Dental implant surgery can provide a multitude of benefits, including the restoration of function and appearance to your smile after losing one or more teeth. Today, our Greenfield Park dentists respond to some commonly asked questions about any pain associated with the procedure.
Will my dental implant surgery hurt?
In short - it shouldn't!
OK, what's the long answer?
To start, we apply local anesthesia before beginning the procedure. This involves a needle, and during the procedure itself there may be some pressure, but since the nerves that transmit pain have been numbed by the anesthesia, they should signal little to no pain response. If needles or dental procedures are a cause of anxiety for our patients, there are sedation options available to make the procedure less stressful.
What happens during dental implant surgery?
As explained above, the first step is numbing the area where the implant is being surgically installed. Once we're satisfied that the area has been acceptably numbed, space is created in your gums and jaw bone for the titanium post that holds the implant in place. Our Greenfield Park dentists have access to computer 3D modeling tools to enable the creation and placement of the implant(s).
Lastly, the post is inserted and secured. A cap is placed on top to keep it safe while it heals for the next few months.
How long does recovery take and will it hurt?
You might be surprised that many patients express surprise at how unintrusive they find the procedure to be. You should be able to return to your regular life a few days to a week after the procedure. You still may experience some post-surgical discomfort for a little while afterward, but taking over-the-counter pain medication (e.g. ibuprofen) can help to relieve the pain and make healing more comfortable.
Crowning your Dental Implant
After the procedure, it takes around four months for a new dental implant to fuse to the bone. Once this has happened, it will be time to return to our Greenfield Park dental practice to have your dental implant(s) crowned. The crown is what will give the implant a natural look, much like a real tooth.