Pain is a common concern among individuals who are considering dental implants. As with any major dental procedure (or surgery in general), some discomfort is to be expected during the recovery process since it is a surgery that typically involves removing teeth, cutting gums, drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium post.
It must be planned and executed carefully so complications, side effects and unnecessary pain can be avoided which is why finding a quality dentist is so important.
- Will There be Pain During the Surgery?
- Will There be Pain After the Surgery?
- How to Prevent or Relieve the Pain
- Problems That Cause Additional Discomfort
- What to Read Next
The procedure itself is not painful since it is performed with either general or local anesthesia to completely numb your mouth. If you’re anxious about the discomfort during the procedure and being aware of the drilling noises and forces being applied to your mouth, ask your dentist about the available sedative options and suggest that you be put to sleep.
Once the numbness wears off, however, pain is one of the first things you’ll notice.
While a small number of patients experience a considerable amount of discomfort after the surgery (usually due to a complication or failed implant), most people find it and recovery not nearly as painful as they expected it to be. Depending on where it was placed, discomfort can also be felt in the chin, cheeks or underneath the eyes.
Patients say that the aching they experience is roughly the same as after having a root canal done or getting a tooth pulled. Overall, patients report that the results are well worth the process.
Will There be Pain During the Surgery?
The procedure should be completely trouble-free, but there can be some discomfort. Your surgeon will perform the operation with local or general anesthesia so that your gums and jaw are completely numb.
You might hear/feel the tools being used, but no agony should be experienced. Those who have a phobia of dental/surgical procedures can opt for general anesthesia (injected or inhaled), which allows them to be unconscious the entire time.
Sedatives can help you relax if you are nervous about procedure. Also, it is important to have some way of communicating with the surgeon if the anesthetic wears off while they are being installed. While this is extremely rare, it is better to be safe than sorry!
Will There be Pain After Surgery?
The complexity of the operation can impact the amount and duration of soreness afterwards. Having a bone graft or sinus lift done before your surgery will typically cause additional tenderness afterwards.
You may also experience side effects such as bruising, swelling and bleeding to a certain degree depending on your gum and bone health. The experience varies from person to person and depends on how quickly they heal.
Almost all of the swelling should be gone in the first 3-5 days after the surgery and the pain should be almost completely gone after 7-10 days.
If you notice any signs of swelling, infection or irritation after the timelines mentioned above, you should seek medical attention. They can check the implants and surrounding gum tissue and repair and minor problems. If these signs last for more than two or three weeks then something might be wrong with it.
With plenty of rest, painkillers, and ice packs, you should be able to minimize the amount of pain you experience after your surgery. A few days of pain and discomfort is a small price to pay for long-term dental health and a great looking smile.
How to Prevent or Relieve the Pain
There are a number of ways to minimize the soreness you experience during the 7 to 10 day healing period after.
Find a Skilled Dentist
Most importantly, find a dentist or surgeon who has extensive training and experience. I highly advise against choosing the dentist who offers the lowest prices.
Follow Instructions
Follow the post-procedure instructions that you are given carefully.
Take Painkillers
Your dentist will recommend that you take painkillers following the procedure to alleviate the discomfort. Ibuprofen is typically recommended. If you choose to take it, you should take around 600mg every eight hours or so. If this does not relieve your pain, tell the dentist so they can prescribe something stronger.
Use Ice Packs
Used an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) to reduce the swelling. Apply it to your cheek or lip as soon as you can after you get home.
Salt Water
Bathe your gums (don’t swish or gargle) in warm salt water.
Eat Cold and/or Soft Foods
Avoid solid/hard foods to prevent irritation. Cold and soft foods like ice cream, smoothies and yogurt are ideal.
Continue to Brush and Floss (Carefully)
Pay extra special attention to your oral hygiene.
Rest
Get plenty of rest and don’t do anything strenuous to let the healing process do its thing.
Get Help if Necessary
If the pain gets worse, lasts longer than it should or is abnormally strong, contact a medical professional immediately to avoid serious problems.
Problems That Cause Additional Discomfort
There are a number of possible complications that can arise during and after surgery that can cause additional discomfort.
