Dental clinics feature their fair share of scary-looking (and sounding!) instruments. It's no wonder that patients can be frightened while they're in the dental chair, and as they prepare to sit down in it.
Many people still think dental treatment is very painful, and they try to avoid going to the dentist, or prefer to go to a dentist only when their dental pain gets unbearable.
Anesthesia in dentistry: Your weapon against pain
The majority of dental treatments are carried out under local anesthesia. This anesthesia is given by injecting a small amount of anesthetic medication like lidocaine inside the mouth, around the tooth, or the site of the procedure your dentist is about to carry out.
The effects of the majority of anesthetics last between three and five hours, and then gradually wear off. For most dental procedures, this much time is more than enough. These anesthetic agents are quite potent. Once the anesthesia takes effect, all you will feel is some pressure from the dental instruments, but none of the pain.
Pain during implant surgery
All the anticipation of cutting through the gums and drilling through the bone can make you quite anxious about dental implant surgery. The imagination itself is scary enough for patients to avoid implant treatment.
However, advances in techniques and instruments, in combination with the newer anesthetics, have made dental implant surgery virtually pain free. It is as pain free, if not more, as removing a tooth.
In case you are allergic to any anesthetic medication, do inform your surgeon before going for any procedure.
The kind of anesthesia you receive will vary depending on the number of dental implants that are going to be placed, the site where the implant surgery is done, and whether any additional augmenting procedure is required along with the implant placement. Once the anesthesia takes effect, a part of your jaw or the entire jaw will be numb.
In the case of patients who are extremely anxious about receiving dental treatment, along with local anesthesia, your dentist might put you under conscious sedation using nitrous oxide or "laughing gas". This kind of sedation puts the patient in a dream-like state, while being totally awake and cooperative. Sedation makes it easier for the dental surgeon to carry out the procedure, but the patient will no recall any of it even though they are awake.
Once under anesthesia, there is no pain during the treatment. All you will feel is some pressure of the instruments, and mild vibration as the bone is being drilled.
General anesthesia during implant
General anesthesia, though, has many potential complications, needs to be performed in hospital setups, and requires the presence of an anesthesiologist. It is generally avoided unless extremely necessary.
Pain after dental implant surgery
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure — a certain amount of pain and discomfort is always to be expected for at least a few days as part of the normal healing process.
Once the effect of anesthesia wears off, you can expect mild to moderate pain at the surgical site and in the surrounding area, depending on how complex the dental implant procedure was. The pain associated with a single tooth implant is very minimal, but if a complex procedure like a sinus lift or an all-on-four was carried out, the patient can expect there to more pain. This pain, however, is managed with medication. Your dentist will prescribe you pain killers like paracetamol or ibuprofen as needed, and this will make your discomfort minimal.
There can also be some mild swelling and bruising around the cheeks and lips after an implant procedure. These symptoms are managed with anti-inflammatory medicines and cold compression with an ice pack.
If your dental implant surgery lasted for quite a long time, there might be some pain opening and closing the mouth, and reduced mouth opening for a few days. This is because of the overstretched muscles during the procedure. This symptom is reversible too. Simple and gradual stretching of the muscles over a period of few days will take care of it
For how long will you experience pain after dental implant surgery?
Again, the length of time during which you experience pain depends on how complex the dental implant procedure was. It also varies from patient to patient, as everyone has a different pain threshold and every body heals differently.
In order to keep the pain and swelling to the minimum, it is necessary to follow your surgeon’s instructions meticulously and to take regular medication as advised.
Conclusion
Most dental procedures, especially dental implant placement, are virtually pain-free with adequate anesthesia and in the hands of a skilled surgeon. No two mouths are alike. Hence, if a procedure has been painful for your friend or someone from the family, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is going to be painful for you too.
Following the instructions of your dentist and taking the prescribed medication will help in alleviating the pain and discomfort you may feel after your dental implant placement.