Questions About Dental Implants and Pain

September 3, 2022 dentistry 0

Like many of our patients, you may be wondering whether the placement of dental implants is painful. In this article, you’ll find answers to your most frequently asked questions about dental implants and any misconceptions related to pain.

Is dental implant placement painful?

Dental implant and pain are terms that concern most patients. However, when considering the available options, the placement of dental implants is not a painful procedure. It typically takes our oral surgeons between 15 to 30 minutes to place a dental implant. This minimizes bone disruption and promotes faster healing. Furthermore, for your comfort, our dental surgeons routinely provide you with pain relievers and anti-inflammatories at the end of the procedure. This way, you won’t experience post-operative pain, and you can continue with your normal life immediately after the intervention.

Is a dental implant done under local anesthesia?

Yes, the dental implant placement procedure is done under local anesthesia. Since the relevant area is completely numbed for the placement of the dental implant, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. After the implant is placed, a healing period of 3 to 9 months is typically required for the bone to heal around the implant. Once osseointegration is completed, the final ceramic prosthesis can be placed on the abutment of the dental implant, and this second step is also painless. To put your mind at ease and minimize any fear of pain, our doctors recommend that you undergo your treatment under intravenous sedation. This is a sedation method applied in addition to local anesthesia and is performed by an anesthesiologist. This way, you will enter a semi-conscious state filled with positive feelings and detach from reality during the procedure. You will relax during the intervention and lose track of time, but you won’t fall into a completely unconscious state. Additionally, you won’t experience any pain during or after the procedure.

After the implant is placed, will we feel any pain?

After the dental implant is placed, and in the following days, various reactions can occur:
Minor Sensitivity: After a successful dental implant operation, some patients may experience post-operative pain and sensitivity. This pain typically arises not from the implant itself but from the fact that the gum tissue was incised and manipulated during the procedure. However, this post-operative pain can usually be easily relieved with the use of conventional pain relievers (analgesics). These analgesics will be provided to you after the operation.
Swelling: It is referred to as swelling in the gums and cheeks that occurs as a result of an inflammatory reaction following any surgical intervention. It is usually present in a very mild form.
Hematoma: Nadir görülür, ancak kemik grefti veya önemli bir operasyon sonrasında ortaya çıkabilir. Operasyondan sonra devam eden iç kanama nedeniyle oluşur. Yayıldığında etkileyici görünebilir, ancak nadiren rahatsızlık vericidir. Genel olarak, dental implant yerleştirildikten birkaç gün sonra, ameliyat sonrası ağrı, şişlik veya hematom olmamalı ve dental ipiniz emilmeye başlamalıdır.

Do implant-supported prostheses cause pain?

At the end of the healing process, dental implants are ready for the placement of definitive prostheses. This procedure is painless. However, an adaptation period of about 1 month is needed to get used to the new teeth.

Our dentists recommend gradually reintroducing harder foods. Then, you will find the full function of your teeth and notice a significant improvement in your daily comfort.

What are the post-operative treatments and recommendations?

For your comfort, our dental surgeons will systematically provide you with pain relievers and anti-inflammatories after your operation. You will not feel any pain after the operation, and you can continue with your normal life immediately after your intervention.

Similarly, to facilitate healing, your surgeon will provide you with post-operative recommendations, especially regarding oral hygiene and diet. During the healing process, you will need to prioritize soft foods to avoid exerting excessive pressure on the implants. Additionally, you will need to brush your teeth three times a day and rinse your mouth.

What solutions do we offer?

Local Anesthesia

In most cases, the dental implant placement procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Therefore, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure as the area where the dental implant is placed is completely numb. The main advantage of this type of anesthesia is that the patient can leave immediately after the procedure.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is rarely used in the context of implant placement and is reserved for highly anxious patients or for severe and complex operations.

Can the body reject an implant?

In implant surgery, we are not referring to the rejection of the implant but rather implant failure. When an implant does not integrate with the jawbone, it is not related to immunological rejection reactions observed in organ transplants.

In the clinic, due to the technical skills and experience of dental surgeons, along with the use of reputable brands and high-quality materials, the success rate of dental implants is about 98%. The remaining 2% accounts for implant failures, with the main reasons being attributed to inadequate oral hygiene, poorly treated periodontitis, or susceptibility to infections.

What are the ways to protect your dental implants and prevent problems and discomfort?

Adequate oral hygiene is necessary for the long-term success of dental implants. To maximize the lifespan of implants, it is important to brush your teeth and implants at least twice a day for two minutes each time, and then effectively clean the spaces between teeth and implants using dental floss or interdental brushes.

What is the lifespan of a dental implant?

The lifespan of a dental implant varies depending on the patient’s oral hygiene. If you follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions diligently and maintain excellent hygiene, you can likely preserve your implant for a lifetime!