Aftercare
Dental implant aftercare, day by day
What to expect in the hours, days and months after implant surgery in Tirana, how to fly home safely, and which symptoms mean you should contact us straight away.
Key takeaways
- • Swelling peaks around day two to three and settles within a week.
- • Most patients fly home 48 hours after surgery without any problem.
- • Healing to the final crown normally takes three to four months.
What to expect, step by step
First 24 hours
Rest and protect the clot
Bite gently on the gauze for the first hour, keep your head raised, use cold packs 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off, and stay with cool soft food. Do not rinse, spit or use a straw.
Day 2 to 3
Peak swelling
Swelling and mild bruising are normal and now at their worst. Start warm salt-water rinses after meals, take the painkillers exactly as prescribed and finish any antibiotics.
Day 2 onwards
Flying home
We ask patients to stay in Tirana for at least 48 hours after surgery so we can review the site before you travel. Cabin pressure does not harm implants; take your painkillers and drink water on the flight.
Week 1 to 2
Stitches and normal food
Discomfort fades and most patients are back to normal routine. Dissolvable stitches disappear within two weeks; if yours need removing, any local dentist can do it in five minutes.
Month 3 to 4
Osseointegration and the final crown
The implant fuses with the bone. On your second trip we take impressions and fit the final crown, bridge or full arch, usually in three to five working days.
Do this
- Sleep with an extra pillow for the first three nights.
- Brush the other teeth as normal from day one.
- Rinse with warm salt water after every meal from day two.
- Keep chewing on the opposite side until we say otherwise.
Avoid this
- No smoking for at least two weeks; it is the biggest cause of implant failure.
- No alcohol while you are taking antibiotics.
- No gym, running or heavy lifting for five days.
- Do not poke the site with your tongue or fingers.
Contact us straight away if
- Bleeding that does not stop after 30 minutes of firm gauze pressure.
- Pain that increases after day three instead of easing.
- Fever, pus or a bad taste that will not clear.
- A healing cap or temporary tooth that comes loose.
Once you are back home
Message the clinic on WhatsApp with a photo. We answer in English and Albanian, and we will tell you whether it can wait until your next visit or needs a local dentist the same day.