Usually, many people worry about toothache and for some, going to the dentist can be very stressful. But it is necessary to remember that if your dental treatment is done by a good dentist, it will usually not be painful and annoying. Many people are unsure about getting dental implants because they worry that it will be painful.
For most dental implant candidates, the big question that often comes up is: Do dental implants hurt? While this procedure is minimally invasive, patients can generally experience some pain after the procedure. But how painful are dental implants? How long does the healing process of dental implants take? Read on to learn more about this procedure and what to expect.
Tooth loss often leads to jawbone destruction, gum recession, weakening of adjacent teeth, and may also deprive people of a smile. Traditionally, the treatment for missing teeth has been the use of dentures and bridges, but dental implants have become increasingly popular. Dental implants are titanium bases that act as fixed or mobile replacement tooth roots.
Dental implant procedures are usually painless, and at the same time, these procedures have many advantages. Although this procedure may be a little uncomfortable, they can help prevent more problems and discomfort that you may be experiencing now or in the future.
You will not feel pain during dental implant surgery. The procedure involves local anesthesia and may include additional sedation or general anesthesia. If you want general anesthesia, you should discuss it with your oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist.
Dental implant procedures include several steps. In the first stage, a surgical fixture is placed. After the implant is placed inside the bone, depending on the upper or lower jaw, a waiting period of 4 months or 3 months is necessary for the fixture to become one with the bone.
Before the operation, the patient is put under local anesthesia to avoid pain and anxiety during the procedure. Most of the patients have pain after the dental implants procedure and the anesthesia drugs wear off. However, such pain can be controlled by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.
As mentioned, dental implant procedures include different stages and the timing may be different among different patients. If you need to replace all the teeth in both jaws, if possible, 8 fixers in the upper jaw and 6 to 8 in the lower jaw will be sufficient.
Usually, patients have a little pain after dental implant surgery. At first, this discomfort may last one to two days. However, some patients may experience discomfort and pain at the implant site for up to 10 days. When the local anesthesia from the procedure wears off, the pain may be more severe. It is possible that the pain is near the dental implant site. Other symptoms you may experience after dental implant surgery include:
As with any surgery, there is a recovery period during which the tissue heals and the body adjusts to the implant. The recovery period for the implant operation depends on the patient’s overall health and the extent of the work being done. In general, if everything goes as it should, pain after a successful dental implant procedure should be temporary. Your pain may continue for 3 to 5 days after the procedure. Also, you may only need pain medication for 1 or 2 days.
It is possible to resume your daily activities the day after the operation, if you wish. You may have swelling, bruising, and jaw stiffness for a longer period of time. These symptoms should also largely disappear 7 to 10 days after surgery.
As with any dental treatment, there are steps and factors that you should be aware of and follow as much as possible after dental implants. Including:
To manage and reduce pain, your oral surgeon will provide instructions for proper post-operative care. Postoperative care may include:
After dental implant surgery, some discomfort in the recovery is normal, and any pain and discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers. Each person’s experience during the recovery period may be different, but usually very little pain is experienced during this period. If, on rare occasions, you experience severe pain, you should seek medical attention and schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist.
While some pain is to be expected and normal after surgery, it should not last more than two weeks. Pain that lasts more than this period probably indicates the presence of a problem and it is recommended to consult your jaw surgeon in this regard. You may also wonder why dental implants hurt even after surgery.
Bruised gums around the implant site often cause this pain. Therefore, every time you brush around the implant site, remember to do so gently. In addition to the pain and bruising of the gums, after dental implant surgery, you may also experience the following for a limited time:
Risks from dental implants are rare, but like any other surgery, they can happen. Such risks may include damage and infection at the implant site. Nerve damage and sinus problems can also occur, and prompt intervention by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can be critical to recovery.
It is not uncommon to experience throbbing pain for a long time after a dental implant procedure. You may feel more severe pain for a few hours after the procedure as the anesthesia wears off, but this should subside with pain medication and time. You may have a complication after the operation that causes additional pain. These should be checked immediately by your oral surgeon or dentist in Canada.