Dental implant surgery is one of the most reliable and long-lasting ways to replace missing teeth. However, since this surgery involves inserting an artificial tooth root into the jawbone, it almost always causes some amount of pain. Before undergoing this surgery, many dental patients are worried about the level of pain they may experience afterward and how long it will last.
In order to understand how painful the implant process may be, it is helpful to realize what happens when a patient receives an implant. In many cases, after a patient has a natural tooth removed, but before an implant is placed, the area is prepared with a bone graft. These grafts encourage the production of new bone, which will strengthen the jawbone and help ensure the implant properly integrates with the bone.
In dental implant surgery, a patient's dental professional drills a hole into the jawbone. A metal post is placed into the hole. This metal post works as an artificial tooth root. The post needs to be given time to osseointegrate, or to allow the bone from the patient's jaw to grow through it. Although this process may often take months, it is essential for a healthy and stable implant. The abutment, which is a component to which the dental crown will be attached, usually is not placed on the post until osseointegration is complete.
Sometimes, the dentist needs to perform a smaller surgery to place the abutment. This is a minor surgery that only involves the gums. It may cause some bleeding and swelling, but pain from having the abutment placed is less severe than any pain experienced after placing the metal post.
Dental implant surgery involves trauma to both the gums and the jaw. The surgery itself should not involve any pain since the mouth will be numbed. As the numbness wears off, though, patients will often feel some level of pain.
Many dental professionals provide pain medication to help manage discomfort at the implant site. In some cases, post-surgery pain is mild enough that it can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Generally, a single implant will cause less discomfort than a surgery where multiple implants are placed. Patients will usually have pain up to 10 days after the procedure, but the pain may resolve before 10 days.
If excessive discomfort persists after the 10-day point, it is important for patients to contact a dental professional immediately. Prolonged pain may be a sign that the implant site has become infected. If this is the case, the dental professional will need to act quickly to save the implant.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Implant Surgery in Chicago, IL.
No dental patient looks forward to any type of pain. However, persons considering dental implant surgery should not let a fear of post-surgery discomfort discourage them from pursuing the procedure. Implants are designed to be a permanent tooth replacement, and once completed, the implant process will leave a patient with a beautifully restored smile.
Request an appointment or call Total Care Dental at 773-786-9586 for an appointment in our Chicago office.
An All-on-4® treatment can replace multiple teeth. This extensive procedure is for people who are going to have several teeth extracted. It is also for those who have lost many teeth already. Knowing all that you can about the teeth-replacement options available to you is important. If you want to know if an All-on-4 can…
Considering clear braces? Read on to learn more about the process and duration of treatment. Patients often inquire about the length of time they will need to wear clear braces at their first appointment with the dentist. The patient's condition mostly determines the duration. Braces may take longer than expected in certain cases, and individuals…
The term All-on-4® refers to a more convenient alternative than conventional dentures. It involves installing dental implants into the patient’s jaw to serve as the base for a special type of dentures that are fixed in place.Traditional dentures are the most affordable way to replace missing teeth, but they have issues like poor stability. This…
