What to Expect: Pain and Recovery with Dental Implants

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be exploring the idea of dental implants. After all, a gap in your smile affects not just your self-confidence but also your ability to chew and even speak effectively. Fortunately, Dr. Ali Shahrokh can help you restore your smile and functionality with dental implants. Some patients are concerned about the pain involved in the implant process. Let’s learn more about what you can expect with the procedure and recovery.

1. Immediately Following the Implant Procedure

Right after your appointment to place your titanium implants, you’ll still have numbness from the anesthetic used during the implant surgery. Most people will also still feel the sedation effects if they opted for oral sedation for the treatment.

2. 48-72 Hours Following Surgery

You’ll likely experience the majority of the discomfort during the first 2-3 days after your procedure. While some patients describe the discomfort as painful, others say it’s milder. During this time, the inflammation and swelling are at their peak, so you’ll probably be uncomfortable. 

Discomfort during the first couple of days following the procedure can be managed using over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. In some cases, the dentist may prescribe pain medication. It’s also helpful to stick to soft foods and avoid hot beverages. Applying ice in 20-minute cycles will help reduce inflammation and swelling. 

3. Days 4-7 After the Dental Implant Procedure

By day four following your implant procedure, you will likely be past most of the pain and discomfort and will start feeling much better. Once your discomfort has subsided, you can start eating more foods and discontinuing pain medication. Your swelling should be significantly reduced, and irritation will be minimal. You can also resume your regular activities, including exercise and work. 

4. One Week After the Procedure

You should begin feeling back to normal within a week to ten days after you receive your dental implants. Most of the pain will have subsided by now, and you can start eating and drinking normally. In some cases, it may take up to two weeks to recover fully, particularly if you have medical conditions causing you to need more healing time. 

5. Beyond Two Weeks After Your Implant Procedure

If you’re still feeling a lot of pain after about two weeks, you may need to get in touch with your dentist. Lingering pain could indicate a post-operative infection. In rare instances, other issues may keep your implants from healing normally. For example, while titanium is a biocompatible material, occasionally, a patient’s body might see the implant as a foreign object and reject it. It’s important not to ignore pain that continues because a serious infection can become life-threatening.