Eusebio Dental
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA
Dental Implant Placement
Your Recovery Companion
What to Do Today
• Bite on gauze for 30–60 minutes if there is bleeding.
• Use ice: 20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off.
• Eat soft, cool foods. Chew on the other side.
• Do not touch the implant or healing cap with your tongue or fingers.
• Do not rinse hard, spit hard, smoke, vape, use a straw, or lift heavy things.
What to Expect Next
Tomorrow
• Brush your teeth. Be very gentle near the implant.
• Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and before bed.
• Do not aim a water flosser at the implant unless we tell you to.
• Keep chewing on the other side.
Days 2-3
• Swelling is often worst on Day 2 or 3.
• Mild bruising and jaw soreness can be normal.
• Continue soft foods and gentle cleaning.
• A few tiny graft particles may come out if a graft was placed.
Days 4-7
• Pain and swelling should start to improve.
• Keep the implant area clean.
• Do not chew hard food on the implant.
• Keep any follow-up visit.
Later Healing
• The implant may need several months to join with the bone.
• Do not miss checkups, even if the area feels normal.
• Do not place pressure on the implant until we say it is ready.
Pain Medicine
Adult doses only. Use these medicines only if they are safe for you.
• Mild or moderate pain: Take ONE — ibuprofen up to 600 mg OR acetaminophen up to 1,000 mg.
• More pain: Take BOTH together.
• Wait at least 6 hours before the next dose. Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
• Do not take more than 2,400 mg of ibuprofen or 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
• Check all medicine labels for acetaminophen. Ask us, your doctor, or a pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Do not take either medicine if a doctor has told you to avoid it.
Normal Healing
• Mild bleeding the first day
• Swelling for 2–3 days
• Mild bruising
• Jaw soreness
• Mild pressure near the implant
• A few small graft particles, if grafting was done
• Slow improvement each day
Call Eusebio Dental
Call or text Eusebio Dental for:
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Pain or swelling that gets worse after Day 3
• Fever over 101°F (38.3°C)
• Pus or a strong bad smell
• An implant or healing cap that feels loose
• Numbness that lasts more than 24 hours
• Any problem that worries you
Emergency -
Call 911
Call 911 now for:
• Trouble breathing
• Severe swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow
• Bleeding you cannot control
You Might Be Wondering
Can I brush?
Yes. Brush every tooth. Be gentle near the implant.
Can I chew on the implant?
No. Chew on the other side until we say it is okay.
Is a little bleeding normal?
Yes. A small amount can be normal today.
Can small graft particles come out?
Yes. A few tiny particles can be normal if a graft was placed.
When can I exercise?
Avoid heavy lifting and hard exercise for 2–3 days.
Helpful Tips
Why This Matters
• Take pain medicine before the numbness wears off.
• Keep extra gauze with you on the drive home.
• Do not play with the healing cap using your tongue.
• Sleep with an extra pillow tonight.
• Most swelling is worst on Day 2 or 3.
• Not sure about something? Call us.
• Gentle care helps the implant stay still.
• Ice lowers swelling.
• Soft foods reduce pressure on the implant.
• Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of implant failure.
• Clean teeth and gums lower the risk of infection.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Joseph Eusebio, DMD, MBA
Last Reviewed:
July 2026
Sources:
https://aaoms.org/education-meetings/academics/dental-students/resources-mentoring/introduction-to-implant-dentristry/ | https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/oral-surgery | https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/oral-analgesics-for-acute-dental-pain
Dental Implant Placement