In the vast majority of cases when a patient is recommended to get a dental implant, the first question they ask us is whether it will hurt to have the implant placed. This is largely due to the fear of the unknown that most of us have, as well as the stress we often feel when we go to the doctor.
The goal of Lola Escalante | Dental Office with this article is to describe the techniques available to us for managing pain in the dental office and to provide the reassurance patients need to cope with this situation.
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
In most cases, the dental procedures we perform are done under local anesthesia, with the patient fully conscious.
In other countries, such as the United States, the use of nitrous oxide as a sedative in dental clinics is widespread because these are minimally invasive procedures.
Postoperative pain is caused by tissue inflammation, so by controlling the inflammation and preventing possible infection, this pain will be greatly reduced or eliminated entirely.
What is the process for placing dental implants?
The first step in performing a dental implant procedure is to anesthetize the area to be treated. In most cases, LOCAL ANESTHESIA is used.
The effect of this type of anesthesia is to block nerve signals in this area; the patient remains conscious, but the area to be treated is numbed by the anesthesia so that the patient feels nothing during the procedure.
Intravenous sedation is rarely necessary.
There are different types of anesthesia that can be used depending on whether a longer-lasting or more intense effect than usual is desired. This allows us to plan our procedures and choose one anesthetic or another based on the desired effects, all to prevent pain for the patient.
Will I experience pain after dental implant surgery?
Once the procedure is complete, the patient is given a series of recommendations to ensure that they experience as little discomfort as possible and to help control inflammation and potential infection in the area, which, as we have mentioned, are the causes of pain.
Post-surgery tips:
At Lola Escalante | Dental Office, we recommend applying pressure with gauze to the affected area to help form a blood clot. For the same reason, we recommend that you do not spit or rinse your mouth for 24 hours; apply a cold compress to the area approximately every 2 hours; avoid exercising in the days following the procedure; and avoid moving the area so that it heals properly.
There are several chlorhexidine ice packs and sprays that, along with surgical brushes, are very useful in the days following surgery to prevent infections.
In short, in most cases we prescribe a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication to help prevent infections in the treated areas, but in cases where there has already been an underlying infection.
My dental implant hurts. What can I do?
The discomfort or pain that occurs immediately after the implant is placed is caused, as we mentioned, by swelling in the area following the procedure and should be easily managed with the guidelines and medications provided by the clinic.
As we have explained, the dental implant placement process is not painful, and any discomfort that occurs is due to swelling in the area. Therefore, if you experience severe pain after having a dental implant placed, you should go to the dental clinic immediately so that the specialist can examine you, determine the cause, and provide the appropriate treatment.
