Thinking about getting a dental implant in Canberra City? Central Periodontics is a fantastic choice. Our experienced implant dentist, Dr. Bikram Sethi, has years of experience placing dental implants, and we deliver stellar results at an affordable price.

Whether you are missing a tooth due to an injury, or you’ve required tooth extraction after root canals have failed, we are here to help.

But you probably have quite a few questions about how dental implants work – and whether or not if dental implants are painful. So, does dental implant surgery hurt? We’ll answer that question – and quite a few more – in this article!

How Does Dental Implant Surgery Work?

The dental implant procedure is quite simple to understand. After you have recovered from an extraction and bone graft or sinus lift, if necessary, Dr. Sethi will clean the area of your missing tooth.

Then, a small incision is made, and the implant is placed into the gumline, reaching into the jaw. The top of the implant sticks out above the gum, and this is where the false tooth will be attached in the future.

After this, Dr. Sethi will stitch up the area with sutures. Then, the implant must heal for around 3-6 months. Dental implants are made of titanium, which has a unique ability to bond to the natural gum and jaw tissue in the mouth.

After your implant has healed, an abutment is attached to the top of the implant, and a tooth-shaped porcelain crown is attached. This completes the procedure.

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

A dental implant is a surgical procedure, and it does require an incision in your gum. This means that it’s going to be somewhat painful. However, you will not feel any pain during the procedure itself. Dr. Sethi uses anesthetic to ensure that the area being treated is completely numb.

We also offer sedation options to our patients. If you are worried about pain during the procedure, you can choose to be sedated, which will help you stay comfortable, and mitigate any potential pain during surgery.

However, dental implants do hurt for a few days after they are placed, and if you do not follow medical advice during the days after surgery, it could accidentally cause additional pain to your implant.

In the next section, we’ll discuss the importance of proper post-operative care for dental implants.

What Is The Dental Implant Post-Op Recovery Process Like?

Wondering what to expect during the dental implant recovery process? Here is an overview of what you should expect.

• Immediately after your procedure – You will likely still feel groggy if you were sedated. After your anesthetic wears off, you may experience some pain in the implant site. Typically, Dr. Sethi will prescribe some kind of pain reliever to ensure that your discomfort is minimised during this time.
  You may also notice some bleeding and spotting from your gums. This is normal. Periodic bleeding may occur for a few days after the implant is placed, but should stop within a week.
• 1-7 days after the procedure – You may feel discomfort in the chin, cheeks, or under your eyes, depending on where the implant was placed. There will also be bruising of the skin and gums around the implant site, in some cases. Ice packs can help you treat topical swelling and pain. Make sure to only apply ice packs to the exterior of the face. Do not make direct contact with the implant site.
  You should only be eating soft foods at this point, to ensure that you do not damage your implant, or cause further pain to your mouth.
• 7-14 days after the procedure – After about a week, most pain and discomfort will be gone. However, you should still continue eating soft foods.
  Your sutures will be removed or be dissolved after two weeks, depending on the type of suture used during your procedure.

In most cases, after about two weeks, you should be pain-free, and able to resume your normal diet, activities, and other habits. However, it will still take about 3-6 months for the implant to complete the bonding process with your oral tissue, so be patient.

If you are still experiencing significant levels of pain after two weeks, you should see a specialist implant dentist like Dr. Sethi as soon as possible – this is not normal, and could indicate a rare complication with your dental implant, such as an infection.

Interested In Dental Implants? Get A Consultation Today At Central Periodontics!

Dr. Bikram Sethi is an experienced, specialist implant dentist in Canberra City. At our practice, we can handle even the most difficult dental implants, which require bone grafting or sinus lifts.

So don’t wait. Dental implants usually have minimal pain, and the recovery process is fast and easy as long as you follow Dr. Sethi’s medical recommendations. Schedule your appointment today, and take the first step toward restoring your smile!

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.