Dental implants are tiny screw-like metal posts made of titanium or zirconia that dentists put to a patient’s jaw bone through surgery. They aim to support replacement or artificial teeth by acting as their roots. You may consider this dental treatment if you have lost one or more teeth due to tooth damage, injury or accident. But if you have low pain tolerance or dental anxiety, you may wonder if you can feel severe dental implant pain.
Read on to learn more.
Can You Feel Pain With Dental Implants?
Dental implant surgery is not painful because dentists use local anaesthetics to numb the area. Sometimes, they use sedation on patients with dental fear or who have a low pain threshold. However, some patients may feel pressure during the procedure but no excruciating pain. After the anaesthesia wears off hours after surgery, you may experience some soreness and mild pain in your gums and jaw. This is normal and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications or a prescription from your dentist. The discomfort usually resolves within a few days.
Lessening Tooth Implant Pain: Top Helpful Tips
The following are aftercare tips you can consider to reduce tooth implant pain:
- When you get home after your dental implant surgery, apply an ice pack to the area for about 10 or 20 minutes at a time. Repeat this every few hours for the first day or two.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and paracetamol to help with any discomfort.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when cleaning your teeth to avoid irritating your gums.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times daily to reduce swelling and pain.
- Avoid hard and crunchy foods for the first few days after your surgery. Instead, stick to soft foods like soup, mashed potatoes, yoghurt, etc.
- Call your dentist immediately if you experience severe implant pain that does not go away with home care. You may need a different medication or have an infection.
- Don’t use a straw when drinking because this can dislodge the blood clot that forms around your implant, making it more painful.
- Avoid hot foods or beverages for the first few days, as they can cause gum sensitivity, thus giving you pain.
What Can Be Expected During The Healing Process?
Your healing time starts right after your dental implant surgery until the time your implant has completely fused to your bone. Here’s a typical timeline:
- 24 to 48 hours after the dental implant procedure.
At this point, you will experience some swelling, bruising and mild bleeding. The discomfort after surgery is manageable with over-the-counter painkillers and ice pack applications. While some people can return to work or school, it’s best to give yourself sufficient time to rest to help reduce potential complications. - 3 to 5 days after the dental implant procedure.
The swelling, bruising and bleeding should start to go down. Also, you may see white or yellow discharge on your gauze when you bite down. This is normal and just pus coming out of the surgery site. Make sure to change your gauze regularly to keep the area clean. - 1 week after the dental implant procedure.
By now, the numbness should be gone, and you shouldn’t have much pain left, or there is only slight pain. However, your gums may still be tender when you brush or floss around the area. Also, if your dentist uses dissolvable stitches, they will start to fall out on their own. Otherwise, you need to return to your dentist to remove your sutures. - 2 weeks after the dental implant procedure.
By this time, your gums should be back to normal, and any pain or tenderness should be gone. A vast majority of patients can also go back to their normal daily activities comfortably but make sure to use protective gear if you play sports. - 3 to 6 months after the dental implant procedure.
This is when osseointegration occurs, the process of your implant fusing to your jaw bone. Once it has fully healed, your dentist will place your replacement teeth, and you can start using them to chew and bite just like your natural teeth.
When Should I Expect The Pain To Go Away?
You can expect to feel pain for about 3 to 7 days after your procedure. As the days go by, the pain level starts to lessen until it eventually goes away. However, some people may experience severe pain for up to 2 weeks after surgery. If this happens, call your dentist as soon as possible, as you may have an infection or another complication.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants are metal posts made of bio-compatible materials that are surgically inserted into the jawbone to act as a root for a dental crown, bridge or dentures. This treatment is ideal for those who have lost their teeth and whose quality of life is affected by this. The surgery is not painful, as anaesthesia or sedatives will be used, but some may experience mild discomfort. Pain after the effects of anesthetics wear off may be manageable by pain medications and some home remedies, whatever the level of pain.
If you are considering this surgical procedure to help you achieve a more beautiful smile, speak to us by dialling our number 08 6185 0200.
Ellen Sterling Dental is equipped with advanced technology to provide favourable results to dental implant patients. We have a team of dentists with many years of experience providing this oral surgery. When you come to our clinic, one of them will assess your eligibility and take time to discuss the procedure, including what you should expect. At this time, we can also provide you with an accurate estimate of the costs of the treatment.
FAQs
If you have a good overall oral health condition, you may be a good candidate for this treatment. This means you have sufficient jaw bone to support the implant, no active gum disease, tooth decay and other dental problems, and you should be old enough that all your teeth have stopped growing. Also, you must not have a medical condition or take medications that can affect your healing, resulting in implant failure. However, in some cases, you can still have this procedure after your dentist addresses your issues, including performing a bone graft and extraction.
The recovery varies from person to person but on average. You can expect to be fully recovered 5 or 6 months after your surgery.
In general, this dental procedure can help you regain your confidence and restore your natural teeth’s function. They replace your missing tooth or teeth so you can smile more often. Because they can provide strong support to your replacement teeth, you can chew and speak like you used to. Also, with proper care, they can last up to 25 years or more.
The possible risks of dental implants include post-op infection, damage to the surrounding teeth and blood vessels, nerve damage and sinus problems. In some cases, the implant may not fuse to your jawbone correctly, leading to implant failure and will have to be removed. There is also a chance that you may experience persistent pain and swelling weeks after the surgery.
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