Bone Grafting & Sinus Lift Aftercare
For: Bone Grafting, Sinus Augmentation
Stage: After a bone graft or sinus lift, while the graft heals
How to protect a bone graft while it heals. If you had a sinus lift, the sinus precautions below are just as important.
Questions about your recovery? Call the office where you were treated.
The Most Important Things to Do
- Do not disturb the graft. Do not pull your lip to look, and keep your tongue and fingers off the area.
- Do not chew on the graft site. Eat soft foods on the other side.
- Do not smoke or vape while you heal. Smoking greatly lowers the chance of a graft taking well.
- No straws and no forceful spitting for the first few days.
- If you had a sinus lift: do not blow your nose, and sneeze with your mouth open. See the sinus precautions below.
When to Call Us
- Bleeding that is still heavy after an hour of firm, steady pressure.
- Pain or swelling that gets worse after the third day instead of better.
- A fever, pus, or a bad taste that does not go away.
- More than a few graft granules coming out, or stitches coming loose early.
- After a sinus lift: a nosebleed that will not stop, graft granules coming from your nose, air or liquid passing between your mouth and nose, or sinus pressure that keeps building.
- Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue that has not worn off by the next day.
- A rash, itching or other reaction after taking a medicine.
If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling that spreads toward your eye or down your neck, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What Is Normal Today
- Slight oozing of blood for the first day. Pink saliva is expected.
- A few small, sand-like granules in your mouth over the first days. A small amount of loose graft material is normal.
- Swelling and possibly bruising that build over the first two to three days, then fade.
- After a sinus lift: mild congestion and a small amount of blood from the nose on that side for a day or two.
- If you were sedated, do not drive, sign important papers or operate machinery for at least 24 hours, or longer if you were told so at your visit. Have a responsible adult take you home and stay with you.
Your Recovery, Day by Day
First 24 Hours
- Rest with your head raised on an extra pillow. Use an ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, while you are awake.
- No rinsing, no spitting, no straws, and no hot foods or drinks.
Days 2 to 3
- Begin the gentle rinses you were given. Swelling is usually at its peak now.
First Weeks
- Keep to soft foods on the other side and follow the sinus precautions if they apply to you.
Healing Period
- The graft becomes solid bone over a period of months. We will tell you when the area is ready for the next step.
Eating & Drinking
- Wait until the numbness has fully worn off before eating.
- Choose soft foods such as yogurt, eggs, pasta, fish and soups that have cooled down.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, seedy and sticky foods, and chew on the other side.
- Drink plenty of water, but not through a straw.
- Avoid alcohol for at least the first 24 hours, and for as long as you are taking prescription pain medicine.
Cleaning & Activity
- Brush your other teeth normally. Do not brush the graft site until you were told to start.
- Use the prescribed rinse or warm salt water exactly as instructed. Let it fall out of your mouth instead of spitting.
- Do not wear a removable denture or partial over the graft unless we have told you it is fine.
- Rest for the rest of the day. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for the first few days.
Sinus Lift Precautions
- Do not blow your nose until we tell you it is safe. Wipe it gently instead.
- Sneeze with your mouth open to avoid pressure building in the sinus.
- Avoid anything that creates pressure or suction: straws, smoking, playing wind instruments, and heavy lifting or straining.
- Do not fly or scuba dive until we have said it is safe.
- Use any decongestant or nasal spray only if it was recommended at your visit.
Medication
- Take pain medicine exactly as directed at your visit, whether it was prescribed or over the counter.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic or a medicated rinse, use every dose as directed until it is finished.
- Prescription pain medicine can make you drowsy. Do not drive or drink alcohol while taking it.
Where anything here differs from what you were told at your visit, follow the specific instructions you were given at your visit.
Swelling & Discomfort
- Ice during the first 24 hours helps limit swelling. After 48 hours, a warm, moist cloth can ease stiffness, unless you were told otherwise.
- After a sinus lift, swelling and bruising may reach the cheek or under the eye on that side. This is normal and fades.
- Discomfort should improve a little each day.
Follow-Up Visits
- Keep your post-surgery check so we can see how the area is healing and remove stitches if needed.
- We will check the graft again before any implant is placed, and let you know when the area is ready.
Last revised
Questions about your recovery? Call the office where you were treated.