Your smile can be restored with all-on-4 implant surgery as well as your oral function. It will improve your overall quality of life. But you will need to account for a recovery period so that your body can heal and adapt to the new implants.
Right after the all-on-4 implant surgery,
There can be some swelling, discomfort and bruising in the area and it is quite normal to experience these symptoms. These will generally subside after about 72 hours. There will be pain medication prescribed to you by the dentist so that you can manage the discomfort. Sometimes, antibiotics will be prescribed so the infection can be prevented. You need to follow these prescriptions properly so that your recovery process can be accurately managed. Your dentist will let you know what you can expect after getting dental implants and how to care for them. As there will be swelling and some discomfort, you can use an ice pack and have this on the outside of your cheek near the surgical site. You can use this for about 15 minutes at a time and give yourself a break of 20 minutes between each application. This can be done in the first two days so that swelling can be minimised. Another tip to reduce swelling is keeping your head elevated even when you are sleeping.
You need to maintain a good diet after the surgery
So that you have sufficient nutrients. You will need to start with a soft food diet so that excessive pressure is not put on the implants or the surgical site. You can eat mashed potatoes, yoghurt, scrambled eggs and smoothies in this period and gradually start re-introducing solid food as you become more comfortable with the changes. It is not recommended to eat hot, spicy or crunchy food as this can be irritating to the surgical area. It may dislodge the blood clots that are forming at the site as part of natural healing. You have to maintain your oral hygiene during this time so that infections can be prevented. There will be specific instructions given by the dentist on how you can clean the mouth after surgery.
You can rinse your mouth gently using a saltwater solution
And this can be done after meals so that the surgical site is kept clean. You should not be using regular mouthwash as it will have alcohol and be too harsh on your mouth. Make sure to brush remaining teeth carefully and to avoid the surgical area when you do so. Your dentist will tell you when it is safe to go back to normal brushing. There will be follow up appointments so that your healing progress can be monitored. You need to make sure that the implants are properly integrated into the jawbone. The first follow up visit will be scheduled a few days after the surgery. If you have any unusual symptoms or any concerns regarding the healing process, you need to let your dentist know right away.
