Recently, you’ve decided to get dental implants to fill in the gaps in your smile. However, as the day of your surgery grows closer, you find yourself getting nervous. Will the procedure be painful? What about the recovery period? Knowing what to expect in advance can go a long way toward soothing your anxiety about your treatment. As such, here’s what you need to know about your upcoming dental implant surgery when it comes to discomfort.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
Many people assume that undergoing dental implant surgery hurts, but this isn’t actually the case. The procedure will only be performed once your mouth has been numbed with a local anesthetic. You therefore typically won’t experience any discomfort during the surgery. That said, it’s normal to notice some pressure throughout the procedure.
What About After Dental Implant Surgery?
After your dental implant surgery, it will typically take a few hours for the local anesthetic to wear off. Once it does, you’re likely to experience some mild pain in your mouth. There may also be discomfort in other parts of your face (such as the chin or the area underneath the eyes), depending on where the implant posts were inserted.
The discomfort will normally reach its peak within the first two or three days of the healing process. After that, it should start to gradually decrease. You can usually expect the discomfort to last for around 7 to 10 days.
How Can You Manage Discomfort After Getting Dental Implants?
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep your discomfort under control while your mouth is healing from your dental implant surgery. The following steps can go a long way toward relieving your pain:
- Take ibuprofen or another type of over-the-counter pain reliever. Be sure to carefully follow any instructions related to dosage.
- Hold a cold compress against your cheek to reduce discomfort and swelling. Remember, a cold compress should only be used for 15 minutes at a time.
- After the first 24 hours, you can start rinsing the area around your dental implants with warm salt water.
- Maintain a diet of soft foods that don’t require much chewing. Good examples include mashed potatoes, yogurt, and scrambled eggs.
What If the Discomfort Grows Worse?
If your post-surgical discomfort seems to be growing worse or lasts longer than expected, something may have gone wrong during the recovery process. Your best option is to call your dentist as soon as possible; once they learn about your situation, they can help you figure out the best way to handle it.
In short, there’s no need to worry about discomfort during or after your dental implant surgery. Every step will be taken to keep you as comfortable as possible during the procedure, and you should be able to manage your post-surgical pain as long as you follow the right steps.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Voller has more than four decades of dental experience. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and he has earned the prestigious Fellowship and Mastership Awards from the Academy of General Dentistry. At Voller Dentistry in Kittanning, he works with local experts so that his patients can enjoy the benefits of sturdy, long-lasting dental implants. If you’re interested in learning more about the dental implant process, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Voller by visiting his website or calling (724) 543-4948.