Most patients do not experience any discomfort after receiving dental implants and can return to their normal eating and oral care habits soon after the final procedure.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a variety of benefits for patients seeking to replace one or more of their teeth. Dental implants are treated just like your natural teeth and can be brushed and flossed like normal. With dental implants, you can eat as you would with your natural teeth, which is not always possible with replacement options like dentures.
Dental implants also help retain the jaw’s bone density. The pressure you exert when you bite keeps the jaw’s bone density strong and prevents bone loss.
The Process of Getting Dental Implants
Generally, dental implants are completed in three steps. In the consultation, we assess the health of your teeth and gums and the density of your jawbone. If you need additional surgery such as tooth extractions or bone grafting, we schedule these procedures first.
Once any pre-implant surgeries have healed, you return to have the implants surgically placed into your jaw. The implants are tiny biocompatible titanium posts, and the bone needs time to fuse around them.
In your next visit, we affix the healing collar and abutment to the top of the implant.
The healing collar prevents the gums from growing over the implant, and the abutment is where the crown will sit. You need a few weeks to heal from this procedure.
In the last visit, we attach your crown to the implant. This part of the procedure has minimal discomfort.
What to Expect During Dental Implant Surgery
In today’s modern medical age, it’s never been easier to get in and out of a dental appointment without much discomfort. Most procedures are pretty simple and as minimally invasive as possible, reducing the chances of dental implant pain.
At My HM Dentist Kellyville, we use a 3D digital implant system (DIO) to increase our precision and reduce the chances you’ll experience any dental implant pain. Our DIO ensures that your dental implant surgery is safer, quicker, and more efficient, resulting in less swelling, inflammation, bleeding, discomfort, and no stitches to expedite your recovery.
While most dentists or oral surgeons work hard to keep discomfort to a minimum during and after the procedure, dental implants do require minor surgery to your gums and jaw. Just like with any minor surgery, the body needs time to heal. It’s during that healing process when it’s most important to understand how to manage dental implant pain.
Your dentist or oral surgeon numbs the area they’re about to operate on with an anaesthetic to block the pain and help you relax. During the procedure, you’ll likely just feel some pressure in your mouth and along your jawline as the implant is attached to the bone. If there’s any discomfort during this part of the procedure, immediately inform your dentist or oral surgeon.
What to Expect After the Procedure
While your jaw will be numbed using an anaesthetic, there may be some soreness at the dental implant site. You’ll be prescribed pain medication to help manage inflammation during this period and instructed to use ice packs to reduce swelling in the area. If you follow your dentist’s post-op instructions, you should recover from your dental implant procedure quickly.
To keep your implants free of infection, avoid using tobacco products for at least a week after your surgery. Tobacco can hinder the healing process and make your overall recovery much longer. You should also avoid harsh, hard, and sticky foods until you become accustomed to how your new dental implants feel in your mouth.
Final Thoughts
With more people opting for dental implants to repair lost or damaged teeth, it’s important to understand how to manage dental implant pain and discomfort. With just a little bit of collaboration with your dentist, you can ensure your recovery from your dental implant goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.
The dental professionals at MyHM Dentist Kellyville have the knowledge and experience to provide high-quality care and advice when it comes to dental implant pain before and after the procedure. Contact us today on (02) 9158 6379 and set up your consultation for dental implants.
