Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?
We’re often asked if it hurts to get dental implants. Many prospective patients are understandably nervous at the thought of having posts drilled into their jaw bone. If you have been considering implants but are worried about what it might feel like, we’d like to set the record straight. It’s actually not nearly as painful as many people imagine.
What It Feels Like to Get Dental Implants
Does dental implant surgery hurt? For most people, getting dental implants is less painful than getting a tooth extracted—and with less postsurgical pain and less downtime. Because it’s a surgical procedure, people naturally tend to overestimate the pain involved in a dental implant procedure. But in most cases, dental implant surgery involves little to no pain at all. If you’re awake and under local anesthesia, you might feel firm pressure on the gums but no significant pain.
Depending on the invasiveness of the procedure, the dentist may recommend either just local anesthesia or IV sedation. If sedation is advised, you’ll feel drowsy and may even fall asleep and will have little to no memory of the procedure. If local anesthesia is used, you’ll be awake for the procedure but completely numb. In either event, dental implant pain shouldn’t be a factor as long as you’re in skilled hands.
How Sedation Dentistry Can Help With the Dental Implant Procedure
For many patients, the mental anxiety is far worse than any physical discomfort. If you suffer from fear of the dentist, you might be a good candidate for sedation dentistry. While anesthesia addresses the physical discomfort, sedation addresses the mental discomfort, allowing you to relax and enjoy the procedure without a care in the world.
At our dental office in Bakersfield, we offer multiple forms of moderate sedation to help you overcome your mental discomfort and get through the procedure with ease. Just let our team know about your discomfort ahead of time, and we can tailor a treatment that meets your needs.
Is There Any Pain After the Dental Implant Procedure?
The amount of pain following a dental implant procedure should be minimal, but you might feel some mild discomfort when the anesthesia wears off and during the healing process.
There are actually three stages to a traditional implant procedure. The first stage, the post placement, is the most invasive—as this is the step where the implant is drilled into the bone. As long as the bone is strong and there are no complications, you might feel a pain level between 2 and 3 for the first couple of days of recovery. This level of discomfort can usually be alleviated with an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol.
The second stage, the abutment placement, is less invasive than the first stage. You might still feel some mild discomfort in the first couple of days as the dentist typically has to remove some gum tissue. Once again, though, the discomfort is minor and can usually be addressed with over-the-counter medications.
The final stage, the crown placement, should come with little to no discomfort at all. The dentist simply places the crown onto the post. After each of the three stages, you can usually return to your normal daily activities the very next day.
Don’t Put Off the Dental Implant Procedure Any Longer
The dental implant procedure is actually very straightforward, and most people are surprised at how little discomfort is involved. So if you’ve given any thought to implants, now is the perfect time to speak to a dentist and learn more. Dr. Salin uses a gentle touch and excels in providing a comfortable experience for fearful patients.
The fear of tooth implant pain is minor compared to the joy of seeing your new smile. So get a dental implant consultation and take the leap today. See how it can transform your life.