Many of us take our teeth for granted until tooth loss occurs. Losing teeth doesn’t only impact your ability to chew; it also affects your smile. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces missing teeth with synthetic teeth that look just like the real thing.
If you’re considering dental implant surgery or your dentist has scheduled you for this procedure, you might wonder what to expect in regard to discomfort. Do dental implants hurt? Learn the answer below, then call to schedule an appointment for dental implants in Palm Beach Gardens.
What To Expect During Dental Implant Surgery
Before discussing any discomfort associated with dental surgery, it’s helpful to understand what to expect during the procedure. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that addresses adult tooth loss. Your dentist might recommend implants if you’ve had a tooth removed in a visible part of your mouth.
Before the surgery, a dentist will prepare your jaw with a bone graft. This procedure encourages bone production and ensures your jaw is strong enough to support implants.
During dental implant surgery, the dentist will drill a hole into the jawbone and fill it with a metal post, which functions as a “root” that will hold the implant in place.
The dentist does not attach the new tooth to the post at this time. Rather, you’ll need to wait until the post fuses with your jaw in a process called osseointegration. Depending on how quickly your jaw heals, this process can take a few weeks to several months.
Once osseointegration is complete, your dentist will attach a crown to the post. The crown will look and function exactly like a real tooth.
Do dental implants hurt? The procedure itself is usually pain-free. There are several things you can do before the surgery to ensure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible:
- Don’t eat or drink after midnight on the night before the surgery, as food and drink may cause nausea during surgery.
- Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes for the procedure.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery. Depending on the type of anesthesia used, you may not be able to drive yourself.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
Do dental implants hurt? Many patients are surprised and relieved to learn that the procedure itself isn’t painful at all. Your dentist will apply anesthesia for numbing that will keep you comfortable during surgery. You might feel some pressure, but should not experience any pain.
If you are still nervous, you could ask the dentist to perform the procedure under sedation. During sedation, you’ll be very relaxed and may even fall asleep. Sedation is a good option for people with dental anxiety.
Although the surgery itself won’t be painful, expect some level of discomfort after the anesthetic wears off. Expect discomfort and swelling for up to 10 days after the procedure. The more implants you’ve had fitted, the greater the discomfort could be.
Fortunately, pain after dental surgery is easily manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. Other tips for managing pain include:
- Avoid eating solid foods during the initial healing stage. Stick with soft and liquid foods, such as soup, smoothies, and jello.
- Apply ice to sore, swollen areas of your mouth. Ice does an excellent job of reducing swelling and pain.
- Rinse your mouth frequently with warm salty water.
If you experience pain for more than 10 days after the surgery, call your dentist. Long-lasting pain could indicate that the implant has become infected. Pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relievers or that gets worse instead of better signals a possible infection. If your mouth has become infected, you’ll need to act quickly to save the implant and your other teeth.
Schedule Your Appointment With Mark L. Civin Today
Do dental implants hurt? When done right, you should feel no pain at all during the procedure. If you’d like to learn about different types of dental implants or find out if you’re a good candidate for surgery, call Mark L. Civin at (561) 624-2224.
