace your dentist’s instructions; it is here to help you understand and remember them.

The first day

The gauze you are given after surgery is usually held with gentle biting pressure for thirty minutes to an hour. Slight oozing is normal.
Cold compresses on the side of the surgery, on and off, reduce swelling: apply briefly, then pause.
On the first day, avoid spitting, drinking through a straw and vigorous rinsing; protecting the clot that forms helps healing.
Take painkillers, and antibiotics if prescribed, only as your dentist advises.
Resting with your head slightly raised is more comfortable.

Days two and three

Swelling may peak on these days, then ease. Bruising can appear and fades within a few days. Gentle rinsing with warm salt water, or the mouthwash your dentist recommends, usually starts from the second day.

Eating

In the first days choose soft, lukewarm, nourishing food: yoghurt, soup, purée, eggs. Stay away from very hot, hard, crunchy and spicy food, and don’t chew on the implant side. Drink plenty of water; alcohol can slow healing in the first days.

Oral hygiene

Don’t stop brushing. Use a soft brush around the surgical area and be very gentle; don’t touch the stitches or the healing cap. If your dentist recommended a mouthwash, use it regularly.

Smoking

Smoking reduces blood flow to the area and harms both healing and the implant’s fusion with the bone. If possible, avoid smoking for at least a few weeks before and after surgery.

The second week

Swelling and tenderness have largely gone. Stitches that do not dissolve on their own are usually removed within one to two weeks. Healing is checked at the follow-up appointment.

When to call

Pain or swelling that gets worse as the days pass
Fever
Bleeding that does not stop despite the gauze
A feeling of movement, or discharge, at the implant site

In any of these cases, contact the clinic without waiting.

After that

The fusion of the implant with the bone usually takes a few months. Regular check-ups and good oral hygiene during this time are the foundation of a long life for the tooth that will sit on it.

Frequently asked

When can I go back to work after an implant?

Most people return to desk work within a day or two. For heavy physical effort and sport, a few days' wait is usually advised; your dentist sets the time according to the extent of the procedure.

When does the swelling go down?

Swelling usually peaks on the second or third day, then eases, and has largely gone within about a week.

When is the tooth fitted on the implant?

It depends on the bone and the method chosen. In most cases a few months are allowed for the implant to fuse with the bone; in some cases a temporary tooth can be fitted the same day.