Dental Implant Pain: Is It Normal or a Cause for Concern?

It’s been two weeks since you’ve received your dental implants. As per your dentist’s instructions, you’ve been using painkillers and cold compresses to keep your discomfort to a minimum. However, you’ve noticed that your pain doesn’t seem to have gotten better; in fact, it’s just as persistent as ever. Do you need to make an emergency appointment? It’s important to know what kind of dental implant pain is normal as well as when it’s pointing to a severe underlying problem; read on to learn the difference.

How Much Dental Implant Pain is Normal?

It’s normal to experience some pain for about 10 days after dental implant surgery. In general, the longer the procedure took and the more implants you received, the more discomfort you can expect afterwards. Other typical symptoms include swelling in your face or gums, bruised skin, and minor bleeding.

Your implant dentist will give you instructions to help you keep your pain under control while your mouth is healing around your dental implants. This typically involves painkillers (either prescribed or bought over the counter) as well as applying a cold compress to the site as needed.

When is Dental Implant Pain a Warning Sign?

Dental implant pain should have subsided after about two weeks; if it stays the same or becomes more severe, get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible. Pain that doesn’t go away could be the sign of an injured nerve, or the gums around the implant may have become infected. Both complications could cause dental implant failure and other problems if they’re left alone for too long.

In some cases, the pain might return after 3 or 4 months or even a year. This could point to any number of health issues, including an autoimmune disease, an infection, allergies, bone loss, or even your body rejecting the implant. No matter the cause, it’s important to have your new tooth examined and treated right away.

How Can Dental Implant Complications Be Treated?

It’s important to act quickly as soon as you think something is wrong with your dental implants; you’ll have the best chance for a successful treatment if you see the dentist within 36 hours of noticing your symptoms. The solution will largely depend on the cause of the pain. For example, gum disease can be reversed with good oral hygiene or periodontal treatment, but patients with damaged nerves might need oral steroids to help them heal. While your implants might need to be taken out, you’ll often be able to receive new ones once you’ve been treated.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to call your dentist if you have any doubts about your implant pain. Dental implants are often the perfect solution for repairing your grin, but you need to be prepared for the worst so that you can ultimately give yourself the best chance of success!

About the Author

Dr. Stephen H. Grossman is a vested member of the periodontal specialist community and is a proud member of the Academy of Osseointegration, which focuses on the study of dental implants. He’s been placing implants since 1989 and can create a customized treatment plan that takes your unique smile into account. To schedule an appointment at his practice in Acton or to ask about dental implant pain, visit his website or call (978) 263-1313.