Loose healing cap
The small screw that is placed in the top of the implant while the gum is healing becomes loose. The cap must be removed, cleaned and re-fitted.
Loose implant
Insufficient bone volume, external pressures/forces and more can cause it to become loose. It must be removed in most cases.
Bone burn
In rare cases, the heat of the drill can damage the bone surrounding the post. The prosthetic and dead bone must be removed.
Infection
Gum or bone can become infected. This can be treated with antibiotics.
Nerve damage/pressure
A nerve is damaged by the drilling or the post is placed too close to it. Artificial tooth must be removed and redone if it is safe to do so.
Rejection
The patient’s body rejects the implant. Solutions include trying another type or an alternative solution.
What to Read Next
- How to Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
- Dental Implants vs. Bridges
- Dental Implants vs. Dentures
- Dental Implant Problems – What Can Go Wrong
- How to Find a Dentist You Can Trust
- Dental Implant Before and After Photos
Over to You
If you’ve had implant(s) done, what was the pain like? How did the procedure go? Let us know in the comments!
I had mine done almost three months ago. I recently started having a lot of pain in one of the sites. Feels like a bad toothache. If I had it to do over ,I’m not so sure I would do it.
Are some people just more sensitive to pain? More apt to feel it? I’ve always been a coward when it came to pain. Hated to go to the dentist (and am paying the price now).
I had 2 implants done 10 years ago in Costa Rica. I am terrified of pain. They asked me if I wanted to be put to sleep and I asked them how much. $800. No thanks, I’ll bear it. During the entire implant, including bone grafts ZERO pain. Went back to the hotel, lay down for a few hours and a few hours after that felt perfectly fine. A little woozy and tired but ZERO pain afterwards and I could eat regular food (carefully of course) a few days later.
Same thing 6 months later when they placed the crowns. Zero pain.
I had a couple of teeth surgically removed a year ago,,,,,, in Thailand. Zero pain during,,,,, and after. Didn’t need to use a single “pain pill” they gave me. Soft food and liquids for a couple of days.
So sorry to hear about your pain. The worst pain for me was when I had the tooth pulled. That was awful, I could not eat anything solid for 3 months.
I had to wait 4 months to get the implant put in. I was very afraid. It wasn’t as bad. I was able to eat after 3 or 4 weeks.
I hope you feel better soon, Dee
Went to a supposed very qualified and expensive Oral Surgeon Dentist to get an implant for missing tooth #30. I was in pain the first week and on pain killers 24/7 and also ice. Saw Dentist in week 2 because was still in a lot of pain and still using plenty of ice. He wants to wait a total of 3 weeks after surgery and then reevaluate. I WOULD NEVER AGAIN DO AN IMPLANT. The pain can be terrible and the risks are too great.
The elementary through High School and even Colleges and especially the Dental profession needs to do a much better job educating about tooth care. Why are schools not having children brush after breakfast, lunch and dinner? Rinsing after snacks and soft drink? Why don’t Dentists teach that tooth decay begins minutes after eating? That everybody needs to floss daily and WATERPIK at least once a day? Why are so many people needing root canals, tooth extractions implants? Why are so many people getting cavities? Is it because there is so much money to be made off of people’s misery? That people ignorance means big profits?
I just got back from Cancun. I had 19 teeth pulled and implants put in. I told the dentist that I didn’t want all my gums showing when I smiled so he cut into the gums and shaved the bone so you can’t see my gums when I smile.
I did this on Monday and was there from 10AM until 6PM that night. I didn’t feel any pain at all. I went back on Wednesday and was there about the same amount of time no pain. I thought this is great . Then it hit me the pain is so bad that I can’t eat anything except liquid or mashed potatoes.The pain isn’t bad if I don’t do anything like eat or drink. I went in a total of 5 times. The teeth look great and I have never been taken care of like I was there they are amazing.
I got there on the 20th of March started the 21st and got back home on the 29th. I read where someone wrote that it took him 16 weeks to not feel pain in his gums wow that’s scary.
I just have to think about how good they look and so far went from 190lbs down to 182lbs I did do a lot of walking .
I don’t care what you read think about what you want and understand that there will be a lot of pain but hey you’ll look good and loose weight.