When undergoing dental implant surgery, the surgeon normally opens the tissues in your mouth, then drills a titanium rod into the bones beneath your gums. The number of drills usually depends on the number of teeth that need care; it can be one, two, or more. During this process, you must be under anesthesia to help you from feeling the pain that you otherwise would have experienced during the surgery.
After surgery, during recovery, you might experience pain that may last for some days but can be controlled by taking prescribed medication. Pain that persists for more than a few days or even more might require medical care.
Getting dental implants is always the middle of three steps. The process may involve tooth removal, implanting a rod or inserting the screws, and then inserting the replacement tooth. The surgeon often spaces these procedures far apart. The rods may take time to fuse to your bone as they take up to several months to fuse fully; this will force your dentist to wait before replacing the crown until the bone fully and firmly sets on the titanium rod.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
During the process, you shouldn’t feel pain since it cannot be done without anesthesia. This procedure involves using local anesthesia or any additional general or sedation anesthesia which your dentist will explain before the procedure. A unique need may require a certain type of anesthesia to avoid pain during the surgery.
Pain After the Surgery
After the dental surgery, you will probably feel discomfort or pain, which should not last longer than just a few days. The pain is usually more acute when the strength of the local anesthesia used during surgery wears off. You should only feel pain near the site of a dental implant. Other symptoms you are likely to experience after the surgery include;
- Minor bruising
- Bleeding at the site of surgery
- Jaw pain
- Swelling on the face and around the gums
After surgery, the dentist normally provides instructions on how to properly take care of the site of surgery to help manage and reduce the pain. The care may include,
- How to care for the implants
- Ice packs to minimize swelling
- Prescribing over-the-counter medications for pain
- Resting on the actual day of surgery and the subsequent days, depending on how you feel.
- Avoid taking hard and hot foods.
For how long should the pain last after surgery?
If everything goes as it should, the pain that comes after a successful surgery should not last. The pain should last for around three to five days after surgery. You might need to take medications for about a day or two. If everything goes as it should, you may resume your normal activities after the procedure. Any other symptoms, such as swelling, jaw stiffness, and bruising, may disappear about a week after surgery.
Conclusion
After surgery, you should expect some form of pain but it won’t last long. You can always control the pain by taking prescribed medication from the doctor. If the pain persists, it is advisable to seek attention from qualified medical personnel.