Are you afraid of having Dental Implants?

What are Dental Implants?

Dental Implants are titanium screws that are placed in the jaw bone. A post is then secured to the dental implant and either a crown, bridge or denture can be fixed to this.

The advantages of implants:

• The titanium screws act like a root making the crown more stable
• Some people can be allergic to the materials that are used to create dentures whereas implants are completely bio-acceptable
• Speech is generally better with implants as dentures can be quite irritating and they have to be removed at night.
• There are no sore points with implants as they do not move
• Your ability to chew is completely restored

Disadvantages:

• Dental implants do take longer to be fitted as opposed to a denture
• Implants are more expensive
• If you grind your teeth at night then implants may not be the best option for you

Are dental implants painful to have done?

Pain is a common concern amongst patients planning to get dental implants. While any form of dental surgery does come with some discomfort, patients generally find that the pain of dental implants is minimal, and the results are well worth the recovery process.

Because dental implant surgery is performed with either local or general anaesthesia, the procedure itself is not painful. Your mouth will be numb as implant is surgically placed into the jaw bone. If you are concerned about discomfort during the procedure itself, we do offer sedative options which can make you more relaxed while in the dentist’s chair.

After each surgical stage, some degree of pain and discomfort is to be expected. Many patients find that pain is one of the first things they notice after getting an implant, once the anaesthesia wears off. Following dental implant surgery, the dentist may prescribe a pain reliever to alleviate discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers are also available.

You can expect soreness in the area where the implant is being placed, as well as in the jawbone surrounding this area. Drilling a hole into the jawbone does cause some discomfort for about a week after the procedure.  Depending on where the implant is located, this pain may extend to the cheeks, the chin, or underneath the eyes. Most patients find the pain of dental implant surgery to be roughly equivalent to that of getting a tooth pulled or getting a root canal, although the degree of discomfort varies from patient to patient.

There are several factors that can affect the amount of pain felt after dental implant surgery. If your surgery was particularly complex, or if it required bone grafting, sinus surgery, or other additional treatments, you can expect more pain afterwards. The good news is that most patients find the subsequent stage of dental implant placement, in which the crown is placed on top of the implanted screw, to be less painful than the initial procedure, which involves drilling into the jaw bone.

Other side affects you may experience include bruising, bleeding, and swelling. All of your side effects should disappear within a week to ten days. Some patients find that the initial discomfort wears off in 2 to 3 days, but returns on the 4^th and 5^th days. This is normal, and does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong, particularly if the pain is not accompanied by increased swelling. In order to reduce pain and other side effects, you can apply an ice pack to the outside of your mouth, over the implant area. Get plenty of rest so that your body can start the healing process.

The recovery after dental implant surgery depends on many factors, and each patient’s recovery process is unique. Some people heal faster than others. If you still have pain two or three weeks after the surgery, contact your dentist, as lingering pain could signify an infection or another problem with the implant. If you have any questions about whether the side affects you experience are normal, contact your dentist.

Factors That Affect the Level of Discomfort

The complexity of the operation can impact the amount of soreness. Having a bone graft or sinus lift done before your surgery will typically cause additional tenderness afterwards. You may also experience side effects such as bruising, swelling and bleeding to a certain degree depending on your gum and bone health. The experience varies from person to person and so does how quickly they heal.

Follow the post-procedure instructions that you are given carefully.

• Your dentist will recommend that you take painkillers following the procedure to alleviate the discomfort. Ibuprofen is typically recommended. If you choose to take it, you should take around 600mg every eight hours or so. If this does not relieve your pain, tell the dentist so they can prescribe something stronger.
• Used an ice pack to reduce the swelling. Apply it to your cheek or lip as soon as you can after you get home.
• Bathe (don’t swish or gargle) your gums in warm salt water.
• Avoid solid/hard foods to prevent irritation. Cold and soft foods like ice cream, smoothies and yogurt are ideal.
• Pay extra special attention to your oral hygiene.
• If the pain gets worse, lasts longer than it should or is abnormally strong, contact a medical professional immediately to avoid serious problems.
• Get plenty of rest and don’t do anything strenuous to let the healing process do its thing.

If you notice any signs of swelling, infection or irritation after the timelines mentioned above, you should seek medical attention. They can check the implants and surrounding gum tissue and repair any problems. If these signs last for more than two or three weeks then something might be wrong with it.

• With plenty of rest, painkillers, and ice packs, you should be able to minimize the amount of pain you experience after your surgery. A few days of pain and discomfort is a small price to pay for long-term dental health and a great looking smile.

Perfect Smile Spa based in Hornchurch Essex is a Leading Cosmetic and Implant Dental practice and is dedicated to PAINLESS dentistry. We work very closely with our prosthodontist who is on the specialist register.

Call us for a free consultation on 01708 442 114 or email care@perfectsmilespa.co.uk Are you afraid of having Dental Implants? was last modified: July 2nd, 2018 by Perfect Smile Spa