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Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?

If you’re considering dental implant surgery, you may have a concern about the potential for pain — and an understandable one. After all, the procedure involves inserting replacement tooth roots into the gums.

does dental implant surgery hurt

Fortunately, when completed by a highly skilled and qualified oral surgeon, the implant surgery procedure doesn’t hurt at all. Afterward, you may have some slight discomfort, but patients find it minimal and easy to manage.

Getting dental implants is relatively painless, so don’t let your worries stop you from replacing your missing teeth.

During the Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants don’t hurt because the procedure starts with a local anesthetic. Just as they would if you were having a cavity filled, your oral surgeon will make sure that portion of your mouth is numb.

In addition, you may also be sedated. If so, the choice of anesthesia is yours in most cases. Whether you opt for oral sedation, laughing gas or IV sedation, you’ll know where you are and what’s going on, but you won’t be nervous and you certainly won’t feel any pain.

After Dental Implant Surgery

After getting dental implants, you might feel some soreness, just as you would recovering from most medical procedures.

However, most patients report that recovering from dental implants is actually less painful than recovering from a tooth extraction. Most people are comfortable enough to return to work the day after implant surgery.

Managing Discomfort from Dental Implant Surgery

Naturally, some patients have more post-surgical discomfort than others.

Taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), applying ice and resting can keep the pain under control. Rinsing gently with warm salt water in the days after the procedure can also help.

For most patients, these measures make the recovery period smooth and relatively painless. If you can’t manage your discomfort that way, you can contact our office for additional pain management strategies.

In rare cases, an infection can develop, causing pain a few days after surgery. If that happens to you, you’ll need to call us ASAP. If left untreated, an infection can lead to dental implant failure.

Are you thinking about getting dental implants? With the professional team at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, you won’t have to worry about feeling pain during the procedure. And we’ll make sure you’re fully prepared to manage any discomfort you feel after your procedure.

With over 10 years of experience placing dental implants, Dr. Partridge and Dr. Maxfield understand how to keep patients comfortable before, during and after oral surgery. Contact one of our three Salt Lake City area offices — in Cottonwood Heights, South Jordan or Tooele — to schedule a dental implant consultation.

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