Look after your new smile

Congratulations on taking the exciting step toward your new smile with Dr Geoff Gordon and the team here at Portlethen Dental Care! Whether you had a single implant or walked out with a brand-new set of same day implants, the minor surgical part is over. Now, your main job is to rest and let your body heal.

We want your recovery to be as smooth and comfortable as possible. This guide covers everything you need to know about the next few days.

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Immediately after surgery: The first 24 hours

  • Bite on the gauze: If we have placed a gauze pad over the area, keep biting firmly on it for about 20 to 30 minutes. If bleeding starts again later, place a fresh, damp gauze pad (or a clean, damp handkerchief) over the area and bite firmly for another 20 minutes.
  • Protect the blood clot: Please do not spit forcefully, suck through a straw, or touch the surgical area with your tongue or fingers. This keeps the protective blood clot in place so your gums can heal.
  • Take it easy: Avoid any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting today. Keep your head elevated with an extra pillow when resting.
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Keeping your mouth clean

Keeping the area clean is vital for protecting your implant, but you must be gentle! Good cleaning in the long term will help prevent build-up in the surrounding gum and bone.

  • The first 24 hours: Do not rinse your mouth today.
  • From day 2 onwards: Start gently rinsing your mouth with warm, salty water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) 4 to 5 times a day, especially after eating.
  • Brushing: Keep brushing your other teeth normally, but be incredibly gentle around the surgical site. Do not use an electric toothbrush directly on the implant site until we tell you it’s safe to do so.

Managing comfort and swelling

It is completely normal to experience some mild discomfort, swelling, or minor bruising once the local anaesthetic wears off.

  • Pain relief: Don’t wait for the numbness to completely wear off before taking your first dose of pain relief. Simple over-the-counter options like paracetamol or ibuprofen work well. Just take them exactly as directed on the packet.
  • Reduce swelling: Swelling usually peaks about 48 hours after surgery. You can wrap an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and gently hold it against your cheek for 10 minutes at a time to keep it down.

Eating and drinking

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  • Avoid hot drinks initially: Stick to cool or lukewarm liquids until your numbness wears off so you don’t accidentally burn your mouth.
  • Soft diet: For the first few days, stick to soft, nutritious foods that require minimal chewing (think smoothies, soups, scrambled eggs, yogurt, pasta, or mashed potatoes).
  • Chew on the other side: Try to avoid chewing directly on the implant site while it heals.

Review appointments

Please remember to come to your review appointments. We will see you every 6 months for the first year, and then annually for up to 3 years. These check-ups make sure everything is healing properly and functioning as it should.

You should also avoid excess pressure on your dental implants. We can talk to you about what to watch out for, but essentially, the most important factor is to give your implants time to heal, especially during those first 3-4 months. By following our after-care advice, you protect your investment and keep your implant strong. In addition, we offer a 3-year guarantee for your complete peace of mind.

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Your personalised recovery checklist

Because every smile and surgery is unique, Dr Gordon has tailored your specific recovery instructions below. Please follow the checked options:

  • Antibiotic coverage: Please complete the full course of your prescribed antibiotics.
  • Allergy alternative: If you have an allergy to antibiotics, and you have been prescribed an alternative. Please take as directed until finished.
  • Swelling control (Steroids): If we feel steroid medication is required for your recovery, please take the prescribed tablets strictly according to the schedule on the packet to help manage swelling.
  • Implant position & sinus care: If your implant is in the lower jaw or front teeth. No special positional care is needed.

If it’s placed in the upper back teeth, you may have been informed that sinus care is required. This is because your implant is near your sinus cavity, take extra care for the next 10–14 days. Do not blow your nose hard (gently wipe instead), sneeze with your mouth open to prevent pressure buildup, and avoid using straws or playing wind instruments.

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What to avoid

  • Smoking and vaping: Please avoid smoking or vaping for at least 2 weeks after surgery (longer is even better!). The chemicals and heat significantly slow down your blood flow, which drastically increases the risk of the implant failing.
  • Alcohol: Avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours, especially while taking any prescription pain relief or antibiotics.

When to give us a call

While minor swelling, bruising, and a little oozing are totally normal, please call the clinic right away on 01224 781 776 if you experience:

  • Severe pain that over-the-counter medications aren’t touching.
  • Heavy, continuous bleeding that doesn’t slow down after biting on a gauze pad.
  • Swelling that continues to get worse after 3 days.
  • A high temperature or fever.

