If you are interested in replacing your lost teeth with dental implants as quickly as possible, your dentist may have recommended that you undergo All-on-4 treatment. This expedited process can give you a new arch of teeth in as little as one day! However, it still requires a surgery, which naturally comes with a recovery period. What can you expect as you are healing? This blog post provides a brief guide to the All-on-4 recovery process.
The Initial Healing Period
Immediately after surgery, you can expect some soreness, swelling, and bleeding at the incision sites. To minimize discomfort, it is recommended that you:
- Use any prescribed mouth rinses/medications as directed by your oral surgery team.
- Consume a liquid diet until your new teeth have become sturdy enough for solid foods. (Remember, even though your temporary All-on-4 denture may look good, it may be a while before you are healed enough to consume a normal diet.)
- Gently brush the prosthetic teeth and gums, being careful to avoid irritating the incision sites.
- Regularly rinse your mouth with warm salt water to minimize swelling and inflammation.
As You Heal
Most individuals find that they can return to work within a day or two of their All-on-4 operation. However, strenuous physical activity should be avoided for at least 3 – 4 days. As your gums recover, you can start to introduce fork-tender foods (easily cut with the side of a fork) into your diet. This can include items like scrambled eggs, meatloaf, soft breads, and well-cooked vegetables.
It is important to attend all recommended follow-up appointments with your care team so they can monitor the healing process and address any questions or concerns that you may encounter. Although complications are rare with All-on-4, signs of infection or significant pain should prompt immediate medical attention. For example, you should seek help if you experience unusual swelling or redness in your gums, or if your implants start to feel loose.
Getting Your Permanent Teeth
Approximately 3 – 5 months after surgery, a permanent implant denture will replace the provisional one that you received immediately following the All-on-4 surgical procedure. This permanent denture should have an improved fit and appearance and be strong enough to handle most foods, including relatively hard and sticky ones. Adherence to a thorough oral hygiene routine and routine dental checkups a few times each year are necessary. Proper care can make dental implants last a lifetime!
Although All-on-4 can replace a full arch of teeth in a single day, the total process (including recovering from the surgery) can take several months. Be patient, and eagerly look forward to the time when your strong and confident new smile is in place.
Meet the Practice
At Michel Dental in Topeka and Silver Lake, our team is proud to partner with local specialists to provide comprehensive dental implant services, including All-on-4. If you have suffered extensive tooth loss, we would be pleased to answer your questions about this procedure. To request a consultation or learn more about us, give us a call at 785-273-0801.