Mention dental implant surgery, and people get nervous. It is technically surgery, after all. The mere thought of any kind of surgery can raise some people’s anxiety levels. That’s probably why the number one question we get is this: Does dental implant surgery hurt? Not really. Relax. It’s really not that big of a deal — at least when it comes to pain. Here’s why and what to expect from dental implant surgery.
Most of our dental implant patients report that dental implant surgery doesn’t hurt — discomfort is minimal. There can be some pain after the initial treatment, but the pain is manageable, and we can give you some extra strength painkillers to keep you comfortable.
Dental Implant Process
Dental implant surgery tends to be a process that’s done over the course of several months — unless of course you get same day dental implants. But you need to have a healthy jawbone and meet other oral health criteria in order to be a good candidate for same day dental implants.
First, we’ll make an incision into the gum. Then the dental implant is surgically placed into the jawbone and held in place with a screw. This allows the implant to replace the root of the original tooth.
Once we’ve placed the implant, we’ll suture the gums using stitches. Then we’ll wait for the jawbone to heal so that the implant fuses into your jawbone. We’ll place a temporary tooth crown to allow you to eat and talk normally as we wait for the implant to fuse.
Once the implant is healed, we need to place an abutment on the implant. This forms an extension of the implant metal post and provides the base for the new tooth. We’ll make an impression of the abutment that we’ll use to create the crown to restore the tooth.
When the restoration is complete, you’ll visit us again where we’ll place the crown and finish the dental implant.
Will the Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?
Drilling screws into your mouth sounds painful, right? Don’t worry. We have a number of sedation options for oral surgery available that will keep you comfortable throughout the entire process. Dental implant surgery really can be painless. All you’ll feel is the initial pinch as we apply the pain remedy.
You shouldn’t feel pain during the surgery, especially if it is done with healthy tissue. In fact, the bone where the implant is placed doesn’t have any pain sensitive nerves.
Some Pain May Be Experienced During Recovery
You may experience some degree of discomfort in the days following dental implant surgery. You feel discomfort in the chin, cheeks, or underneath the eyes. There may be some degree of bruising of the skin and gums, pain at the implant site, and minor bleeding. But the pain should be manageable, and we can give you a prescription that will help.
Following dental implant surgery, you may need to apply an ice pack to ease the swelling. You should plan on eating soft foods such as soups, yogurt, and spaghetti for a few days following the surgery.
We suggest you rinse your mouth with warm salt water periodically in the days following the dental implant surgery. This will bathe and soothe the tissues and will offer additional relief.
If You Are Feeling Pain Weeks After Surgery, Call Us!
This is a sign that something is wrong with your dental implant surgery. Give us a call. We’ll need to get you in and examine your mouth to determine the cause of discomfort and find a treatment plan.
Pain for weeks after dental implant surgery is usually caused by an infection in the treatment site. This is rare, but happens occasionally. We can help control any infections with antibiotics.
