My Approach

What to do

• Apply ice to your cheek (20 min on / 20 min off) in the first 24 hours to limit swelling.
• Eat soft, cool foods: yogurt, mashed vegetables, lukewarm soup (not hot).
• Rinse gently with warm salt water after the first 24 hours.
• Take prescribed medications on schedule, even if you feel no pain.
• Attend the follow-up appointment — bone integration takes about 2–6 months.

What to avoid

• Do not smoke for at least 2 weeks — smoking disrupts bone healing.
• Do not rinse vigorously or spit in the first 24 hours (the blood clot protects the site).
• Avoid hard, crunchy or very hot foods for the first few days.
• Do not press on the implant area with your tongue or finger.
• Do not skip check-ups — early detection of issues prevents implant failure.

What to do

• Drink plenty of water and maintain your usual oral hygiene routine.
• Use sensitivity toothpaste if your dentist recommends it.
• Choose light-coloured foods: chicken, fish, rice, bananas — for the first 48 hours.
• Apply remineralising gel as directed if it was prescribed.

What to avoid

• Avoid coffee, tea, red wine and fizzy drinks for at least 48 hours.
• Do not smoke for the first 48 hours — nicotine stains faster after whitening.
• Avoid intensely coloured foods (beetroot, tomato sauce, turmeric).
• Do not use mouthwashes with dyes or high alcohol content during this period.

What to do

• Floss daily — including around the crown, at the gum margin.
• Brush gently at the crown base with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Attend annual check-ups to verify integrity and marginal fit.
• Report any persistent sensitivity or bite discomfort promptly.

What to avoid

• Do not bite directly into very hard foods (unshelled nuts, ice) — they can fracture ceramic.
• Do not use crowned or veneered teeth to open packaging.
• Avoid untreated bruxism — discuss a night guard with your dentist.
• Do not ignore sensitivity that appears a few days after cementation.

What to do

• Brush twice daily and floss every day, starting the same evening.
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash if recommended by your dentist.
• Drink water and avoid intensely coloured foods for 24 hours if airflow was performed.
• Schedule professional cleaning every 6 months to prevent tartar build-up.

What to avoid

• Do not eat hard or hot foods immediately if your gums feel sensitive.
• Do not skip brushing if teeth feel touch-sensitive — sensitivity subsides in 2–3 days.
• Do not smoke immediately after the procedure.
• Do not delay cleaning: untreated tartar leads to periodontitis.

What to do

• Use implant-specific dental floss (superfloss, threaded floss) or a water flosser daily under the restoration margin.
• Brush gently with a soft-bristled or sonic electric toothbrush, including around the gum at the implant site.
• Attend scheduled check-ups (every 6 months) — the dentist will verify bone levels and restoration integrity with X-rays.
• Report any crown mobility, chewing discomfort or swelling around the implant immediately.
• Maintain daily hygiene with the same care as a natural tooth — tartar can accumulate on prosthetic surfaces too.

What to avoid

• Do not force extremely hard foods (unshelled nuts, ice) — they can crack the crown ceramic.
• Do not neglect interproximal hygiene — peri-implantitis (infection of tissues around the implant) is primarily caused by unremoved bacterial plaque.
• Do not smoke — smoking reduces gingival vascularisation and increases long-term peri-implantitis risk.
• Do not skip periodic radiographic check-ups — minor bone loss is detectable on X-rays before becoming symptomatic.

What to do

• Take recommended analgesics as instructed — they work best taken preventively.
• Chew on the opposite side until the final crown is fitted.
• Maintain normal oral hygiene — endodontically treated teeth are more brittle and need crown protection.
• Return on the scheduled date to complete the restoration — a treated tooth without a crown can fracture.

What to avoid

• Do not ignore pain that worsens after 72 hours — it may indicate a complication.
• Do not chew hard foods on treated teeth before the crown is placed.
• Do not skip the final restoration — root canal treatment without a crown is not a long-term solution.
• Do not delay follow-up if the temporary filling falls out or cracks.