We know that dental implants are an excellent, cost-effective option for replacing missing teeth. But the one question that everyone wants to know is: are dental implants painful?
Dental implants require an oral surgery procedure where one tooth, several teeth or a full upper or lower set of teeth are implanted into the jawbone using advanced dental technology and materials. The implants act as posts for mounting replacement teeth onto and help to preserve the jawbone which can deteriorate over time if there are fewer or no tooth roots in it.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Prior to your procedure we will go through all the details regarding preparing for, during and post-procedure so you know exactly what to expect and all your questions are answered.
The dental implant surgery, like other forms of oral surgery, is performed under local anaesthetic by dental and oral surgery experts who are highly skilled and experienced. The anaesthetic is carefully administered and monitored throughout the procedure to ensure it is 100% safe and 100% effective. This means the procedure is completely painless. At the very most you may feel some pressure, but no pain.
Managing Post-Procedure Pain
After your surgery there are several recommendations we make to help you stay comfortable and promote the healing process. These include:
- Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to help manage pain and discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off.
- Using an ice pack or cold compress to help reduce inflammation or swelling.
- Doing warm saltwater soaks regularly.
- Avoiding very hot foods and beverages and hard foods for the first week or two when your gums will be feeling tender.
- Not over-doing the activity. We recommend taking at least 2-3 days off work and avoiding strenuous exercise for at least 10 days.
In most dental implant cases, the healing process takes up to ten days. Some slight bleeding is to be expected for the first few days, and any swelling should subside within about five days.
Are Dental Implants Painful? Here’s What Our Dental Implant Patients Say
Our patients who have undergone dental implant surgery agree that the anaesthetic kept them completely pain-free and comfortable during surgery. The vast majority found that the pain and discomfort after surgery was minimal – in fact, less than they expected, and it was easily addressed with standard painkillers. Most found that they did not need to keep taking regular painkillers after the first 3-4 days. Many of our patients have told us that a standard tooth extraction is actually more painful afterwards than the dental implants procedure was.
Our patients also tell us that they were impressed by how quickly they could eat all their favourite foods again, including hard or chewy foods that are off-limits to many denture-wearers.
Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option because they have such a high success rate and typically last for 20 years or more. For anyone worried if dental implants are painful, we can assure you that the procedure is carefully managed so you will not feel any pain during it. And by following the post-care instructions any temporary pain and discomfort can be kept to a minimum while the healing process is underway.
