After All-on-4 Procedure
Portland, OR
 The success of dental implants depends heavily on osseointegration, which is a biological process whereby the titanium posts from the implants bond with the jaw bone. Once this happens, the posts will stimulate the jaw bone just like the tooth roots once did. This process normally takes several months to complete after the implant surgery is finished.
The Recovery Period
After the first two weeks, the swelling and pain of the procedure should disappear. However, most people interpret this to mean that the healing period is over and they can bite and chew the way they normally would. But in reality, the first six weeks after the procedure is the most crucial period for osseointegration.
For these reasons, you must take proper care of your new implants following the completion of the All-on-4 procedure. If you don’t, you can compromise the entire implant-to-bone integration process. This can result in the failure of one or more implants, forcing you to start the entire process all over again.
How to Protect Your New Dental Implants
After the surgery, Dr. Jay P. Malmquist will give you explicit written instructions for you to follow to ensure you don’t damage your new implants. Each patient is different, but you can expect to have to observe the following:
~Don’t bite or chew anything hard with your temporary teeth for the first six weeks after the All-on-4 procedure, as this will compromise your implants.
~Avoid spitting, rinsing, or touching the incisions on the day of the surgery so they can heal properly.
~To reduce swelling, use an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes on and off.
~Minimize physical activities during the period immediately after surgery. Stop them completely if you experience throbbing or bleeding when you exercise.
~Stay hydrated by drinking about 64 ounces of water (or eight 8-ounce glasses) each day and only eat soft foods during the day of the surgery. Once Dr. Jay P. Malmquist gives permission, you may return to a regular diet.
~Observe proper dental hygiene by rinsing twice a day with mouthwash and brushing your teeth with a baby toothbrush, taking care to avoid the incisions. Also rinse your mouth out with warm salt water (a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt) 4 to 6 times a day, especially after eating.
It is normal to experience some redness and bleeding in the saliva within 24 hours after the surgery. If the bleeding is excessive, filling up your mouth with blood quickly, place a gauze pad on the bleeding spot, and bite down for 30 minutes. If bleeding persists or if you have any other problems, contact us for further direction. We are dedicated to assisting you through every stage of the process.
All-on-4 is not cheap, so it’s not the type of thing you’ll want to do more than once if you can help it. So act proactively in caring for your dental implants to ensure that they last.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (503) 446-6776. We offer cosmetic and restorative dental procedures like dental implants, implant bridges, bone grafting, and zygomatic implants.
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