Public speaking. Snakes. Going to the dentist. They all rank pretty high on the list of things people fear. The purpose of this article is to discuss the third fear we mentioned. Specifically, does dental implant surgery hurt?
Dental implants are meant to be a procedure that helps our patients, not hurt them. Although the actual process of Implant Placement may sound like an inevitably painful procedure, the truth is, we take every step to ensure that our patients feel no pain; regardless of the severity of their surgery.
Is It Painful to Get Dental Implants?
As with any dental procedure, it is common to feel mild discomforts, such as inflammation of the gums, swelling, and mild pain. On a scale from 1 to 10, it will vary depending on your tolerance level. That said, for most people, it’s about a 3.
At FastNewSmile, we focus on the comfort of our patients. Through IV sedation and local anesthetic, our dental implant procedure only produces mild oral pressure for a patient while we work.
During our single implant procedures, a local anesthetic selectively blocks portions of a patient’s mouth. This leaves the surgical site completely numb and easily accessible to our dental implant specialists.
For full-mouth dental implants, your prosthodontist will apply a whole block that leaves the entire mouth open to painless and successful implant surgery.
What to Expect When Getting Dental Implants
Before the procedure, you’ll meet with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, as well as with a periodontist. They will perform a comprehensive dental exam that includes X-Rays and 3D imaging. These images are necessary to ensure the implants fit perfectly in your mouth, jawbone structure, and with the rest of your teeth.
Your doctors will review your medical history to determine whether an underlying condition needs to be addressed before implant surgery. Certain illnesses may interfere with your body’s ability to heal. Some of these conditions include uncontrolled diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, and gum disease.
How Long Does Pain Last After Surgery?
Once the local anesthetic wears off, most patients will begin to experience mild pain, less than the average tooth extraction. Most of our patients state that post-surgery pain resonates around a level 2 out of 10 on their pain thresholds.
However, everyone is different; while most patients will begin to experience less discomfort within a few days, some can take up to 10 days to feel completely pain-free.
How to Manage Discomfort During Recovery
People who experience pain or discomfort beyond the average timeframe should pay attention to treating the area around the surgical site post-surgery.
Our dental implant specialists always provide our patients with a comprehensive overview of post-surgery risks and recommended practices.
To manage recovery discomfort and prevent prolonged pain, some of the actions we suggest include the following:
- Using Tylenol for pain experienced after your procedure
- Maintain a 48-hour liquid diet
- Don’t use straws until 24-hours after your surgery
- No hot foods the first 48-hours
- Regularly rinse your mouth
If a patient continues to feel discomfort beyond 14 days, we recommend that they reach out to their dental implant specialist to look into the rare occurrence of an infection.
Dental Implant Specialists in Dallas
If you’re considering dental implants, let us help you. We offer free consultations at the FastNewSmile Dental Implant Center and use the highest grade of dental implants nationwide. We’ll match or beat any of our competitors’ prices, and we provide a lifetime guarantee!
If you’ve lived most of your life with a hidden smile, now is the time to consider taking the plunge into dental implants. At FastNewSmile, we specialize in same-day Dental Implants that range from a single tooth to full mouth arches.
We’d love to sit down with you and learn more about your smile’s story. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a member of our team.