Dental implant placement requires minor oral surgery. This requirement can cause some patients to worry about potential pain that might occur as a result. While it’s normal to express concern about the sensations and any post-procedural discomfort one might feel after undergoing dental work, the truth is that receiving dental implants is not a painful process. Keep reading to discover how your periodontist will make your experience comfortable from beginning to end.
What Does Dental Implant Surgery Involve?
Dental implant surgery requires opening the gum tissue and exposing the underlying jawbone. The periodontist will carefully position and place each implant into the designated area of the bone, ensuring it is stable so that it will eventually fuse with the bone during osseointegration.
Once the dental implants are in place, the gum tissues will be closed, and protective healing caps will be placed over the tops of each post.
How Does a Periodontist Ensure Comfort During the Procedure?
Before dental implant surgery begins, your periodontist will administer local anesthesia. This will ensure that your mouth remains numb throughout the procedure. You should not feel any discomfort while in the treatment chair.
You can expect that during your initial consultation, your periodontist will determine how much anesthesia is necessary to keep you comfortable during your visit.
While you may feel some pressure with the placement of your implants, there should be no pain.
How Can You Manage Post-Procedural Discomfort?
After surgery, you will be instructed to go home and recover. The days following your procedure will require you to get plenty of rest and follow additional post-operative instructions provided by your periodontist.
It is normal to experience mild discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. Fortunately, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to minimize the sensation. A cold compress is also helpful in reducing swelling and soreness.
You’ll want to avoid hard, crunchy foods for a while; instead, eat softer foods to prevent additional pressure on your dental implants during the healing process.
There is no need to be concerned about what dental implant surgery will feel like. Receiving these prosthetics is not painful. In fact, you’ll be glad you completed the process once you see the kind of life-changing results they provide.
About Our Periodontal Team
Dr. Linda Park is a skilled periodontist who has more than half a decade of experience improving the health, aesthetics, and well-being of patients’ smiles. Receiving advanced training and certification in periodontology and dental implants from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, she is pleased to work with individuals who want a full, complete, and healthy smile with dental implants. She ensures a comfortable start-to-finish process that keeps individuals pain-free throughout surgery. If you want dental implants to replace your missing teeth but have questions about the procedure, contact us at (781) 284-5443.