Patient Education
Are Dental Implants Painful?
At Enterprese Dental Care in the heart of the Bowie-Mitchellville, MD community we’re here to answer your concerns and questions about dental implants. Prospective patients want to know if the procedure is painful and how long it takes to fully heal? One thing we do know is most patients feel their dental implant was well worth it.
Your implant surgery will be performed by Dr. Kevin Granger, a dentist who “acts on” his belief in compassionate dentistry.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Implant surgery is sophisticated and designed to be as non-invasive as possible. An implant procedure is considered major oral surgery. We need to create an opening in your gum and jaw tissue to accept the implant. So, pain and swelling is to be expected.
You won’t experience any pain during the implant procedure itself because you are under anesthesia. Once the procedure is completed and the anesthesia wears off patients tell us the pain level is less than the pain of a typical tooth extraction.
The Dental Implant Healing Process
You are not alone in the recovery process. We provide detailed recovery instructions. If you follow them diligently you will likely have a great recovery. Dr. Granger is also available by phone should you have concerns.
It is reasonable to expect swelling, bruising and inflammation near the implant site after any surgery. Antibiotics and painkillers are provided to address these symptoms. Expect the swelling to decrease by the third or fourth day. Ask us about Platelet Rich Therapy to reduce post-operative pain and to promote tissue and bone growth.
The discomfort of the procedure should peak within three to five days. There will be tenderness and bruising but the swelling will begin to subside as the area heals. Most patients can start eating their regular diet around day seven. Full recovery occurs within ten to fourteen days of the procedure.
Still Experiencing Pain After 14 Days
If you feel pain after fourteen days please call us immediately. Pain can be caused by a variety of things. If you are a smoker, smoking will slow down the healing process dramatically. Or, an infection may have developed. Finally, in rare cases your body may be reacting to the presence of the metal and is rejecting the implant.