How Long Do Teeth Implants Hurt After A Procedure
Many people who need dental implants worry about the pain associated with the procedure. They wonder how long it takes to recover from dental implants, how long the pain lasts, how mild or intense it is and how to cope with it.
The good news is that dental implants don’t hurt as much as people expect it to, hurting less than tooth extractions in many cases. Ultimately, the severity of the pain and how long it lasts varies depending on your individual situation.
What Can Cause Dental Implant Pain?
Dental implant pain can occur during various stages of the implant process or even after the implant has fully integrated with the jawbone. Some common causes of teeth implant pain include:
- Surgical trauma – During the implant placement surgery, the dentist or oral surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue and drills into the jawbone to insert the implant. Some pain and discomfort are expected immediately after surgery due to the trauma to the tissues and bone.
- Infection – Dental infection at the implant site can lead to pain, swelling, and discomfort. This can occur during the healing period after surgery or even after the implant has fully integrated (osseointegrated) with the jawbone.
- Nerve injury – In some cases, dental implant placement may inadvertently damage nearby nerves, leading to persistent or intermittent pain.
- Sinus issues (for upper implants) – Implants placed in the upper jaw, particularly in the posterior region, may extend into the maxillary sinus cavity.
- Overloading or excessive forces – Excessive pressure on an implant, often due to biting or chewing forces, can lead to pain or discomfort. This can occur if the implant-supported prosthesis is not properly balanced or if there is inadequate bone support.
- Post-operative complications – After implant surgery, complications such as hematoma, swelling, or dry socket (if adjacent natural teeth were extracted) can cause pain and discomfort.
Dental Implant Pain After One Week
Once the numbness of the anaesthesia wears off after the procedure, you will begin feeling mild pain, discomfort and swelling. This can include aching and pain in the jawbone, chin, cheeks and under the eyes. This can last up to 10 days and as little as 3 to 5 days. If pain and swelling is an issue, it can be treated using pain relief medication and ice packs.
Dental Implant Pain After 10 Days
After 10 days, pain should have subsided. If you still have pain after this period, it may be a sign that something is wrong. You may have an infection or be suffering from another rare complication. For example, sometimes dental implants can become loose due to not having enough bone mass or other issues. These can generally be resolved.
Dental Implant Pain After Three Months
If pain is persisting after three or four months, it can be a sign of one of the following issues:
- Your body rejecting the dental implant
- Poor blood supply
- Side effect from other medications
- Poor overall health
- Allergic reaction
- Nerve or tissue damage
- Overloading, a complication related to bone loss.
Contact your dentist immediately if you are feeling pain. You should recover from dental implants after 10 days. The longer pain lasts past that point, the more serious the issue might be.
Dental Implant Pain After a Year
If you start experiencing pain a year or several years after your dental implant procedure, it may be caused by one of the following issues:
- Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
- Poor oral hygiene
- Bone loss
- Smoking
- Lack of gum tissue in the area
- Radiation to the head or neck.
Once again, you should visit your dentist immediately if you experience dental implant pain after this long.
Do You Need Teeth Implants?
At Emergency Denture Repairs, we provide a wide range of general and cosmetic dentistry to clients in Perth, including dental implant procedures. Our team is highly experienced, reducing the likelihood of complications after you get dental implants. We believe everyone deserves to be able to smile with confidence as well as speak and eat with ease. That’s why we’re committed to providing excellence in dentistry.
We accept all major health funds and have six convenient clinics throughout Perth as well as a mobile service. Call (08) 9382 2222, book an appointment online or find your closest location.