Is Dental Implant Pain Normal?

You’ve lived with tooth loss long enough. You’re ready to enjoy the next best thing to your natural teeth with dental implants. Although you’re excited to have a complete smile again, you’re also a bit apprehensive because you worry about dental implant pain. As with any oral surgery, there will be discomfort for a few days during the healing process, but afterward, you shouldn’t even notice your dental implants. If your pain persists or reoccurs, it’s a sign of an underlying problem. It’s time to call your implant dentist right away to protect your new smile from failure.

Is Dental Implant Pain Normal?

A dental implant is designed to replicate the root you’ve lost. A titanium implant post is surgically placed into your jawbone. Your bone fuses to it through a process called osseointegration to provide a stable foundation for your restoration.

Since the process requires oral surgery, it’s normal to have some pain, but many patients say it isn’t any worse than a tooth extraction. Generally, you’ll experience some side effects of the surgery, including:

• Facial swelling
• Gum swelling
• Bruising of the face and gums
• Pain
• Minor bleeding

As you heal, your side effects will gradually improve. If they worsen or new pain occurs after you’ve healed, you need to call your implant dentist right away.

When Do I Need to Call My Dentist?

The Journal of the American Dental Association recommends you contact your dentist if your symptoms worsen in the days following your procedure because it can indicate an injured nerve. This occurs when the implant post touches the nerve that runs underneath your teeth. You may experience discomfort when touching near the implant. You may also have an unpleasant feeling in the lips.

After you’ve healed, you should not experience any issues. If you develop sudden pain or have a feeling the implant is loose, you need to see your dentist right away. These are symptoms of peri-implantitis, which is a preventable infection like gum disease.

Although painful, red, or tender gums may not be concerning at first, it can destroy the supporting structures for your dental implant and lead to failure. Thankfully, your dentist can often save your smile if you act quickly.

Stop Your Dental Implant Pain

If you have dental implant pain, don’t wait until it’s too late to save your smile. Your dentist will find the root cause of the problem to create a customized treatment plan to give you the relief you need. You can protect your investment with quick action and help from your dentist.

About Dr. Derek Cornetta

Dr. Derek Cornetta strives to build lasting connections with his patients because he believes you don’t need to hate going to the dentist. He provides high-quality care catering to your specific needs to invest in a healthy, beautiful smile. Supported by extensive qualifications and experience, he offers many advanced treatments, including dental implants. Contact Woodside Dental Care today to schedule your consultation for a complete smile.