Aftercare is where implants abroad are won or lost, and it happens mostly at home, without the surgeon in the room. The good news is that the rules are simple and the same everywhere; what a travelling patient needs is to know them by week, to know what is normal, and to know exactly when to send a photo instead of waiting. This is the guide we give every patient before they fly home from Tbilisi.
The first 24 hours
- Bite gently on the gauze for 30–45 minutes; change it if it soaks through. A little oozing into saliva is normal for the day.
- Ice on the cheek, 15 minutes on, 15 off, for the first evening.
- Take the painkillers and antibiotics exactly as prescribed, with food. Start the painkillers before the anaesthetic wears off, not after.
- Do not rinse, spit forcefully or use a straw; the clot in the socket is what heals you.
- Cold or lukewarm soft food only. Sleep with your head raised on two pillows.
- No smoking, no alcohol, no hot drinks.
Days 2–3: the swelling peak
Swelling and bruising are worst on day two or three, then fall. Some patients bruise down the neck; it looks dramatic and means nothing. From day two, rinse gently with the chlorhexidine mouthwash you were given, twice a day, and brush every tooth except the surgical site with a soft brush. You are checked in the clinic on one of these days; the temporary bridge is adjusted if anything is high or rubbing.
Week 1: soft food, no heroics
Soups, eggs, fish, yoghurt, mashed vegetables, well-cooked pasta; nothing that needs tearing or crunching. Walk, but no gym, running or heavy lifting; raised blood pressure restarts bleeding. Sutures, if not dissolving, come out at 7–10 days, usually at your pre-flight check. Numbness of the lip or chin that persists beyond a few hours after surgery should be reported the same day; it is rare and almost always temporary, but it needs noting.
Weeks 2–4: flying home and settling in
Flying is fine after the post-op check. Keep to soft food for the full first month on a fixed temporary bridge; it is designed to be worn, not to crack walnuts. Continue the soft brush and floss or interdental brushes around the implants; the temporary bridge is cleaned underneath with a water flosser or the superfloss shown to you in the clinic. Alcohol in moderation is fine once the antibiotics are finished. Message the coordinator with a photo at the two-week mark whether or not anything is wrong; we like a baseline.
Months 2–6: integration
This is when the implants fuse with bone. There is nothing to feel and nothing to do beyond hygiene. A hygienist visit at home at three months is worthwhile, and the plan tells you when the final bridge or crown is made: on a second short visit, or at home if your plan was completed in one stay. Diabetics keep blood sugar controlled; smokers who have not stopped should know this is the period their risk applies to.
Year 1 and beyond
Implants are checked once a year with an X-ray, by us on a return visit or by your own dentist. Hygienist visits every six months. A night guard if you grind; a fixed bridge takes the force that teeth once absorbed. The crown or bridge typically lasts 10–15 years before renewal, which any dentist can do because the components are standard. Keep the implant passports with your medical records.
When to send a photo today, not tomorrow
- Pain that gets worse after day three instead of better, or that painkillers no longer control.
- Fever, a bad taste or pus, or swelling that grows after day three.
- Bleeding that does not stop with 30 minutes of pressure.
- A temporary bridge or crown that moves, or a screw-access hole that opens.
- Numbness or tingling that persists.
The route is always the same: WhatsApp the coordinator with a photo, a surgeon replies within hours with instructions, and if a local dentist needs to see you, we tell you what to ask for. Your written guarantee sets out what is repaired and where.
Aftercare for veneers and crowns
No surgery, so no swelling: some sensitivity to cold for a week or two is normal. Avoid very hard or sticky foods for 48 hours after bonding, then eat normally. No nail biting, no opening packets with your teeth, a night guard if you grind. Brush and floss as with natural teeth; veneers do not stain, but the tooth edge next to them can.
Frequently asked questions
What can I eat after dental implants?
Cold soft food on day one, then soft food for the first week: soups, eggs, fish, yoghurt, mashed vegetables. On a fixed temporary bridge stay soft for the first month.
How long does swelling last after implants?
It peaks on day two or three and is mostly gone by day seven. Bruising can take ten days to fade.
Can I fly after dental implant surgery?
Yes, after your post-op check, typically 7–10 days after a single implant and 10–14 after All-on-4.
Do I need antibiotics after implants?
You will usually be prescribed a short course; take all of it as directed and finish it before drinking alcohol.
When can I exercise?
Walking from day one; gym, running and lifting from day seven if healing is normal.
The short version
- Day one: gauze, ice, pills, no rinsing. Days 2–3: peak swelling, start the mouthwash. Week 1: soft food, no gym.
- Month 1: soft food on a temporary bridge, hygiene around the implants, a two-week photo to the coordinator.
- Worsening pain after day three, fever, pus or a loose bridge: send a photo the same day.
Already treated, here or elsewhere, and not sure whether what you are feeling is normal? Send a photo on WhatsApp and a surgeon will tell you. Free.
