One of the most common dental problems is tooth loss. In fact, statistics show that almost 180 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, and 40 million of those have no natural teeth left.
At Arlington Dental Excellence, one of the most common ways we treat tooth loss is with dental implants. Placement of dental implants requires oral surgery, so you will be given local anesthesia. If necessary, you may be provided a sedative or general anesthesia, depending on your needs. We will discuss these options at your consultation appointment.
One of the primary concerns that our patients have when it comes to dental implants is the pain involved. All dental procedures involve some level of pain and discomfort. Here is what you can expect from dental implant surgery and what to do if the pain and discomfort last longer than they should.
Dental Implants Explained
Dental implants are made of surgical-grade titanium because this material has been proven to be biocompatible. There are two main types of implants:
- Endosteal: most common, the implant is inserted into the jawbone.
- Subperiosteal: less common, the implant is placed under the gum but on or above the jawbone.
Dental implant placement involves several appointments over several months to a year. The three main steps of implant placement are:
Implant placement: the implant is a screw placed under the gums to serve as the artificial tooth root. You will have a few months for osseointegration to occur, the process of the jawbone healing around the implant to secure it in place.
Abutment attachment: the abutment is the connector that will attach the implant to the crown, or prosthetic tooth.
Crown attachment: the crown is the prosthetic tooth. It will be customized to match your remaining natural teeth so that it blends in. This means that unless you tell people that you have dental implants, they will never know.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
You will be given local anesthesia to numb the area where we are working, so you should not feel any pain. If necessary, we also offer sedation via nitrous oxide, oral anesthesia, or IV. We have an oral surgeon and anesthesiologist on staff who handle our IV sedation cases.
We will discuss your anesthesia needs during your consultation so that we can include it in your treatment plan.
Pain Following Dental Implant Surgery
As with any surgery, you may have some pain and discomfort for a few days afterward. This pain will be most acute when the anesthesia begins to wear off, and the pain will be centralized around the implant site. You may also have some jaw pain, bleeding at the surgical site, minor bruising, and swelling around the gums or face. This should all clear up within a few days.
In order to manage any pain and discomfort, you will be given some post-operative instructions including:
- Take prescription or OTC medications as directed
- Avoid hard or hot foods
- Use ice packs to reduce swelling
- Rest the day of the surgery and, if necessary, subsequent days based on how you’re feeling
- Aftercare instructions for the surgical site
How long should pain and discomfort last?
As long as everything is healing as expected, pain and discomfort should only last for a few days. In fact, most patients only experience pain for up to 5 days and only need medication for the first couple of days. Some patients can even get back to their normal routine the day after. Bruising, jaw stiffness, and swelling may last up to 10 days after the procedure.
What if dental implant pain lasts for more than 2 weeks?
If you have pain and discomfort that lasts more than 2 weeks or worsens, contact us as soon as possible. This could indicate complications.
What if I have pain and discomfort for months or years following implant surgery?
Dental implant pain occurring months or years following surgery could indicate implant failure or peri-implant disease. Dental implants have a 95% success rate, which means failure is very rare.
If you have pain when pressing or tapping on the implant site, you may be experiencing implant failure. Some of the other symptoms include:
- Horizontal movement of the implant
- Inflammation
- Bone loss
- Inability to attach the crown to the implant
Your risk of implant failure increases with the following:
- Bacteria buildup
- History of periodontitis or gum disease
- Untreated diabetes
- Smoking/tobacco use
- Not practicing proper oral hygiene
In addition, not practicing proper oral hygiene can lead to peri-implant disease, which can lead to inflammation and ultimately, tissue damage and bone loss.
Causes of Throbbing Pain after Dental Implant Surgery
For a few hours after surgery, you may feel sharp pain as the anesthesia wears off. However, with pain medications and time, this will diminish. Throbbing pain for an extended period of time following surgery is not common. If you do have throbbing pain for more than 2 weeks after surgery, you may have complications such as:
Incision site opening
One of the most common dental implant complications is incision site opening. If this happens, you will experience pain. You will be given an antibiotic to avoid infection or be instructed to use a chlorhexidine rinse several times a day. If the pain doesn’t resolve, you may need additional care.
Improperly fitted implant
In some cases, the jawbone does not properly fuse with the implant. If this happens, the implant may need to be removed and possibly replaced in the future.
Infection
If you do not practice proper oral hygiene, you’re at an increased risk of bacteria getting into the surgical site. This can cause infection and prevent the site from healing properly.
Signs of Dental Implant Complications
If you experience pain, along with the following symptoms, you may be experiencing dental implant complications. Contact us as soon as possible if you have any of the following:
- Fever
- Continuous, excessive bleeding for several hours after the surgery
- Nausea/vomiting
- Increased swelling
We will get you an emergency appointment to determine what steps we need to take to resolve these issues. We are located on Fairfax Drive in Arlington. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Saturday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
FAQs
Is the pain worse for All-on-4 implants than for a single implant?
Full-arch procedures like All-on-4 typically involve more surgical sites at once, so post-op discomfort and swelling can feel more noticeable than with a single implant, though it’s still managed with the same anesthesia and pain control approach. Our guide on the All-on-4 process walks through what the procedure and recovery involve.
Will I need sedation, or is local anesthesia enough for most patients?
Local anesthesia is enough for many single-implant cases, but sedation options like nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV sedation are available for patients who are anxious or having more extensive work done, such as multiple implants at once.
Does having diabetes make implant surgery or recovery more painful?
Pain levels during surgery aren’t typically different for diabetic patients, but healing can take longer if blood sugar isn’t well controlled, which can extend the discomfort window. See are dental implants safe for diabetics for more on what affects healing.
Can smoking make the pain and swelling after surgery worse?
Yes, smoking restricts blood flow and slows healing, which can prolong discomfort and swelling and increase the risk of complications at the surgical site. Our articles on dental implants for smokers and the impact of smoking on dental implants explain the connection.
Is throbbing pain a sign my body is rejecting the implant?
True implant “rejection” is rare; most complications, including persistent throbbing, come from infection, an incision site reopening, or the implant not properly fusing with the jawbone rather than the body rejecting the titanium itself.
What can I eat in the first few days to avoid making the pain worse?
Sticking to soft, cool, or room-temperature foods and avoiding anything hard, crunchy, or very hot helps protect the healing site and keeps discomfort manageable. Our guide on what to eat and avoid after dental implants has a full list to plan around.
Can grinding my teeth at night affect healing or pain levels?
Yes, nighttime grinding puts extra pressure on a healing implant site, which can increase pain and even interfere with osseointegration if it’s not addressed, sometimes requiring a nightguard during recovery.
Is it normal to have jaw pain that isn’t near the implant site?
Some jaw soreness or stiffness from having your mouth open during surgery is common and usually separate from the implant site itself. If jaw pain persists or feels different from typical post-op soreness, it’s worth mentioning at a follow-up. See will dental implants cause headaches for a related look at referred pain and tension.
How does implant pain compare to getting a tooth pulled?
Many patients describe implant placement recovery as similar to or slightly more involved than a tooth extraction, since it also includes a healing period for the bone to fuse around the implant. Our guide on is tooth extraction very painful offers a comparison point if you’ve had one before.
If my pain comes back months after everything felt fine, what should I do?
Pain that returns well after your initial healing period is not typical and can signal an issue like peri-implant disease or implant failure, so it should be evaluated rather than treated with over-the-counter pain relief alone. See how long do dental implants last for more on what causes late-onset problems.