Will a dental implant procedure hurt?

Most patients will be familiar with the dental anaesthetics used for routine dentistry and will know how effective they are. Dental implants are placed using the same anaesthesia. Depending upon the complexity of your case, the operation could take anything from 30 minutes for a single implant, to several hours for complex bone grafting and multiple implant placements.

Since the surgery normally involves exposing the bone in the area where the implant is to be placed, you can expect some minor swelling and, occasionally, bruising afterwards.

For most patients, any of the over-the-counter, basic painkillers that you might take for a headache will be adequate for a few days. If you experience more discomfort than this, contact your dentist who can prescribe a stronger medication.

Healing is generally straightforward and any stitches are removed a week to ten days after the procedure. During the first few days you should report any unexpected levels of pain or swelling so that they can be assessed. If in doubt always ask for advice, as early detection of a problem will often lead to a simpler solution. You may also be asked to take a course of antibiotics and to follow some simple procedures such as rinsing with salt water or an antiseptic mouth rinse. It is important that you carry out these instructions.
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