Dentistry has advanced to the point where dental implant surgery is one of the most effective and long-lasting options for tooth replacement. This operation, however, is almost always associated with some discomfort because it entails implanting an artificial tooth root into the jawbone. Many dental patients are anxious about the amount of pain they may experience following surgery as well as how long it will last.
What exactly is dental implant surgery and how does it work?
It is vital to understand what happens after a patient obtains an implant in order to gain an understanding of how uncomfortable the implant process might be. Often, a bone graft is utilized to prepare the area after a natural tooth has been extracted but before an implant is placed in the area. These grafts help the jawbone grow new bone, which makes the jawbone stronger and helps the implant be a success when it’s put into the jawbone.
During dental implant surgery, a hole is drilled into the jawbone by the patient’s dental professional. A metal post is used to fill in the gap created by the hole. This metal post is used in place of a natural tooth root to support the tooth. Providing the implant with adequate time to Osseo integrate, or to allow the patient’s jaw bone to grow through it, is critical. The fact that this operation can take months does not detract from the fact that it is important for a healthy and long-lasting implant. Although the dental crown and post are connected by an abutment, osseointegration does not take place between the two until the abutment and post are connected.
It is possible that the dentist will need to undergo minor surgery in order to insert the abutment. This is a straightforward operation that only has an effect on the gums. It may cause some bleeding and swelling, but the pain caused by the abutment implantation is not as bad as the pain caused by the metal post.
Is implant surgery a painful procedure?
During dental implant surgery, the gums and the jaw are both damaged. Because the area around the mouth will be numb, the surgery itself should be rather comfortable. Those who have surgery may also feel some pain when the numbness wears off. Patients who are experiencing discomfort at the implant site are frequently prescribed pain medications by their dentists. Depending on the conditions, post-operative discomfort may be mild enough to be addressed with over-the-counter pain medicines in some cases. It is very likely that a single implant will cause less discomfort than a surgery that includes multiple implants. It is common for patients to experience pain for up to 10 days after treatment; however, it may go away sooner.
If substantial discomfort remains after the 10-day period, patients should schedule an appointment with a dental professional as soon as possible. Pain that persists for an extended period of time could suggest that the implant site has been polluted. If this is the case, the dentist must act quickly in order to keep the implant from being lost forever.
Conclusion
Pain is something that no one likes to be in, especially when it comes to their teeth. Dental implant candidates, on the other hand, should not be deterred from obtaining treatment because they are concerned about post-surgical discomfort. Patients will benefit from the implant treatment because it is designed to be a long-term tooth replacement. Once completed, the implant procedure will provide a patient with a gorgeous new smile.
