Do Dental Implants Hurt?

Back at the turn of the century, less than 1% of Americans had dental implants. Today, that number has jumped all the way up to right around 6%. And it sounds like the number could continue to grow as about 500,000 Americans are getting dental implants every year.

With this in mind, there is a decent chance that you might need to consider getting at least one dental implant at some point in the future. This may have you wondering, "Do dental implants hurt?" The answer to this question could be a deciding factor in whether or not you choose to go through with getting dental implants.

Today, we're going to answer this question as well as a bunch of other questions associated with the pain that can sometimes come along with dental implants. Learn what you need to know about getting dental implants below.

To Start, What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are becoming more prevalent these days in large part because so many Americans are losing their teeth. Well over 120 million people have lost at least one tooth at this point, and about 36 million people don't have any teeth at all.

Dental implants can help those who have lost teeth get them back. They're essentially small titanium posts that are designed to take the place of the root of a tooth. A connector, also known as an abutment, can then be placed on top of a dental implant with a crown, or replacement tooth, eventually going on top of that.

When everything is all said and done, those with dental implants will look like they still have all their teeth, even if they've all fallen out for one reason or another.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Dental implants have become popular among Americans because so many people are losing teeth nowadays. They're also becoming popular because of all the benefits that can come along with a person getting them.

Here are some of the top benefits you'll enjoy after getting dental implants:

They'll look just like real teeth and will give your confidence a boost
They'll make it so much easier for you to chew food
They'll prevent you from experiencing bone loss in your jaw
They'll stabilize the rest of your teeth
They'll reduce the chances of gum disease
They'll stop facial sagging from setting in
They'll last you for the rest of your life as long as you maintain them

As you can see, there are so many great reasons to invest in dental implants. They can change everything from the way that you feel when you smile to your oral health as a whole.

How Are Dental Implants Put Into Place?

Unfortunately, you aren't going to be able to walk into a dentist's office tomorrow and walk out with dental implants. There is a lengthy process that you'll need to go through to put dental implants into place and keep them there.

In most cases, you'll need to work your way through three phases while having dental implants placed in your mouth. Here is what will take place during these three phases:

You'll begin by having a dental implant placed in your jaw during surgery and then covered up with gum tissue so that it can integrate into your jaw over the course of three to six months
You'll have an abutment attached to the dental implant so that gum tissue can start to grow up and around it
You'll have a customized crown put on top of the abutment to complete your dental implant

There are some instances in which the first two phases will be combined with both a dental implant and an abutment being placed in your mouth at once. But this will depend on how your dentist decides to approach your dental implant surgery.

Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?

At this point, you know what dental implants are, how they can benefit you, and how they'll actually be put in place in your mouth. But you're still probably sitting there thinking, "OK, so do dental implants hurt?" Or more specifically, "Does dental implant surgery hurt?"

You'll be happy to hear that having a dental implant placed in your mouth shouldn't hurt one bit. This is a procedure that will typically be done after you've had either general or local anesthesia.

As a result, your entire mouth is going to be completely numb throughout your dental implant surgery. You won't have to worry about dealing with any pain while the surgery is going on or even after the surgery is finished.

Do Dental Implants Hurt Afterward?

Although dental implant surgery itself isn't going to hurt at all, you might experience some very mild pain in the aftermath of it. This is to be expected since you will, after all, be going through dental surgery when you have a dental implant inserted in your jaw.

That being said, the pain associated with dental implant surgery shouldn't be unbearable. In fact, some recent studies have suggested that the pain that comes along with having dental implant surgery is easier to manage than the pain that comes along with having a tooth extracted.

You should be able to deal with the mild pain associated with dental implant surgery by taking ibuprofen or a similar pain reliever. Your dentist should be able to recommend something that can help you take the edge off.

How Long Do Dental Implants Hurt?

The exact time that it will take for your mild pain to go away following dental implant surgery will depend on many factors. For example, the location of your dental implant might play a role in how long you experience pain.

There are some people who might continue to feel pain caused by a new dental implant for up to two weeks. But generally speaking, most people are only going to have to deal with mild pain for about three days or so before it'll begin to subside.

You can help your pain to go away faster by steering clear of eating anything that might agitate your dental implant. You can also do it by listening to any other directions that your dentist might give you about taking care of your dental implant.

Are Dental Implants Painful Forever?

The good news is that this mild discomfort is not going to last forever. Your mouth and jaw should gradually begin to feel better with every passing day. It won't be long at all before you're showing off your dental implant and putting it to good use by using it to chew food.

It's important for you to be patient and avoid trying to rush through the healing process. You might make things worse by trying to get back to eating like normal before you really should.

Should You Let Your Dentist Know If Dental Implants Keep Hurting?

If dental implants still hurt after just a few days, you don't have to rush to call your dentist to tell them about it. You should continue to wait it out for a little while longer to see if your condition improves.

If, however, you are still feeling pain caused by a dental implant more than two weeks after surgery, that could be a cause for concern. In this case, you will want to let your dentist know that things haven't gotten any better as far as your pain is concerned.

There is a chance that your dental implant may have been inserted into your jaw improperly, which might be the cause of your pain. There is also a chance that you might have an infection caused by your dental implant surgery that will need to be dealt with accordingly.

Either way, don't hesitate to inform your dentist of what's going on with your dental implant if it still hurts after the two-week mark. They'll more than likely want to bring you back in to take a look at your dental implant to see what the problem seems to be.

Can Dental Implants Cause an Infection?

Dental implants can cause an infection to form in your mouth if you aren't careful. So after you're done having dental implant surgery, your dentist will usually run through a list of things you'll need to do to take care of your new implant in the days to come to avoid an infection.

First and foremost, they'll stress the importance of steering clear of eating any foods that could irritate your dental implant. They'll also talk to you about rinsing your mouth out on a regular basis and speak with you about how to brush and floss your teeth with your new dental implant.

Additionally, your dentist might want you to come back to their office in a few days for a quick check-up. They'll do everything possible to prevent you from getting an infection.

Despite this, there is no guarantee that you won't still get an infection that could cause you to experience some additional pain. In this case, a dentist will most likely put you on an antibiotic that will clear up your infection and eventually make your pain dissipate.

Is the Mild Pain Associated With Dental Implants Worth It?

For most people, there is no getting around dealing with at least a little bit of pain when they're getting dental implants. Just like any other type of surgery, there will be a recovery process that you'll need to go through before you're able to get back to normal.

But many people who have had dental implants put in place in the past will tell you that this mild pain is well worth it. It's a very small price to pay for all the benefits that you'll get to enjoy when you have dental implants.

You'll also be happy to hear that going through dental implant surgery might help to prevent you from having to deal with more severe pain down the line. If you don't have implants put in, you might suffer from gum disease and other oral health conditions that could leave you living in a constant state of pain.

Going through the temporary pain associated with dental implant surgery will be a much better option for you overall. It'll be over before you know it, and it'll make your teeth and gums feel better than they have in a long time.

Plus, you'll love the way that your teeth look and feel when you're all finished with your dental implant surgery. Dental implants will put a little extra pep in your step and have you looking to show off your teeth at every turn.

Contact Us Today to Schedule an Evaluation for Dental Implants

Now that you know what to expect from dental implant surgery and understand the answer to the question, "Do dental implants hurt?", you shouldn't be afraid to consider this type of surgery anymore. It should sound like a much better idea than it may have earlier.

We would love to evaluate your teeth and talk to you about how dental implants could benefit you. We would also love to provide you with any number of other general dentistry services, including root canals, dentures, gum disease, and more.

Reach out to us today to get additional information on the long list of services we can set you up with.