Getting a dental implant involves an invasive surgical procedure that can be painful and require some healing time. The dental surgeon must open your gum tissue and drill a titanium implant into the jawbone. These serve as anchors to support an artificial replacement tooth. However, dentists perform these procedures under local anesthesia to protect you from pain and calm you. You could feel pain once the anesthesia begins to wear off, but you can use pain medication for a few days after the procedure to manage it.

Thus, pain is expected after dental implants, especially a few hours or days following the procedure. However, the pain should improve with time, as your gum heals. Your dentist will discuss what to expect before, during, and after treatment. If the pain becomes unbearable even with pain medication, you should seek immediate medical care.

An Overview of Implant Surgery

A dental implant is one of the most common treatments for missing teeth. Dentists install implants to support an artificial tooth that permanently replaces a missing tooth. Dental implants have several benefits to offer, including protecting your jawbone from bone loss and improving your overall dental health. Although implants are costly, they can last decades with proper care. They restore the look, feel, and functionality of your teeth. Since they are also designed to look and feel exactly like natural teeth, you can smile and confidently socialize without worrying about your tooth replacement.

Dental implant surgery involves replacing the root of a missing tooth with a titanium implant that integrates with the jawbone. The surgeon screws titanium rods into the jawbone to create an anchor for the artificial tooth that will replace your missing tooth. The anchorage must be strong enough to restore the functionality of your tooth. With time, the artificial root (titanium rods) infuses with your jawbone to permanently support your tooth replacement. The fusion further strengthens the anchorage so that your artificial teeth cannot slide when you bite or chew. This can serve you for years without the need for a replacement.

Your dentist can recommend dental implants under the following circumstances:

  • If you want to replace one or multiple missing teeth with a more substantial or more permanent replacement
  • You have a healthy jawbone that can support an implant. If your jawbone is insufficient, you can undergo bone grafting before the implant surgery
  • Your gum tissues are healthy. If there is a dental or oral problem, your dentist will treat it first before replacing your missing tooth
  • You do not have an underlying medical condition that can affect your bone healing process
  • You are prepared to invest in and commit to a process that may take several months
  • You do not smoke or consume tobacco in any other way, since tobacco affects your healing process and also affects your oral health

Dental surgeons perform dental implant surgeries in an outpatient setting. The procedure is divided into several stages, with enough recovery time after each stage. These processes include the following:

  • The extraction of a damaged tooth
  • Preparing the jawbone for the implant (this stage is only essential if you need bone grafting to increase your bone density)
  • Placing the implant into the jawbone
  • Allowing the jawbone to heal and grow around the implant for fusion
  • Placing the abutment and the artificial tooth

The process can take several months before the restoration is complete. More time is needed between the procedures to allow you time to heal before the next process.

Pain After Dental Implant Surgery

Remember that dental implant surgery is an invasive procedure that is generally painful and uncomfortable. Dental surgeons administer anesthesia to protect you from pain and keep you relaxed throughout the process. However, you could experience pain and discomfort after the surgery once the anesthesia starts to wear off. Since your dentist will send you home with pain medications to use for a specified period, the pain will improve after a few days. You can also obtain pain medications over the counter, provided you use them according to your dentist’s prescription.

The pain you should expect will likely be more acute as the anesthesia wears off, but it will improve after a few hours and days. The pain will also be mostly near the treatment site in your mouth. Other signs and symptoms you could experience during the recovery period include the following:

  • Slight bleeding at the treatment site
  • Swelling on the gums near the surgery site, which can also cause your face to swell
  • Minor bruising of the soft tissues in the mouth, which could have accidentally happened during treatment
  • Jaw pain due to the implant, which should improve as your gum heals

In addition to giving you pain medication for home use after treatment, your surgeon can also explain how to care for your treatment site at home. Some of the instructions they can provide include the following:

  • To continue taking the prescription or recommended over-the-counter pain medication to manage your pain
  • To avoid some foods that could irritate your gums, cause bleeding, or prolong your healing, including hot and hard foods
  • Use an ice pack on your face to reduce swelling
  • Take time off work to recover after the procedure. You can take a few days to feel better and be ready to resume work. Even so, do not overexert yourself until you are completely healed.
  • The surgeon will also explain how you should take care of the treatment site at home for a quick and effective recovery.

Although you will experience pain after the treatment, it should not worsen as you take pain medication or care for the treatment site. If the treatment goes as planned, pain will be temporary and will reduce significantly as you heal. The dentist will put you on pain medication for three or seven days, meaning you should not experience extreme pain a week following the procedure. The last procedure should not take long to heal since you will have taken enough time to recover after getting dental implants. Then, you should resume your daily activities a day or two after the treatment.

