A common question many of our implant patients ask is, ‘Are dental implants painful?’ No, dental implants do not hurt. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic (or optional IV sedation), so you’ll feel pressure but no pain.
Most patients describe recovery as mild discomfort, similar to that after a tooth extraction. Whilst it’s natural to have concerns about dental pain, we hope this page helps ease any worries so we can ensure a stress-free procedure.
The nature of a dental implant, which is implanted into your jawbone, for some, sounds scary and painful. But don’t let the procedure put you off – it’s pain-free, and just like a tooth extraction, some discomfort can be experienced afterwards.
Mild discomfort lasts 2–3 days, with some tenderness for up to a week.
We don’t judge patients who might be apprehensive about the implant procedure. A quick Google search will show you images of gums with screws, or drilled holes. But it’s not as scary as it looks.
The facts:
When implants do not require the lifting of the gum tissue, they can be relatively painless. If we’re to lift the gum tissue, patients can expect a pain level of 3-4 for the first night.
Other additional uncomfortable factors like bone grafts can also increase the pain level. Following a bone graft, patients rate pain 5/6 out of 10 for the first three days, of which we will prescribe strong pain relievers.
Regardless of the extent of gum tissue or bone grafting, three days is usually the maximum you’ll feel uncomfortable. However, it’s important to note that it does vary from patient to patient as everyone’s pain threshold is different.
As with any surgical procedure, a period for recovery is vital, especially in the case of implants, which allows the tissues to heal and for your body to adjust to the implant.
The recovery length and process will depend on your specific case and number of implants, your overall health and the extent of the work completed. That said, most patients typically recover 10 days post-procedure.
It will also typically take implants 3-6 months to fully heal and integrate without any prior procedures.
During this time it is critical that you follow your dentist’s advice, remain smoke-free and maintain a high standard of oral hygiene in accordance with your recovery plan.
Any discomfort following surgery can be managed easily with over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen and Paracetamol.
It’s important to know that slight discomfort during recovery is perfectly natural – whilst the experience is different for everyone the overall majority of our patients have reported the recovery process as relatively pain-free.
Normal sensations
Not normal
No, most patients say implants are less painful than a tooth extraction because the bone has no pain receptors and the gum is numbed fully.
Yes, most people return to work the next day unless they’ve had multiple implants or sedation.
It is rare to face complications, but if in the event you experience severe pain, swelling and fever, you should not hesitate to seek medical attention and a follow-up with your dentist.
Dive into the implant procedure on a deeper level and learn what each implant stage involves. More.
If you’re experiencing intense pain please contact your dentist ASAP. Here might be some reasons why:
IV sedation keeps you conscious but deeply relaxed — many patients describe the implant procedure as feeling like a “blur” or a quick nap.” It’s ideal for nervous patients who want implants without feeling or remembering the treatment.
When you choose Mint Dental Clinic, you instantly gain access to our incredible dentists, who use advanced equipment to diagnose your problem faster and more accurately than ever before.
With 500+ Google reviews and growing, our dental practice is rated one of the best in the South East London area.
