Dental implants are the latest in tooth replacement technology, and patients undergoing the procedure experience little discomfort such as minor swelling following the surgery. The benefits of dental implants are immense, allowing individuals with missing teeth to regain their confidence, improve their oral health, and eat and speak normally. But for some people, the fear of pain after dental implants may prevent them from seeking surgery.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are the closest replacement for natural teeth available today. They consist of three parts that function like a natural tooth that can withstand bite force pressure and do not slip like dentures or bridges. The three parts of a dental implant are the screw-like implant post, the abutment and the crown.
Receiving dental implants is a long process that requires multiple appointments, scans, and X-rays, leading up to the surgical procedure. This is because your dentist needs to assess if your jawbone is strong enough to support the implant and that your overall and oral health will enable the implant to be successful.
Once this has been confirmed and your treatment plan laid out by your dentist, you will be scheduled for a short surgical procedure in which the implant, a titanium rod, is inserted into your jawbone to act as a replacement for a root. The procedure takes only one to two hours per implant, but the healing process is three to six months and must be completed before you can have your abutment placed, connecting the implant to the prosthetic tooth.
At No Gaps Dental, we offer CEREC® crowns milled on site from a solid block of zirconia using CAD/CAM technology. The crown is placed the same day that the digital scans are taken.
Will I Experience Pain After Dental Implants?
Don’t let the fear of dental implant pain hold you back from replacing your missing teeth. There is very little chance of pain after dental implants.
While local anaesthesia ensures you don’t feel anything during the surgery, your mouth might feel tender and sore once the sedation wears off following dental implant surgery. There may be minor bleeding for up to 24 hours after surgery, and bruising and swelling can occur for up to two weeks. Any mild pain after dental implants that you experience can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
To minimise the chances of dental implant pain after the procedure, follow your dentist’s directions regarding oral hygiene, diet, and lifestyle choices. These may include:
Avoid Smoking
Avoiding smoking after dental implant surgery is essential to a full recovery. Nicotine restricts blood flow to soft tissues in the body, which can slow the healing process and lower the chances of a successful osseointegration.
Choose Soft Foods
To avoid irritating the surgical site in the first few days after surgery, you must eat foods that don’t require a lot of chewing. Yoghurt, cold soups, fruit and vegetable purees, smoothies, and porridge are a few nutritious choices that can sustain you during your recovery.
Avoid Touching the Surgical Site
While you must brush and floss your teeth to maintain cleanliness, it’s important to limit your contact with the implant for the first few days. It will be tender and swollen, so excessive touching or pressure can lead to irritation. To avoid unnecessary discomfort, it’s best to have as little contact with the surgical site as possible. Do not use a toothbrush or avoid touching the site with your tongue.
Disinfect Your Mouth With Salt water
Most dentists recommend cleansing your mouth with a salt water rinse two to three times a day in the days following dental implant surgery. This can help prevent infection and inflammation, while the surgical site is healing. It also removes food particles and bacteria after eating.
Don’t Bite Your Nails
Not only is nail biting unhygienic, but it mimics the same motion as chewing, which you want to avoid following dental implant surgery. Putting your nails in your mouth invites harmful bacteria that could infect the implant site.
Skip the Alcohol
Besides weakening your immune system, alcohol consumption dries out your mouth, making it more challenging for the incision at the implant site to heal.
Choose Low Impact Physical Activities
Jumping back into vigorous exercise too soon can cause unwanted bleeding at the implant site. For the first two to three days of the healing process, it’s best to limit your physical activity and choose gentle practices like yoga or a brisk walk if you want to get some movement in.
Say No to Hot Foods and Drinks
It’s hard to break from your morning coffee routine, but for the first few days after dental implant surgery. The incision in your gums is sensitive, and while it heals, extreme heat can setback your healing or irritate the implant.
Refrain from Using Straws
It’s essential that you avoid drinking from a straw for the first few days following dental implant surgery. The suction from a straw can cause the blood clot at the implant site to dislodge, which can set back the healing process and cause dental implant pain because of a secondary condition called dry socket.
Get Lots of Rest
Just like with any surgery, you must give your body the time it needs to recover. This is especially important for individuals who opt for IV sedation during the implant procedure. Sedation dentistry can help anxious patients have a comfortable, positive dental experience.
However, anaesthesia can affect your memory and reflexes for hours after surgery, which is why it’s essential to have a responsible adult monitoring you during this time. Giving your body the rest it requires helps you heal faster.
Keep your head elevated on a firm pillow when lying down, reduce swelling and allow for proper drainage away from the surgical site.
Following these tips can help you avoid dental implant pain and increase the chances of a successful fusion of your dental implants to the jawbone.
No Gaps Dental is Here For All Your Dental Needs
With 15 locations across Sydney, it’s easy to make an appointment and speak to a dentist at No Gaps Dental about replacing your missing teeth. To find out if dental implants are a suitable choice for you or to ease your anxieties about pain after dental implants, contact us at (02) 8806 0227 and schedule your consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.