Many people feel anxious about dental implant surgery, often worrying about pain levels due to the surgical nature of the procedure. However, it’s important to know that dental implants are generally less painful than many anticipate. Unlike bridges or dentures, which are removable, implants are anchored in the jawbone, providing a more stable and permanent solution. While they serve the same function, fill a gap, an implant is a two-step process that involves surgery and healing.
It is essential to know more about the procedure to understand what kind of or level of pain to expect:
- Most discomfort during the procedure arises from the manipulation of soft tissues rather than the drilling itself.
- Dental implants that don’t require lifting the gum tissue are mostly painless, with patients reporting pain levels of one to two after the procedure.
- If a small flap of gum tissue is lifted, the pain level can be higher for the first night and subsides afterwards. It is usually manageable by over-the-counter medication that can offer some relief.
- The most significant painful procedure is probably if the bone has to be grafted for the procedure, and pain can last up to 2-3 days after the procedure, which might require a stronger pain relief
Remember that before a surgical procedure takes place, your dentist will use a local anaesthetic to completely numb the area, and you will feel no discomfort. Your dentist may also give you pain medication before starting the surgery so that when the anaesthetic wears off, you have a ‘backup’ pain reliever.
One should of course always take into consideration that the amount of pain experienced by patients undergoing any given medical treatment depends on the individual’s pain tolerance. Two different individuals may receive the same medical treatment but could experience different amounts of pain.
How to Minimise Pain From Tooth Implants
During the first 24 hours, the pain experienced is mostly due to mild swelling of the gums, and there may be some inflammation, making talking and eating difficult. Some tips you can follow to help with the pain:
- Get plenty of rest
- Stay hydrated
- Gently brush your other teeth, taking care not to put unwanted pressure on the implant
- Maintain good oral hygiene to avoid your chances of infection
- Use warm salt water to rinse and clean the inside of your mouth for about one week after surgery
- Ice packs can be used to reduce swelling
- Over-the-counter pain medication could ease some discomfort
Having dental implants can be scary. You might be overly worried about the drilling and cutting. And while it’s true that some pain is to be expected, it is manageable.
Painless Dental Implants in Rockingham
The dentists at Rockingham Dental Centre offer sedation during treatment to manage discomfort and to make the process painless. After the procedure, patients can follow sensible precautions to ensure their recovery period is short and relatively comfortable. Aftercare is essential, and our dentists will advise on best practices.
To get a dental implant at our clinic, read more about our process here.
