For many patients, the prospect of dental implant pain presents a barrier to receiving treatment. We know how much toothache can hurt and how intensely people experience tooth sensitivity and we’re pleased to let you know that the discomfort associated with the dental implant procedure is completely manageable for most people.
Dental implant pain: Do Dental Implants Hurt?
For most patients, implants can be embedded with very little discomfort. This is because your dentist will numb the area of your mouth that he or she is getting to work on.
In order to place your dental implants, your dentist has to cut into your gum to get to the bone below it and this is done with the help of local anaesthetic. It is normal to experience slight to moderate discomfort after the procedure once the anaesthetic has worn off, but many people find they can actually go right back to work after a straightforward single implant.
Dental implant pain: What Sort Of Side Effects Can You Expect?
When the anaesthetic has worn off, you might find the area around your implant to be tender and bruised. There could be some swelling present and a little bleeding as well. Not everyone has the same pain threshold though, so what might not be painful for one person may be painful for another.
Your dentist will probably recommend a painkiller in the event that you do want some relief. Sometimes a little discomfort is good though because it is a sign that your body is healing and recovering from your dental implant surgery. Your dentist will ask you to monitor your recovery in the days following treatment and will probably request to see you for a checkup in the week after the placement.
Dental implant pain: How Long Can You Expect To Feel Discomfort For?
Most discomfort lasts around 7 to 10 days after your dental implant surgery. By the tenth day after the surgery, you should have almost fully recovered at the site, and looking forward to a period of osseointegration.
Any pain, swelling, bruising or discomfort that is still present or just starts 14 days after the surgery should be reported to your dental practitioner immediately. This could be is a sign that you have developed an infection.
Pain that only begins three to four months after the dental implant procedure also needs to be investigated. There are a number of reasons you could start feeling pain at this stage ranging from an infection to implant failure, and these all need to be considered.
What Could Cause Dental Implant Pain?
While people all respond differently to pain, an extremely painful experience is typically an indication that there is an issue to be addressed.
If you do have a bone graft or sinus lift before your implant, these are complex procedures that can make you a little more sensitive than if you just had the dental implant placed.
If you just had a single, straightforward implant, intense pain could be attributed to:
An unstable implant
If your dental implants were placed in bone that is not thick enough to support them, they can become loose and result in pain. The quality of your dental implants should also be considered.
An infection
It is possible for an infection to develop at the site of the implant. This is why it is essential that you follow your dentist’s care instructions and practice impeccable dental hygiene.
Your body has rejected the implant
During the process of osseointegration your body needs to incorporate the implant by growing more bone tissue around it. In some cases this does not occur. This means that the implant does not embed securely in the jaw, and will loosen, possibly causing more discomfort.
While this is unusual, it can happen. It is important that you discuss your eligibility for dental implants with your dentist, and ask about the condition of your jaw if your dentist does not bring it up. Typically patients who do not have enough jaw need to have a bone graft first, but you should raise this with your dental practitioner.
Damage to nerves or soft tissue
It can happen that the dentist’s drill or the heat from the drill gets too close to the nerve and causes some degree of damage.
How To Manage Dental Implant Discomfort
Implant pain is manageable and many people find they are able to get through it without medication. In the event that you find it too much, your dentist will prescribe medication for the first day or two after the procedure.
If bruising or swelling occurs, a cold damp compress can reduce it. Rinsing your mouth intermittently with warm salt water helps to keep the area clean and can also assist with low-level pain management.
Follow your dentist’s hygiene instructions about brushing and flossing. You will probably need to brush and floss three times a day after your procedure but your dentist may advise you not to brush around your dental implants on the day of your procedure. Avoid hard foods and do not chew on the side of your mouth that was worked on.
A critical thing to remember is the more you eliminate controllable elements of discomfort, the easier it ill be. For example a lot of people prefer getting a dental implant from Bangkok, Bali etc. as the prices are up to a third cheaper. However it has more challenges than you can expect leading to an uncomfortable dental implant.
For more dental implant pain management strategies it’s always best to speak to a professional. Contact our Hornsby dentists for the closest available appointment: 02 94761211
