Are you considering replacing a missing tooth? Healthy teeth and gums are crucial to our smiles and affect how we feel about ourselves and our confidence level. When a tooth is lost, your dentist is likely to suggest replacing it with a dental implant which beggars the question, “how painful are dental implants?”
Dental implants are different to bridges and dentures, although fundamentally, they do the same thing, i.e. replace teeth. Implants involve surgery and healing, so it’s essential to understand what’s involved in the dental implant procedure to understand what pain level you can expect.
How painful are dental implants? Does surgery hurt?
Consider the dental implant procedure as two separate parts – the surgery itself and the healing. Your dentist will place the dental implants into your jawbone by making an incision into the gums to expose the bone.
While this sounds painful, the dentist will first administer a local anaesthetic. The area of your mouth that the dentist is working on will be anaesthetised, so you should feel no discomfort.
Having made the jawbone more accessible, the dentist will drill a hole for the implant. Drilling may also sound painful, but you won’t feel any pain since your jawbone has no nerves.
You may be aware of slight pressure, but you won’t feel any of the drilling. Once the implant is securely in place, the gums will be closed with sutures. The surgery should take no more than an hour for a single implant.
All the time the anaesthetic is in effect, you will feel no pain whatsoever. However, your dentist may give you some pain medication before commencing the surgery so that when the anaesthetic wears off, you have some pain relief, just in case. Now the healing process begins.
What you can expect during the healing period?
Your mouth and gums are likely to feel tender once the anaesthetic wears off. However, most patients can manage any discomfort with over the counter painkillers. It is essential, though, that you follow all the post-surgery aftercare points given to you by your dentist. These may include the following:
- If you have been prescribed antibiotics, be sure to complete the course
- Expect some swelling for the first couple of days
- Switch to a liquid diet for 24-48 hours
- Do not drink through a straw for 24 hours following your surgery
- The day after your dental implants surgery, rinse your mouth with salt water three to four times a day
- Avoid smoking for at least three days, but even better, quit altogether
Healing and recovery are different for everyone. However, the consensus is that you should experience no pain during the dental implant procedure and little during the recovery.
If you are experiencing pain, particularly several days later, you should seek medical advice or schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist. Most of our patients consider any pain related to dental implants significantly less than having a tooth extraction.
Hopefully, the above has answered the question of “how painful are dental implants?” but are they right for you? Let’s take a closer look.
Should you consider dental implants?
If you have been mulling over the idea of getting dental implants, the first step is to talk to your dentist. They can explain the dental implant procedure in more depth and run through aftercare instructions. They can also inform you of cost comparisons between dental implants and other replacement solutions.
Dental implants aren’t suitable for everyone right away. You may find you need additional treatments beforehand, such as a bone graft to improve bone quality and abundance, or in the case of dental implants in your upper jaw, a sinus lift may be necessary to make room for the implants.
Patients that have worn dentures for many years may find they need additional treatments to improve bone quality. Unfortunately, dentures do not address the bone loss that occurs when teeth are missing. Insufficient bone is a common reason for candidates not being immediately eligible for dental implants.
Some serious medical problems can also prevent an individual from having dental implants. If they do go ahead with the dental implant procedure, there’s a higher risk of implant failure.
Uncontrolled diabetes, for example, raises the chance of complications such as infection and can also cause wounds to take longer to heal. Other health issues that could prevent dental implants or cause complications include:
- Thyroid problems
- Bone cancer
- Blood diseases
- Undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy
During an initial consultation, along with a thorough oral examination, x-rays and 3D scans will be used to ascertain if implants are right for you. Even if you are not an eligible candidate right away, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have implants at a later date.
Your dentist can initiate a treatment plan that includes tooth extraction, bone grafts or sinus lifts to prepare an area for an implant.
How painful are dental implants? The conclusion
It’s natural to feel scared about any surgery. You may feel worried about cutting, drilling, or having sutures, but at the end of the day, you should feel no pain during implant surgery and only slight discomfort during the recovery period. Remember, your mouth will be numb throughout surgery and painkillers such as Ibuprofen should help you manage any pain following surgery.
If you’re considering dental implants to replace one, several, or all of your teeth, why not schedule an implant consultation with the friendly, experienced team at a No Gaps dental clinic near you.
We have 15 modern clinics scattered around the Sydney metro area, each boasting modern facilities and the latest technologies and brands. Call us today on (02) 8806 0227 or use our online booking service.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.