Missing teeth can lead to jaw degradation, gum recession, weakening of adjacent teeth, and poor self-esteem. The only missing teeth replacement options were dentures and dental bridges in the past.  

Dental implants have become the gold standard for filling gaps in your smile. These tiny titanium posts can replace a missing tooth or even an entire dental arch. This permanent tooth replacement option prevents jaw resorption making your face look fuller and younger. Because it is implanted into your jawbone, it mimics a tooth root anchoring the prosthetic for a natural-looking smile.    

If you are considering dental implants, you may be wondering: does a tooth implant hurt? While the surgery is minimally invasive, you can expect to feel some discomfort once the anaesthesia wears off. Here’s everything you need to know about dental implant pain. 

Dental Implant Procedure

Tooth implant surgery requires several steps over 6-9 months. Once your dentist has developed a customised dental implant plan for your unique smile and all the prep work has been completed, you will be ready for surgery. 

The surgery site will be numbed with a numbing paste before you receive a local anaesthetic. Then the implant is surgically embedded into your jaw. It takes between 6-12 weeks for the jawbone tissue to grow around the implant, anchoring it in your jaw. 

Once the anaesthesia wears off, you may experience mild dental implant pain,  bleeding, and swelling at the surgical site. This can be easily alleviated with an intermittent cold compress to your cheek and OTC pain relievers.  

Once the implant has fused with the jawbone, you will return to have the abutment added, which involves reopening the site and fitting the connector. Again, you may experience slight dental implant pain that can be addressed using an OTC pain reliever.   

It takes about two weeks for the wound to heal before the prosthetic tooth can be fitted.  

How Long Does a Tooth Implant Hurt After Surgery?

The amount of dental implant pain you experience depends on the complexity of the surgery and the number of dental implants. The longer the procedure and the more dental implants, the more discomfort you will experience. 

In most cases, patients experience some discomfort for about 10 days on average post-surgery. Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to help reduce the swelling and dental implant pain. Besides applying an ice pack and taking pain medicine, your dentist may suggest you avoid rigorous exercise, sleep with your head elevated, rinse with a saline solution to fight infection, and consume a protein-packed soft-food diet.  

How Long Does a Tooth Implant Hurt Timeline?  

The timeline for dental implant pain varies by individual, but our guide can help you determine if you need to call your dentist to have your dental implant evaluated.   

• One week: It’s normal to still have some discomfort. 
• Two weeks: The pain should have diminished. If the pain persists, call your dentist because you may have an infection. 
• Three months: Ask your dentist to assess the dental implant in case of infection, overloading, an allergic reaction, nerve or tissue damage, poor blood supply, or implant rejection.  
• One year: Your dentist should check for jawbone density and osseointegration, teeth grinding, gum recession, infection, and poor oral hygiene. 

Other Factors That Cause Dental Implant Pain

Dental implant surgery has a very high success rate of 90-95% over 10 years when performed safely by experienced dentists. Dental implant risks are infrequent but may occur just like any other surgery. Contacting your dentist is vital to your recovery. 

• Bone burn: Occasionally, the incorrect drill rotation speed, worn drill bits, or drill heat can damage the bone at the surgical site. Your dentist will have to remove the dental implant and any damaged bone. 
• Dental implant rejection: In rare cases, your body will reject the implant, and it fails to integrate with your jawbone. This causes it to loosen.   
• Loose dental implant: If you have insufficient jawbone mass, the dental implant can loosen. In this case, it will need to be removed and replaced.  
• Loose healing cap: If the screw inside the top of the implant becomes loose, your dentist will have to remove it, clean it and refit it. 
• Nerve damage: While uncommon, your dentist can damage a nerve with their drill or place the dental implant too close to a nerve, so it needs to be removed and replaced. 

Choose the Right Dentist

Although dental implant surgery can cause mild discomfort for up to 10 days, it is easily manageable. Choosing the right dentist is critical to the success of your surgery. 

At Dental Spot, we help you feel at ease by explaining all the steps before, during, and after treatment because your comfort and dental experience are important to us. We will ensure that you know the normal post-surgery expectations and how long your tooth implant should hurt. 

You can rest assured that you will be taken care of from the initial consultation to the final dental crown placement and beyond. For more information about dental implants or to request a consultation, contact us on (02) 9158 6115. 

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

References

Factors Affecting the Survival Rate of Dental Implants: A Retrospective Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774056/#

6 Main Reasons of Dental Implant Failure: Part 1
https://bio3-implants.com/doctors/articles/dental-implant-failure-part-1