Wondering what it would feel like after dental implant surgery? At EON Clinics, we want all patients to be well-informed about the healing process and aftercare. We have this guide about what is normal pain and discomfort and what isn’t post-implant surgery. Let’s get to know how I can experience pain after a dental implant, and understand what’s normal.

No Pain Immediately After Dental Implant Surgery

Just after getting dental implants and several hours afterward, the mouth remains numb. The patients experience persistent effects of sedation because of anesthesia provided during implant surgery. Therefore, at this time, the patients won’t feel any pain or discomfort.

Pain is at its Peak Usually After 48-72 Hours of Implant Placement

Once the effect of anesthesia wears off, the patients can start experiencing minor pain and discomfort. This is normally expected. Along with pain, the patients may even experience bruising, swelling, slight bleeding, and tenderness near the implant site(s).

Mostly, patients feel pain at its peak, sometimes between 48-72 hours post-surgery. Afterward, their pain or discomfort quickly subsides.

Minor Discomfort Lingers up to a Week Post-Surgery

Even if the pain subsides, the patients may normally experience some tenderness and discomfort near the surgical site(s). This stays for up to a week after implant surgery. During this time, the patients must follow the aftercare as recommended by the implant specialist or oral surgeon. The post-treatment instructions include having a soft or liquid diet and proper cleaning of the surgical site(s).

Implant Site(s) Completely Heals After 2 Weeks of Getting Dental Implants

For most patients, their mouth fully recovers within 7-14 days of having dental implants. Once their mouth heals, they no longer feel any pain or discomfort at their surgical site(s). They can return to having their normal diet without experiencing any oral complications.

After 2 weeks of the implant surgery, the patients are also advised to schedule a follow-up appointment. This is to ensure that their mouth is properly healing. At this time, the dentist may even remove removable stitches (if any).

It’s unusual for the patients to experience any severe pain or discomfort after 2 weeks of the surgery. In such cases, they must contact implant specialists right away. Dental professionals can help determine the source of the patient’s problem and accordingly treat them. The patients must consult dentists if they experience pain for more than 5 days and discomfort for above 10 days.        

What Causes Pulsating Pain after a Dental Implant Surgery?

It is uncommon for patients to experience throbbing pain for lengthy periods following dental implant surgery. Sharp pain is only felt for a few hours ahead of the procedure until the effect of anesthesia wears off. However, the pain diminishes over time with or without pain-relieving medications.

Following the implant placement, if the patients develop complications, they experience additional pain. The dentist or oral surgeon should promptly review such instances.

The common surgical complications associated with pain include:

• Opening of the Incision Line- This is the most common complication following an implant procedure. It occurs because of the reopening of the stitches of tissues surrounding the implant post. Patients having opened incisions may feel pain or irritation. To avoid infection, the patients should take antibiotics. Also, the oral surgeon may instruct the patients to rinse their mouth a few times daily with chlorhexidine rinse. If the pain persists, the patients would require additional medical care from professionals.  
• Improperly Fitted Dental Implants- Sometimes, the implant post may not correctly fuse to the jawbone. The lack of a proper osseointegration process may lead to implant failure which can cause pain or discomfort. In such cases, the dentist removes the implant and possibly reattaches it in the future or replaces it.
• Infected Dental Implants- This happens when bacteria start residing in the implant site and prevent it from healing. The surgical site may reopen or not heal.

How to Manage and Reduce Pain After Dental Implant Surgery?

To help the patients alleviate and manage pain following their implant surgery, the surgeon provides some post-surgery instructions. These may include:

• taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain-relieving medications
• certain diet modifications, such as avoidance of hot and hard foods
• applying ice packs for 15 minutes several times a day to get relief from swelling
• having proper rest on the day of the surgery and even subsequent days, depending on how the patient feels
• following instructions on how to care for the wounded site(s).

What to Do If There is Pain for Months or Years Following the Implant Surgery?

The patients experience pain near their implants months or years following their surgery due to implant failure or peri-implant diseases. This is an outcome of surgical complications. One of the signs of implant failure is pain experienced while pressing or tapping at the implant site. Other symptoms are inflammation, jawbone loss, loose implant, and the inability of the crown placed over the implant.

The risk of implant failure is more if the patient:

• is a smoker
• have an oral bacterial infection
• have a history of gum disease 
• suffers from untreated diabetes.

The patients may even develop pain for months or years if they are not properly caring for their replacement teeth. Dental implants care and maintenance is just like natural teeth. This includes daily brushing and flossing as well as regular dental check-ups at least every 6 months.

Improper oral hygiene care may cause peri-implant disease. This disease is caused by a build-up of bacteria inside the tissue surrounding the implants. It can result in tissue damage, inflammation, and jawbone loss. It is easy to treat the disease that affects only the oral soft tissues. If the patient ignores this disease, the condition may break the jawbone on which the implant sits. In that case, only reconstructive surgery can resolve the condition.

Interested in Getting a Dental Implant in Chicago, Illinois? Contact EON Clinics today!

Dental implants are an outstanding approach to restoring lost teeth for a lifetime. If you are seeking dental implants, EON Clinics experts are here to help. Schedule an implant consultation and see if dental implants are right for restoring your smile and also when one is experiencing pain after a dental implant. We have varieties of implants for you all of the top quality at affordable prices.