According to the American Academy of Dentistry, there are currently about three million Americans who have had at least one dental implant and over 100 million dental implants worldwide. If an individual loses a tooth due to decay, injury, or even gum disease, dental implants can replace the missing tooth.
The implants are powerful and improve a person’s ability to speak and eat, not to mention boost their self-confidence. If you have had dental implants and have experienced any pain, you may be wondering, does dental implants hurt, what are the symptoms associated with dental implant pain, and how long does the pain last after dental implants?
We will answer all questions related to dental implant pain, how to relieve dental implant pain, and other topics related to this problem.
Is dental implants painful?
Dental implants are either superficial on top of the bones or inside the bones. For the internal procedure, the implants are fixed to the jawbone while in the superficial procedure, these implants are fixed to or above the jawbone but below the gum-line of the bone. This last procedure is used for a patient who has unhealthy jawbones and is not willing to augment their bone with dental bone implants.
The anesthesia makes the procedure painless but the numbness can only be tolerated for a specific period before the pain of dental implants begins to show. Patients react differently to the procedure but it is expected that the pain will completely vanish within a maximum of 10 days. If the pain persists during the two weeks following the operation, there are chances of infection and you should consult your dentist immediately.
Dental implant pain experienced by the patient after 3 months is a clear sign of the following conditions:
- Negative interaction with treatment
- Autoimmune complications
- Allergic reactions
- Poor blood supply
- possible infection
- Nerve or tissue damage
- Complications of overloading and rejection of the implant from the body.
Any of these signs should be taken seriously and professional help should be sought immediately. Dental implant pain that a patient experiences after a year or more can be due to poor dental hygiene, infection, constant smoking, bruxism or grinding teeth when sleeping, lack of gum tissue and lack of proper covering in the specific part of the jaw.
Additional sources of post-operative dental implant pain may be due to a loose implant usually caused by insufficient bone mass, shrinkage of the healing cap, intraoperative bone burning leading to damage and nerve damage in the area under surgery. Some are very rare but patients are always advised to choose a qualified and experienced dental facility to reduce the chances of complications. Dental implant dentists have an impeccable record of all procedures and are motivated to provide quality care to the patient’s needs.
How long does the pain last after dental implants?
It is difficult to determine how long the pain lasts after dental implants, because every patient is different. Usually, you may experience some pain and discomfort for up to 10 days after surgery. Hopefully, your dentist will prescribe pain medications to help you. There will also be swelling, and this should subside after about 3-5 days.
| duration | the description |
|---|---|
| Dental implant pain after 1 week | It is normal to still have some pain at this point. Follow the dentist’s recovery instructions, and this period can be up to 10 days. |
| Dental implant pain after two weeks | At this point, the pain should have subsided. Contact your dentist immediately if the pain persists and you may have an infection. |
| Dental implant pain after 3-4 months | The pain at this point is often gone and if it persists, it may have one of the following causes: Autoimmune disease Poor blood supply Interactions with other medications Poor general health Infection There is a complication called overload Your body rejects the implant An allergic reaction Nerve or tissue damage |
| Dental implant pain after a year or more | If dental implants are painful one or several years after the procedure, this could be due to one or more problems: teeth grinding, poor oral hygiene, lack of gum tissue, osteoporosis in the jaw, infection |
How to relieve dental implant pain
An important thing to note about dental implants is that the patient is ready and willing to invest in a specialized dental clinic that gives him top priority to afford comfort and methodical guidance during the entire procedure. After a successful transplant, the physician must give patients careful instructions to monitor their condition while they are at home.
Some patients tend to ignore instructions until the pain has complicated their situation. Prescription painkillers should come in handy but if they are not effective in relieving the severity of your pain, we advise you to contact your doctor to get an alternative prescription. Ice should be used in the first days on the cheek gently. This helps calm the pain as well as combat swelling. During the recovery process, warm salt water should be used to rinse the mouth as it has been shown to be beneficial in reducing pain as well as preventing infections by killing bacteria.
At first, the warm salt water may cause a slight burning sensation, but the pain will go away in time. Be selective in the diet with special emphasis on soft and cold food. Sweets and other sugary products should be avoided during the recovery period. Oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing should be practiced routinely. This should be done at intervals of two to three times using a soft brush without putting pressure on the dental implant. Adequate rest time goes a long way in speeding up the healing process which reduces the pain of dental implants that exist after surgery. Your implant program should ensure gentle dental care that effectively helps manage pain after dental implants.