Our team is always here to support you and ensure you get the absolute best long-term outcome for your investment!

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Hear what our patients say

Many thanks to Geoff and his team for their unfailing kindness, professionalism and expertise over the last three years. I developed the utmost confidence that Geoff would overcome whatever problems my failing teeth presented. With my new set of implants I can now bite, chew, smile and talk forgetting all about my teeth for the first time in years. The old idiom of “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” comes to mind. Heartfelt thanks to Geoff for getting me to this stage.

Eleanor Davies

I had implant placement surgery. Dr Gordon was professional and procedure was explained very clearly. I was very relaxed during my surgery. All staff at clinic are brilliant.

Smita Kulkarni

I had implants fitted yesterday without any problems. I started my treatment in March it took a while but all had to heal before the big day came I had no pain at any point. I would like to thank all at Portlethen Dental Clinic especially Geoff for giving me my smile back and for being a great Dentist. I would definitely recommend them for all treatment. It was an expensive procedure but well worth the money.

David Carter

Travelled by Ferry and took the number 8 bus. Arrived early at the clinic and had the most thorough session with Dental hygienist prior to Dr Geoffrey carrying out two extractions and placing 3 implants. The procedure was for six teeth to be supported on 3 implant. It was a wonderful experience witnessing Dr Geoffrey lead his team into such well coordinated procedures involving bone augmentation if and where needed. While in the chair Dr Geoff at all times ensured a pain free experience. A removable temporary denture was moulded to ensure the smile until crowns to be fitted after approximately three months. I was given most clear ‘After Care’ instructions’ including medicines to be taken for a few days. We walked out and took the 8X bus back to union square and shopping before sailing home at 5pm. Many thanks to all the Staff. It is a very relaxing experience from Reception onwards and Dr Geoffrey very clearly answered any questions that I had. looking forward to next visit.

Gordon Kynoch

As a relatively new patient with Portlethen Dental Care, I would like to say how happy I am that I moved practice. This being due to my old dentist not being able to remove the root of a tooth badly infected by an abscess. I was very apprehensive about going to a new dentist (as I’m a bit of a coward) but that soon went away when I met Geoff. Straight away he was very reassuring & understanding but more importantly I felt confident in his ability, so much so that I decided to leave the practice I had been with for over 50 years. Since becoming a patient I’ve had a tooth implant & would wholeheartedly recommend a visit to speak to Geoff if this is something you are thinking of doing. His knowledge & skill in this field is fantastic. I’ve just recently had 6 veneers replaced & I’m beyond happy with my them. I can smile with the confidence that my teeth look so good. The best decision I’ve made this year.

Paula Gordon

Frequently asked questions

  • While your gums will feel mostly back to normal within 1 to 2 weeks, the deep healing under the surface takes a bit longer. Your jawbone needs anywhere from 3 to 6 months to fuse securely with the implant in a natural process called osseointegration (bone bonding). Once this bond is rock-solid, your implant will be ready to support your permanent new teeth.

    • Work: Most patients can comfortably return to work the very next day. If your procedure was more complex or you had sedation, you might want to take 2 to 3 days off to fully rest.
    • Exercise: Please skip the gym, running, or any strenuous physical activity for the first 3 to 4 days. Getting your heart rate up too soon can cause the implant site to throb, increase swelling, or restart minor bleeding.
    • If a metal healing cap is visible: Yes, this is completely normal! Dr Gordon often places a small metal cap (a healing abutment) over the implant to help shape your gums while they heal. It might look like a tiny metal button sitting at the gum line.
    • If the implant itself feels loose: The metal cap or a temporary tooth might occasionally feel slightly loose, but if you feel the actual implant moving underneath, please give us a call right away so we can take a look.

  • You should absolutely keep brushing your other teeth as normal to keep your mouth clean! For the first week, just be incredibly gentle when approaching the implant area. Use a manual toothbrush with soft bristles rather than an electric one and avoid scrubbing the stitches. Instead, let the warm, salty water rinses do the heavy cleaning around the surgical site.

  • We typically use dissolvable stitches that will soften and fall out on their own, usually within 7 to 14 days. If a stitch comes loose a little earlier (say, around day 5 or 6) and you aren’t experiencing any pain or bleeding, there is no need to worry. However, if they come out within the first 48 hours, give us a call so we can check that the gum edges are still sitting comfortably.

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