Unfortunately, pain is a very real part of life. This is especially true when talking about medical interventions. Those who end up needing dental implants aren’t sure what to expect when it comes to pain and its duration following the dental implant surgery.

It’s likely that patients will experience some pain, but its severity and length varies between each person. Luckily, there are some effective ways to handle and mitigate the pain.

Are dental implants painful?

Yes, patients who undergo dental implant surgery will experience some discomfort. Since you’ll have anesthesia during the actual procedure, the pain doesn’t start until this numbness subsides. At first, you’ll most likely feel discomfort that will gradually increase.

The precise amount of discomfort and pain is wholly dependent on the number of implants and the invasiveness of the procedure. The more implants required and the longer the procedure, the greater the pain that will follow.

How long does the pain last?

It’s not easy to give an exact timeline for the pain since each patient has a different experience. Normally, you can expect the discomfort and pain to last around 10 days following the procedure. Ideally, the dentist will offer you some pain medications to ward off the pain. There’s also some swelling involved that should start to disappear after 3 to 5 days.

Here’s a rough timeline outlining what patients can expect following their surgery:

One Week Following Dental Implant Procedure

It’s typical for patients to still have discomfort a week following surgery. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for recovery. It usually involves 10 days of recommendations to help reduce pain.

Two Weeks Following Dental Implant Procedure

Pain coming from the surgery should be gone at this point. If not, make sure to contact your dentist since you might have an infection.

3 to 4 Months Following Dental Implant Procedure

Any paint at this point is likely a sign of something serious. Here are some possible culprits:

  • Tissue or nerve damage
  • Allergic reaction
  • Your mouth is rejecting the implant
  • Infection
  • Poor health overall
  • Insufficient blood supply
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Complications with additional medications
  • In either of these instances, it’s important to contact a dentist right away.
  • One Year or More Following Dental Plant Procedure

Patients who experience pain or discomfort a year or more after their procedure could be suffering from one of the following issues:

  • Infection
  • Radiation to neck or head
  • Insufficient gum tissue
  • Bad oral hygiene
  • Teeth clenching or grinding
  • Consistent smoking

Once again, it’s critical to contact a dentist immediately if you’re feeling discomfort this long after the initial procedure.

While pain is an inevitable side effect of a dental implant procedure, the discomfort should only last around a week. Anything longer could be a sign that something is really wrong. That’s why it’s important for all patients to listen to their dentist’s instructions carefully and to be in conta