If you currently wear dentures to replace one or more missing teeth, then you likely have to go without many of your favorite foods – as well as worry about something shifting out of place while you’re speaking or laughing. And if you have missing or misaligned teeth, then you may be understandably self-conscious about your smile.
In addition to doing away with these problems, dental implants can prevent future bone loss, keep adjacent teeth more stable, reduce the risk of gum disease, and even help to keep you looking more youthful. There’s no wonder why a procedure which satisfies 99% of patients is becoming more and more popular!
The dental implant process is relatively straightforward. After carefully reviewing their unique health history, the dentist or oral surgeon will surgically implant one or more threaded titanium cylinders into their patient’s jawbone. Once the bone surrounding the cylinder has fully healed during a process known as osseointegration, it becomes secure enough to support a tooth implant.
The recovery process following a dental implant procedure may take weeks or months depending on the patient’s underlying health. The dentist who performed the outpatient surgery will recommend plenty of things to help speed up their patient’s recovery, including:
- Getting ample rest
- Rinsing with salt water
- Drinking plenty of water
- Eating appropriate foods
- Practicing good oral hygiene
- Abstaining from tobacco and alcohol
Following your dentist’s recommendations leading up to and following your dental implant procedure is crucial to achieving the best possible health outcome. It will also help to mitigate the pain you will experience after the surgery. But this begs an important question:
How Painful Are Dental Implants?
The dental implant surgery itself is entirely painless thanks to procaine, a local anesthetic which is injected into the inner cheek or gum to numb the entire mouth. Procaine (which is more commonly known by the brand name Novocain) typically eliminates the sensation of pain for up to one hour per dose, although its noticeable effects may linger for up to five hours.
While the dental implant procedure has been essentially perfected in recent years, it still involves a significant amount of trauma to the jawbone and surrounding gums. It is impossible to predict just how much discomfort a patient will experience after the procedure. Your pain tolerance is greatly influenced by your age, physical condition, gender, and the unique composition of your nervous system. Research has even shown that the color of your hair may correlate to an increased threshold for pain! In other words, the amount of pain you’ll experience following any injury or surgery is wholly subjective.
That said, it is normal to experience at least some discomfort during the first few days after receiving a dental implant. For most patients the discomfort climaxes within three to five days of the treatment, with all pain subsiding after one week has passed – but like the perception of pain itself, this time period varies on a patient-by-patient basis.
Is Pain Medication Prescribed for Dental Implants?
It is normal for dentists and oral surgeons to recommend pain medication after performing a dental implant surgery. Motrin, Advil, Tylenol and generic ibuprofen tablets are all popular over-the-counter drugs that can effectively reduce pain and inflammation.
Stronger drugs such as Vicodin, Percocet, Norco, Lortab and Tylenol with codeine are often prescribed for patients who are at higher risk of experiencing severe pain, as well as those who report severe pain upon returning home. As with any prescription drug, it is vital that you follow all recommended precautions while you are taking prescription painkillers including abstaining from alcohol, driving, and operating heavy machinery.
Some dentists may prescribe Sockit! following oral surgery. This topical analgesic gel may be applied to the affected area four to six times per day for the first few days following surgery. Sockit! is safe to swallow, has only a mild flavor, contains no anesthetic substances, and can be especially helpful if you wish to avoid taking potentially habit-forming painkillers.
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Would you like to learn more about dental implants, including what to expect following the procedure and how you can minimize pain and discomfort during your recovery period? We welcome you to contact All About Teeth today with any questions you might have, as well as to schedule a consultation at our conveniently located clinic near downtown Logan, Utah.
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