However, healing does not happen at the same rate for all dental implant patients. Some people heal faster than others. You should speak to your dentist if you feel that your pain is taking longer than it should to subside. The bruising in the mouth, jaw stiffness, and gum swelling can also linger for a little longer. However, you should improve within seven to ten days after the surgery. If it takes longer than you expected, talk to your dentist.

What Causes Throbbing Pain After Getting Dental Implants?

Although throbbing pain is uncommon after dental implant surgery, it can happen. The kind of pain that your surgeon will warn you about is the sharp pain that comes a couple of hours after treatment. You experience this pain as anesthesia wears off. However, it should improve once you start taking pain medication. On the other hand, a throbbing pain could be a sign of a complication. If you have a complication, it could cause more pain than expected, prolonging your recovery. Report anything unusual to your dentist to ensure your surgical site is healing.

Here are some of the reasons you could experience additional pain after dental implant surgery:

If your Incision Line Opens

Remember that when an oral surgeon places an implant on your jawbone, they cut open your gum to expose the bone and then drill the metal into it for stability and fusion. Once the implant is correctly placed on the jawbone, the surgeon puts everything back in its position and stitches the gum closed. In some circumstances, the incision line can open, causing you additional pain and putting you at risk of an oral infection.

If the opening is not severe, rinsing your mouth with chlorhexidine a few times daily can help. You can also take antibiotic medication to prevent an infection. You should seek further treatment if the pain continues or worsens.

If the Implant is Improperly Fitted

A highly skilled and experienced oral surgeon should perform dental implant surgery. If not, you could experience pain or discomfort right after the treatment due to the implant not fusing properly with your jawbone. This problem worsens and could result in more severe complications if not fixed on time. Once you report the issue to your surgeon, they will remove the implant and replace it later. They must allow the incision to heal first before repeating the procedure.

If the Incision Becomes Infected

An open wound is always at risk of an infection. If you do not keep the treatment site properly cleaned, it could result in an infection that can quickly spread to the implant and the rest of your body. An infection will occur when harmful oral bacteria enter the treatment site. It will prolong your healing and could cause more complications, including reopening the incision line and impacting your general health.

In addition to pain, you should look for other signs of a complication after dental implant surgery. Other indications of a problem with your treatment include the following:

  • Fever and chills, which could indicate an infection
  • Nausea or throwing up
  • A swelling that worsens even after home-care treatments, like an ice pack
  • Continued or excessive bleeding hours  after treatment

Causes of Pain Years After Dental Implant Surgery

Any pain you experience after months or years of getting dental implants should be a cause for concern. It could be an indication of dental implant failure or a sign of peri-implant disease. Talk to your dentist immediately for a detailed examination and prompt treatment.

In most cases, dental implant surgeries are very successful. However, there is always a risk of complications in such dental procedures. An implant can fail months or years after placement. An indication of this could be a slight pain when you tap or press on the implant site. You could experience the pain when you bite down, chew, or perform any other activity that requires putting some pressure on the treatment site. Other signs of implant failure that you should be on the lookout for include the following:

  • Bone loss
  • Horizontal shift of the dental implant
  • Inflammation
  • The inability of your dentist or surgeon to attach a dental crown to the implant rod

Your risk of experiencing implant failure is higher if you develop an infection right after getting an implant. When bacteria grow in your mouth, they cause a lot of damage to your teeth and the implant before you notice and seek treatment. Also, if there is a history of periodontal or gum disease in your family, you have a higher chance of experiencing implant failure. Other people who will likely suffer the same include people with untreated conditions like diabetes and smokers. If your implant site takes a longer time to heal than the standard period, you are at risk of implant failure.

Pain near the implant site can also occur if you do not care for it or the artificial tooth. All your teeth need proper hygiene, including teeth replacements. You should brush twice and floss daily to remove stuck food from your teeth. You should also visit your dentist regularly for professional dental cleanings, regular checkups, and examinations. Neglecting oral care can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. This can result in tissue damage, bone loss, and inflammation around the implants.

Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me

Do you or someone you love experience pain after dental implant surgery in Northridge?

Pain after getting dental implants can be normal or abnormal, depending on the pain you experience, location, and timing. You should speak to your dentist immediately after experiencing the pain to determine its cause and find a solution. The pain you experience a couple of hours after treatment is expected, as anesthesia wears off. However, you should be concerned if it intensifies and you experience other symptoms like bleeding, fever, chills, and swelling.

At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we can answer any issue or concern you have before or after dental implant surgery. Call us at 818-701-3010 for more details about your dental needs and our services.