Many patients raise concerns over tooth implant pain and their concerns are understandable. After all, the pain from a toothache can be excruciating.
“Will it hurt?” is one of the most commonly asked questions we are asked when it comes to dental implants.
A Certain Degree Of Tooth Implant Pain Is Normal
Tooth Implant Pain After Dental Implant Surgery
After surgery and once the anaesthetic has worn off, it is normal to experience some of the side effects that accompany any surgical procedure. Some swelling and bruising may be present and the area that was operated on may feel a little tender. A little bleeding is also considered normal
So – how painful is painful? Well, the amount of discomfort you feel will depend on how complex your procedure was and how many implants were inserted. The placement of a single dental implant will not be as painful as the all-on-4 dental implants procedure.
How Long Can You Expect To Feel Pain For?
Everyone heals differently – and everyone also has a slightly different pain threshold. Your dentist will give you a ballpark after your surgery, based on the complexity of your procedure. On average though most patients find their discomfort has subsided by 10 days following the surgery.
Your swelling should go down in a shorter time frame and your soft tissue should only remain swollen for about five days. Here’s a timetable to help you assess your progress. Remember, your side effects should improve after surgery, not worsen. If you believe that your swelling, pain, discomfort or bleeding is worse after the third day, you should make immediate contact with your dentist.
Still having pain after a week (seven days)?
It is acceptable to still experience some pain after seven days. Follow your dentist’s instructions and re-assess after 10 days.
Still in pain after two weeks (14 days)?
Any pain from your dental implant surgery should have gone away by now and if it hasn’t you should make immediate contact with your dentist, in case you have developed an infection.
Experiencing pain three to four months after surgery?
Dental implant pain at this stage could be caused by a number of factors including poor blood supply to the site, an infection, damage to your tissues or nerves, overloading the implant, or an autoimmune disease. It is essential that you contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Has pain started a year or more after dental implant surgery?
Pain that starts a year or more after the procedure could be caused by teeth clenching or grinding, problems with your dental hygiene, heavy smoking, an infection or inadequate bone.
Common Causes Of Dental Implant Pain May Include
A loose screw
It is possible for the screw inside the dental implant to loosen during the healing process. If this happens it can cause some discomfort. For your relief it will need to be removed, cleaned and reinserted.
A loose implant
If you do not have enough bone or if the implant is overloaded it can become loose in the socket, resulting in discomfort. The only solution here is to remove and reinsert the implant.
Infection at the site
An infection will cause pain and needs to be addressed immediately.
Implant failure
If your implant does not integrate your body will reject it. This causes it to loosen and it can be uncomfortable until it is removed.
Nerve damage
Although it is uncommon, it is possible for nerve damage to occur during the surgery. This can either be caused by the dentist’s drill or by placing the implant too close to the nerve.
As you can see, there are a number of potential causes of dental implant pain if the discomfort occurs outside of the 10-day window. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, or anything out of the ordinary you should contact your dentist immediately.
Have questions about tooth implant pain? Contact us to speak to a professional: (02) 8503 9902
Why did my whole bridge with the implant s on it come out of my mouth and pain where the implant in inserted