Pain After A Dental Implant: What’s Normal?

If you recently had dental implant placement surgery in Southington, you may have questions about post-implant pain. What’s normal? What is a cause for concern? Southington Dentistry wants you to be informed about your aftercare and healing process, whether or not you received your treatment from our office. Here are a few things to keep in mind about dental implant pain:

Initial Pain After Your Dental Implant Surgery (1-3 Days)

The process of implant surgery is very advanced and minimally-invasive, and the goal is always to reduce post-operative pain. However, the fact remains that it is a major oral surgery, which requires Dr. Salesky to create an opening in your gum and jaw tissue. Because of this, some discomfort is to be expected after your surgery. Within a few hours, your numbing and sedation will wear off, and you may experience pain, discomfort, and tenderness near the affected tooth. During the first few days after your procedure, you will likely also experience swelling, bruising and inflammation near the implant site. Intermittent bleeding is also common.  This is all normal, and not a cause for concern. Make sure to follow the recovery instructions provided to you by Dr. Salesky to ensure that you take proper care of your implant and speed up your recovery. 

Healing & Recovering (3-7 Days)

By about 3-5 days, the discomfort and side effects of your implant should peak and then begin to subside. Within a week, most patients experience much less tenderness, and bruising and swelling will begin to subside as the area around the implant heals. After one week post-op, most patients can begin eating their normal diet again, though this may vary. 

Full Recovery (7-14 Days)

Depending on the individual, full recovery usually occurs within 1-2 weeks post-op (though another 3-6 months is necessary to ensure that your implant fully bonds with your jaw bone). When your implant is fully healed, you should feel no pain or discomfort, though it still may be slightly tender when pressure is placed on it. At this point, you can resume your normal diet, and strenuous activities like weight lifting and running. 

What If I Feel Pain After 2 Weeks And It Doesn’t Go Away?

This is not normal. Something may be interfering with proper healing. Smoking tobacco immediately after implant placement, for example, can dramatically slow down the healing process. It’s also possible that your implant has been infected, or that your body is reacting to the presence of the metal and is rejecting the implant. Whatever the cause, you should definitely see a qualified dentist for a follow-up if you are still experiencing serious pain and discomfort 2+ weeks after your operation. This is not normal.

Need A Dental Implant Or A Second Opinion? Book a Visit!

Experiencing pain with a recently-placed dental implant and want a second opinion? Interested in exploring the benefits of implants in Southington? Either way, Dr. Salesky is here to help. Contact us at (860) 628-5029 to get started, or stop by our office at 15 Cornerstone Ct #3a, Plantsville, CT 06479 to schedule a consultation in person.