The thought of going through a surgical procedure is enough to send us into panic mode, particularly when it’s about our teeth. Since dental implants require (minor) surgery, it is easy to understand why many people are averse to the procedure and anticipate the pain it can cause.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
One of the biggest reasons people have apprehension about dental implant surgery is what they read on the internet. A quick Google search will show you plenty of pictures of holes drilled into the gums, which might look quite scary. However, this should not be a reason to get anxious because the procedure isn’t as painful as it looks on the internet.
During the placement of a dental implant, the dentist places a small cut in the gums to drill one or more titanium implants in the bone under the gums. While this sounds like a pain-inducing process, the fact is that as patients are given local anaesthesia, they don’t feel any pain during the surgery. However, recovery may include some pain that can last 2-5 days but can be easily managed with medication.
On a scale of 1 to 10, with one representing little discomfort and 10 being unbearable pain, a healthy adult experienced a pain level between two to three in the first 24 hours. Over-the-counter medications like Panadol or Neurofen should help to relieve whatever little discomfort you feel in the first 24 to 48 hours.
The pain you experience after dental implants is not due to holes drilled in the gums or the placement of implants. The pain generally comes when the soft tissues are manipulated during the process. This means that implants that do not require any lifting of the gum tissues are usually less painful, with patients experiencing a little discomfort. However, if a small flap of gum tissue is lifted, there may be slight discomfort for the first night.
How Long Does the Pain Last?
Discomfort or pain following a successful dental implant is temporary if everything heals properly. The pain usually lasts from 3 to 5 days, and you may require to take pain relief medication for a couple of days. Apart from this, you might get some swelling, bruising and jaw stiffness lasting two-five days following the procedure.
How To Manage the Pain After Dental Implant Procedure?
As your dentists, we provide instructions for proper care after surgery to manage and reduce discomfort. Post-procedure care includes:
- Prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers.
- Avoiding hard and hot foods
- Apply ice packs to bring down the swelling
- Rest on the day of the procedure
What to Do If There’s Pain After 2 Weeks of Dental Implant?
The pain usually subsides by the second week; however, if it lingers for more than two weeks, you should contact us for further investigation.
If you have any questions about dental implants, contact Totally Teeth today.
