Dental Implants: Are They Painful?
Thus far, dental implants in Bayport are the gold standard of teeth replacement. Dental implants near you have been used for over six decades to alter and improve the quality of countless smiles.
Deciding to go the dental implant route is always an excellent idea. This is because dental implants near you are versatile, permanent, and a practical solution for replacing teeth. You get to have the chance of replacing the whole tooth, the crown, plus the root.
For most people, the main concern is pain. You might be wondering whether getting implants will be a painful experience or not. If you are, read on to understand more about tooth implants.
What Are Tooth Implants?
Dental implants near you are made from titanium, a biocompatible material. Technically, the tooth implant is a root replacement; however, they need to be covered using crowns. For implants to do their job, they have three main components:
- Implant – this is the root replacement that is made from titanium
- Abutment – this is the part fastened to the implant that connects the implants to the tooth replacement
- Tooth replacement – this is what is screwed to the abutment; it can be a crown, bridge, or even a denture
Since tooth implants are designed to replace the roots, they are surgically inserted into your jawbone. Also, since they are made from titanium, it fuses well with the body.
With the advancement of dental technology, we have several types of tooth implants. However, the main ones are:
- Endosteal implants which are the most prevalent and are placed directly into the jawbone
- Subperiosteal implants are placed under the gum but above or on the jaw
Will Surgery Hurt?
If you think of getting tooth implants, know that there are two parts before you get to enjoy your new set of teeth. The first part is the surgery itself, while the next is the recovery.
As mentioned earlier, implants are surgically inserted into your jawbone. Our dentist will have to make an incision on the gums to access the jawbone and then drill the jawbone to insert the implant. Sounds painful, right? However, before you the procedure commences, our dentist will use anesthesia.
Therefore, you can expect the procedure to be comfortable and painless. This is because the area will be completely numb. But, you can experience some pressure as our dentist drills the jawbone. Placing the implant usually takes about an hour to complete.
However, when the anesthetic wears off roughly an hour after the procedure, you may start feeling some mild pain. Most patients have said that the procedure is less painful than getting a tooth extraction.
In very rare cases, some patients may experience a considerable amount of discomfort after the procedure. At times, this can be caused by a poorly fitting implant or infection. But for most people, the experience is not as bad as they thought it would be.
Also, discomfort can be felt in the cheeks, underneath the eyes, and in the chin, depending on the location of the implant.
How Long Does Discomfort Last?
In most scenarios, you will feel discomfort or pain in the treated area, jaw, and face for about ten days. You can also experience some swelling around the jaw where the implant was placed. However, the swelling and pain may start reducing from the third day after the surgery.
If you have taken perfect care of yourself and adhered to our dentist’s instructions, then you may notice the pain varnish after 14 days. This means the jawbone and gums are healing nicely. But if you have pain and swelling after 14 days, there is a problem that needs to be checked. So, schedule an appointment with our dentist since this can signify an infection or the implant didn’t fit properly.
How Do You Reduce Discomfort During Recovery?
How you care for your implant will determine how your recovery will be. So, you need to know some after-care tips. Some of them are:
- Strictly follow the post-operation instructions. This means that you take your medication (painkillers and antibiotics) as instructed
- Routinely rinsing gently with warm salt water to kill germs and enhance healing
- Maintaining the highest standards of oral hygiene
- Avoiding spicy, hot, or crunchy foods for the first ten days after surgery
- Using a cold compress to help manage the pain and reduce the swelling
- Keep appointments with our dentist
The Bottomline
Getting dental implants is not a painful process since the surgery is performed under local anesthesia. However, after the procedure, some pain and discomfort can be managed with painkillers.
If you wish to understand more about tooth implants or need cosmetic dental care, contact us at Bayport Dental Care.