One of the big fears our patients often express is the possibility of dental implant pain during, and after, surgery. The good news? Individual dental implants or All-on-4 are unlikely to cause you significant problems.
In this post, we’re here to put your fears to rest. We’ll explain why getting implants won’t cause much discomfort and how to handle any post-surgery pain issues.
Remember, this can be a life-changing surgery that restores your eating, drinking, and speaking requirements. But if you have any immediate questions, please call our specialist dental team for a consultation.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
No. In most cases, it’s not painful as an anaesthetic is administered, so despite having surgery you won’t feel too much discomfort. In fact, at Bexley Dental our principal dentist, Dr. Theo Spyrakis, always takes great efforts to reassure patients ahead of surgery.
Remember, the procedure involves replacing damaged or missing teeth with a metal, screw-like false tooth. In the case of All-on-4, four implants are attached to the jawbone. This ensures patients can regain full confidence in their day-to-day life.
So, how painful is the dental implant procedure? It’s almost pain-free, although you may feel some hurt due to the pressure being applied. A local anaesthetic makes it highly unlikely you’ll feel any discomfort.
Explaining Post-Surgery Dental Implant Pain
After a dental implant operation, when the anaesthetic wears off, you may begin to feel some discomfort. Remember, this is perfectly normal and something the vast majority of patients deal with—you’ll be having surgery, so it’s natural to have post-operation problems.
The range of your discomfort differs from one person to the next. You may experience:
- Mild discomfort
- A dull ache
- More noticeable issues
For example, there’s a chance for a few days after your surgery, you may experience pain in your gums. Many patients report this while their body adjusts to the change. It’s important to remain patient during this time, as the pain will subside and usually within a week after your surgery.
In most cases, you’re looking at between five to seven days for dental implants pain to go away. Some patients report a recovery of three days! The actual recovery time post-surgery is specific to each person.
Importance of Aftercare for Dental Pain Recovery
At Bexley Dental, we explain your post-implant oral hygiene routine (aftercare, as it’s called) to follow and this can help to speed up your return to normal. Our advice for this is to focus on:
- Keeping the implant area clean and using mouthwash to assist with good oral hygiene
- Avoiding strenuous activities such as exercise
- Not drinking alcohol or smoking (as we highlighted earlier)
- Not touching the implant
- Not using straws
- Avoiding wearing dentures
In short, you should focus on letting your body heal while also keeping your mouth clean.
How to Relieve Pain From a Dental Implant
There are techniques to follow that can help with pain management. The best pain relief after dental implants can include methods such as:
- Consuming soft foods (soup or smoothie are an excellent choice)
- Avoiding eating crunch or hard foods
- Avoiding smoking
- Not drinking alcohol
- Using a salt water rinse (this may help to reduce swelling)
- Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers
- Placing an ice pack on a painful area
- Have regular rest to allow your body to heal
At Bexley Dental, we endorse the above steps. They can take the edge off your post-surgery pain but, do remember, they may not completely stop all discomfort.
What to Do if Dental Implant Pain Doesn’t Go Away
Dental implant pain after 10 days should have gone. However, in the event this isn’t the case this is when you need to contact your dentist. Especially if you:
- Aches in your mouth or jaw get worse
- Pain medication doesn’t help
- There’s bleeding or swelling
This could be a sign of infection, instability, or nerve damage. Returning to see your dentist will identify the issue rapidly and find a resolution.
Bexley Dental Offers Pain-Free Procedures
At our cutting-edge clinic, we offer a friendly and welcoming environment to help you feel at home. Our expert team, headed by the highly experienced and renowned Dr. Theo Spyrakis, ensures dental implants pain is kept to a minimum.
To enquire about this life-changing treatment, you can contact us today for a consultation. We’ll be happy to talk you through the procedure, potential problems, and how implants can transform your lifestyle.
