Dental Implants And Pain: Questions And Answers For The Fearful

25 May 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Whether your dentist has suggested dental implants for you, or you really need them to maintain the shape of your jaw and keep your other teeth from moving around, it is still an anxiety-producing process. More information will help you feel less anxious. Here are some questions and answers about the dental implant process.

Will My Jaw Break If I Get Dental Implants?

The answer is no, not likely. The tiny holes needed to insert the implant screws are only a few millimeters long and barely a couple of millimeters wide. Unless you have an undiagnosed bone cancer or bone disease, the implants will not break your jaw. Your dentist pre-drills the insertion holes and then installs the screws. If there were any concerns whatsoever regarding the strength or integrity of your jaw bones, it would become very apparent with the pre-drilling step. Then your dentist would stop the procedure, inform you of the problem and provide you with options to address this very unusual situation.

How Much Will It Hurt?

Your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will completely numb your mouth before beginning the implantation surgery, so it will not hurt at all during the procedure. After the novocaine wears off, you may notice a very dull ache and maybe some swelling or bruising too. Icing your cheek will help numb things up a bit, while the prescribed painkillers your doctor gives you will help you get through any pain you cannot tolerate. Many people report that after the first couple of days they do not feel any pain at all anymore.

Can I Brush My Teeth After the Procedure?

To avoid aggravating the surgical areas where the implants were installed, you should avoid a manual toothbrush. Since people tend to brush with varying degrees of pressure and vigor, you could brush the gums around your implants too hard (whether you intend to or not). Your dentist may recommend that you either avoid brushing around the implants for a day or two or that you use a sonic toothbrush instead. The sonic toothbrush applies equal pressure and vigor without irritating the surgical sites, allowing you to keep up with your usual oral hygiene habits.

A Word on Keeping Calm

If you learn how to remain calm, you can help reduce pain too. When you experience anxiety, your body pumps in more adrenaline, which negates the body's attempts to soothe pain with natural endorphins. Ergo, during and after your dental implant surgery, it is ideal to be as calm as you can, and then you can feel more comfortable too.

If you have more questions about dental implants, contact a professional like Dr. Paul Goodman.