There are a number of things you can do to help relieve the discomfort and pain after dental implants.
- Finding a dentist with extensive experience performing dental implants can give you assurance that everything will work out well. You will feel reassured knowing that you are in expert hands. Dentists who offer dental implants at a very low price may be worth considering, but remember that although cost is important, experience and skills should be your top priority.
- Treatment and medications after the operation are very important. Your doctor will prescribe medications such as antibiotics, pain relievers, and mouthwashes. Follow his instructions to facilitate recovery and avoid complications. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are the most common medications prescribed for pain relief.
- You can reduce and prevent excessive swelling by applying an ice pack or even a bag of frozen vegetables to the swollen area within the first 48 hours.
- Use warm water mixed with half a teaspoon of salt to rinse and clean your mouth. However, do not wash away the liquid while the wound is fresh because the movement of the liquid in your mouth can irritate the new incision, so wait a day or two if necessary.
- To avoid excessive bleeding: It is best to avoid hot foods for the first 24 hours because heat causes blood vessels to open wide, making you bleed more. Keep the area cool to reduce bleeding, and eat cool or lukewarm foods.
- You can treat yourself with ice cream or juices while the wound is fresh. Yes, you have an excuse to eat some ice cream, so don’t miss out, chocolate ice cream addicts, please raise your hand besides the cold effect will help with swelling. In fact, the rule is this: stay away from solid or semi-solid foods for a few days. You don’t want to accidentally chew it with the part of your mouth that was just operated on.
Of course, be mindful of your oral hygiene as you should always do with or without dental implants. Basically a mouthwash and will help avoid any infection that may jeopardize the integrity of the implant. Take a break, you need it to recover quickly and to facilitate wound healing and implantation faster.
Is there pain after dental implants? Causes and methods of treatment
If you are thinking of getting dental implants in Turkey or other countries, your initial reaction is probably to reading about how dental implants are performed. While the thought of having to drill through bone to place a metal implant in the mouth is enough to make anyone look meticulously, the truth is that it is a pain-free process. What’s more, any postoperative discomfort and pain after dental implants usually stops within 7-10 days. But does dental implants hurt? What are the causes and effects of that? Let’s take a closer look at these reasons.
Infection due to improper handling
The placement of an implant is a surgical procedure and like any surgical procedure precautions need to be taken to avoid the spread of infection. The good news is that with all the modern technology we have, this is extremely rare. Even when this happens, you may not always feel any immediate pain after a dental implant. Furthermore, if the problem is caught early enough, the problem can be addressed quickly. However, if it goes unnoticed or ignored, you may experience something from mild to severe pain. For this reason, it is necessary to have regular check-ups after dental implants.
Move the dental implant from its position
When we break an arm or a leg, the limb needs to stay still for the bone to heal properly. The same goes for dental implants. If there is movement in the implant, especially during the first 8-12 weeks, there are chances that pain will occur, and the bone will not fuse properly with the implant. Instead, what you get is a soft tissue growth, which means the implant is less likely to stay in place. As a result, a soft implant can be painful in some cases.
Excess pressure on the implant
Not the kind that you encounter from time to time in our daily lives, but excessive pressure and force on the implant. Great care is taken by the dentists in the planning stages to ensure that the implant is not only the correct length but also inserted in the proper track. This allows the implant to absorb an appropriate amount of pressure when making contact with the other teeth. However, when the bite force is excessive, apart from the possibility of a tooth fracture, the bone surrounding the implant will be lost. Often times this can lead to what are known as gum voids where bacteria can grow. This, in turn, can set up a chain of events from which more dental implant problems may arise, including the inevitable implant pain.
Not following dentists’ instructions
Despite the fact that in most cases the recovery time for dental implants is relatively fast, it is easy to ignore the dentist’s instructions especially if things are going well. As such, some patients may resume their daily excessive activities such as strenuous exercise. Often the first thing they know is that they are starting to feel more discomfort and pain and that any time to restore dental implants that used to go well will now be at risk. So please follow your dentist’s instructions because they probably know what’s best for you.
Not performing proper maintenance
You finally have new dental implants and you can’t wait to show the world your new smile. But before making sure of that, it is important that you continue to maintain it. Despite the fact that implants are not prone to the same problems as our natural teeth, they do need a thorough daily cleaning. Any large food particles or bacteria that are not removed from around the implant site can lead to inflammation or infection of the gums which can be painful. Daily brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentist can help avoid this.