If you're thinking about dental implants to restore one or more missing teeth, it's natural to be worried about the pain. Your dentist will make sure you know what to expect during and after the procedure and will discuss options to help you manage pain and discomfort during your recovery.
Implant treatments have a very high success rate and a low risk of complications, but depending on your unique situation, the procedure may be complex and involve several visits to the dental clinic. It's important to learn as much as you can about what the treatment involves to help you decide if it's right for you.
During the procedure
As with most dental treatments, your dentist will use local anaesthesia during the dental implants procedure. This numbs sensations in the part of the mouth being treated so you won't feel any pain while your mouth is being prepared for an implant and when the implant is finally placed.
If you feel nervous about dental treatments, or you need some help to relax, your dentist may discuss dental sedation. You will still be awake and able to respond to your dentist's instructions, but you'll feel more calm and may not remember the experience after.
After the procedure
Your mouth will feel sore after your appointment, usually for around one week, although this depends on how complex your treatment was. Your dentist will prescribe pain relief medication and may suggest home remedies to help you manage discomfort and other symptoms such as swelling or bleeding.
If your mouth still feels painful after 10 days, or you have other side-effects, you should make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible.
Dental implant risks
If you still notice pain two or more weeks after your treatment, there may be an infection or other problem around the treated area. There's a higher chance of dental implant complications if you smoke, have poor health, have certain allergies or you're taking medication that reacts negatively with the implant.
Risks are also higher if you have cheap dental implants abroad. Health authorities such as the Australian Dental Association (ADA) warn against travelling overseas for dental care, as dentists and clinics may be unqualified, inexperienced or use low quality materials.
Pain management tips
Your dentist will give you advice about how to manage pain and lower your risk of complications following your dental implant procedure. This may include:
- Taking pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication
- Applying an ice pack or cold compress to your cheek to numb pain and reduce swelling
- Rising your mouth with salt water to help prevent infections
- Avoiding hard and crunchy food while your mouth is healing
- Maintaining good oral hygiene – brushing, flossing and following a healthy diet
- Getting plenty of rest and avoiding exerting your jaw while it's healing
Dental implants Brisbane
If you want to know more about what's involved in the implant procedure and how much dental implants cost, talk to our friendly team at Swish Dental.
Call our dentists in Everton Park on (07) 3355 1422 or our Mitchelton dentists on (07) 3354 3341 today.
References
Authority Dental. Tooth Implant Pain: Does Surgery Hurt & How To Manage With Pain After Procedure [Online] 2018 [Accessed October 2018] Available from: https://www.authoritydental.org/dental-implant-pain
F.C. Setzer and S. Kim. Comparison of Long-term Survival of Implants and Endodontically Treated Teeth in Journal of Dental Research 2014 Jan; 93(1): 19–26 [Online] 2014 [Accessed October 2018] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872851/
Australian Dental Association. Risks of Dental Tourism [Online] 2017 [Accessed October 2018] Available from: https://www.ada.org.au/getattachment/News-Media/News-and-Release/Media-Releases/Australia%E2%80%99s-dentists-issue-warning-about-dental-t/20170629-Risks-of-Dental-Tourism.pdf.aspx