All-on-4 implants are fixed implant dentures. An implant dentist angles the rear implants up to forty-five degrees to increase implant stability and minimize the need for bone grafting. What can you expect after All-on-4 surgery?
What Can You Expect During All-on-4 Recovery?
During All-on-4 dental implants recovery, you can expect to rest at home for the first forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Your implant dentist will give you instructions for taking medication to minimize your discomfort. Also, you will eat soft foods throughout your recovery to avoid disturbing the implant sites. Still, you can enjoy your new smile while being conscious that your gums and bone are still healing.
Immediately After Surgery
Immediately after All-on-4 surgery, a staff member will take you to a recovery room. They will give you post-operative instructions for recovering at home when you are stable.
Recovering at Home After All-on-4 Surgery
Your recovery at home after All-on-4 surgery will include several factors:
Rest
Plan to rest at home for up to seventy-two hours after All-on-4 surgery. Resting allows blood clots to form at the implant sites, minimizes bleeding, and helps your body focus on healing. You can resume activity after the fourth day without engaging in strenuous work or exercise.
Managing Discomfort
- Swelling – You can experience moderate to significant healing after All-on-4 implant surgery as your body’s reaction to surgery and part of healing. Apply cold packs to the sides of your face in 15- to 20-minute intervals. Swelling will peak in two to three days. After the third day, only use warm compresses.
- Soreness – Control soreness with over-the-counter or prescription medication as your implant dentist directs. Take the medicines on time to minimize soreness. Give your implant dentist a complete list of your medication before surgery to prevent medication conflicts. An article published by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry notes that many patients have minimal post-operative discomfort and take only one or two pills after implant placement.
- Bleeding – Mild bleeding around the implant sites is normal until blood clots form. You can control bleeding by applying gauze over the areas and biting gently for 30 minutes.
Oral Hygiene
A clean mouth is essential to preventing infection around your implants. For the first day after surgery, avoid rinsing your mouth. Afterward, you may do the following:
- Use a warm salt water rinse.
- Rinse your mouth after meals, even if only plain water is available.
- Let the water run out of your mouth instead of spitting. Suction from spitting can dislodge blood clots.
- Avoid using a water flosser until your implant dentist tells you it is safe to do so.
Eating and Drinking
You will choose foods and beverages that promote healing and will not get stuck around the implant sites or dislocate implants. Follow these guidelines:
- On the day of surgery, you will drink liquids and avoid solid food.
- Avoid drinking through a straw for the first two days to prevent dislodging blood clots.
- For the first week, enjoy soft foods that do not require chewing.
- Progress to foods that require minimal chewing.
- Maintain a soft-food diet for three to four months as you heal to avoid disturbing the implants with chewing and biting forces.
- Avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy, hard, spicy, hot, and acidic foods.
- Avoid nuts, seeds, chips, and other foods that may break into pieces.
What kind of food can you eat?
- Soft fruits that do not contain seeds
- Well-cooked or pureed vegetables
- Soft, non-crumbly starches
- Flaky fish
- Pureed proteins that do not require chewing
Maintain good nutrition despite a temporary change in food texture for the safety of your implants. After the implants heal, you can eat whatever you want.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking will narrow your blood vessels and delay healing. Your jawbone and implants may fail to fuse.
Follow-Up Visits
Your implant dentist will schedule project checks to examine your All-on-4 implants and gum tissue to ensure they are healthy and healing well.
Conclusion
During All-on-4 dental implants recovery, you can expect to rest and avoid strenuous activity. Maintain good oral hygiene without disturbing your implants. Also, choose foods and drinks that will not irritate the implant sites. Follow-up visits with your implant dentist will ensure your recovery is progressing well.
Schedule an All-on-4 Implants Consultation
Dr. Mo Saleh earned Diplomate status from the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Saleh to determine if All-on-4 implants are right for you. You will receive high-quality implant procedures that Dr. Saleh makes affordable with lower-than-usual fees without sacrificing quality.
