Pain after dental implantation: reasons, how to relieve?

What does pain depend on?
How long does the pain last? Localization of pain Pain during implantation Pain during prosthetics How to reduce pain? When to urgently consult a doctor? What to do if your jaw and gums hurt after dental implantation? Is this considered normal and how long can it last? Do I have to endure it? Let's look at it in more detail in our article.

During the implantation of a titanium rod into the bone, a puncture is made in the gums, and tissues and blood vessels are consequently injured, so pain, swelling or slight bleeding is a normal response of the body.

The implantation itself takes place without pain, since the procedure for installing an artificial tooth root is carried out under anesthesia. After its effect ends, sensitivity returns, an aching, throbbing pain syndrome appears, it should go away on the 10th day or earlier.

What does pain depend on during rehabilitation, on what days what sensations should be felt?

Pain after implantation begins when the anesthetic effect of the anesthetic drug ends. After 1.5-2 hours

.
Some tissue numbness may also be present. After 5-7 hours
, if normal sensitivity does not appear, you should consult a doctor, because There is a risk of damage to the facial nerve. Severe pain after dental implantation in the lower jaw can also be caused by trauma to the trigeminal nerve, because it is in close proximity to the roots.

The severity and degree of pain depends on:

depending on the number of implants installed: one or several;
depending on the type of operation: for implantation, the gum tissue was cut, followed by sutures - patchwork method (in rare cases) or a puncture was made (transgingival method);
on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, his pain threshold;
from additional surgical interventions: sinus lifting, bone tissue augmentation, etc.

Ways to minimize pain after implantation

Typically, the severity of pain after surgery directly depends on the characteristics of the technique used by the implantologist. Often, in order to increase a person’s comfort during the rehabilitation period, doctors prefer a technique that combines the removal of a diseased tooth and the implantation of a titanium pin.

In this case, the patient does not have to go through the recovery period twice, be exposed to stress twice, and undergo anesthesia twice. Also, with this method, regenerative processes proceed better - the doctor does not have to make additional incisions when installing the pin.

It is good if during the operation a laser beam is used instead of a scalpel. Then healing occurs faster, the likelihood of postoperative inflammation is significantly reduced, and swelling goes away faster.

How long does pain last after dental implant placement?

Let's consider the normal postoperative course of the condition.

1-5 day

. The pain may increase during the first few days, starting from the moment the anesthetic administered before implantation wears off. It can be aching, throbbing, and worsened by tilting the head. While this does not indicate a complication, this is the body’s natural response to intervention. As well as swelling of the tissues in the area of the implant.

5-10 day

. By the 5th day the pain subsides. The swelling subsides completely. The question remains for the patient: how much does the gum hurt after installing the implant, since it is still sensitive. By the 10th day, as a rule, everything goes away.

After 2-6 months

. There are times when everything goes fine, but after a few months or even a year a person complains that the tooth implant around it hurts. Possible reasons:

loosening
of the plug, adaptation crown on the abutment. They rub the soft gum tissue. The situation is not critical. The dentist will adjust, carry out the necessary manipulations and you don’t have to worry about the safety of the implant;
implant rejection An unfavorable outcome of the entire implantation is unsuccessful osseointegration. The body did not accept the artificial tooth root. Fortunately, the rejection rate is close to 1%;
inflammatory
gum diseases. This is often due to poor hygiene and violation of the doctor’s postoperative recommendations;
injury
to the jaw nerve, then the jaw hurts after implantation.

If your gums, jaw, or ear hurt for more than 10 days after dental implantation, do not put off visiting the doctor who performed the operation. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment will avoid complications. Calling after two weeks or more with such symptoms may delay treatment for a longer period.

Pain at the site of the implanted tooth after implantation

Once the anesthesia wears off, some pain is inevitable, even if the surgeon performed the implantation perfectly. Pain happens:

aching;
pulsating;
pressing;
bursting;
cutting.

It can concentrate in one area or spread throughout the entire mouth. Pain syndrome is a natural reaction to injuries, damaged blood vessels and nerve endings. As the wound heals, the pain will decrease. Normally it goes away within 5-7 days . Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve the syndrome for the first few days.

Opinion of a general dentist : “After implantation, patients complain of pain in the installation area, swelling and drowsiness. All these symptoms are typical for the postoperative period and should not be a cause for concern. If the pain does not go away for more than a week, the implant has lost stability, or signs of suppuration appear, consult a doctor immediately. These are symptoms of a wound infection that can lead to dangerous complications.”

Pain depending on location and specificity, what does it mean?

Unpleasant sensations can be of a different nature, as well as their location.

Pulsation at the implantation site, tingling, itching can be either normal or a sign of an allergic reaction to the material. You should continue to take antihistamines (as agreed with your doctor) and monitor the course of such manifestations;
The unit located next to the installed artificial root is alarming. This may indicate nerve damage, gum inflammation or unsuccessful implantation, or it is possible that the crown is pressing, so the adjacent tooth hurts after the implant is installed;
Severe pain in the ear after dental implantation in the lower jaw, which does not go away within a week, may indicate a violation of the integrity of the trigeminal nerve. The cause may be an incorrectly installed implant or injury from an instrument when preparing the bed;
The answer to the question of why and how much gum pain after implant installation depends on the person’s health. Normally, the gums may ache for 5-7 days
. By the day the sutures are removed, usually on the 7th day, the pain goes away;
Bursting pain near the implant, the appearance of pus with light pressure, and temperature may indicate an inflammatory process. The main thing is to prevent the infection from joining. You should immediately consult a doctor.

Symptoms of the disease

The signs and symptoms of peri-implantitis resemble an inflammatory process in the jaw; you can read more about the signs of implant rejection at the link. Symptoms of the disease may be as follows:

Pain and discomfort when biting on a tooth;
Mobility of the artificial rod and crown;
Bleeding gums in the area of the product for a long period of time;
Edema and swelling of soft tissues;
Hyperemia, cyanosis of the mucous membrane;
Tissue atrophy in the area of intervention;
Itching, jaw discomfort;
Loose gums;
Presence of periodontal pockets;
Accumulation of inflammatory exudate.

Pain during implantation, is it painful to install an implant?

For those who were once familiar with the removal of eights (wisdom teeth), they know how unpleasant it is. Implantation is a completely painless operation. The anesthesia is enough to make everything comfortable. The patient feels manipulation in the oral cavity, but there is no pain. Even the injection itself with an anesthetic solution can be made invisible. After treating the puncture site with special means.

There are several types of anesthesia for implantation:

local
, used in most cases.
It is quite enough for work. An injection is given and within a few minutes the medicine begins to act. Installation of one implant takes 15-30 minutes
, and the effect of anesthesia ends after a few hours;
sedation
_ The patient is half asleep, there are no unpleasant sensations, but there may be consequences;
anesthesia
_ To undergo implantation under anesthesia, you will need to undergo certain tests and consult an anesthesiologist. Coming out of anesthesia takes time. This method is used very rarely, it is not available in all clinics and can be dangerous.

Does the patient feel pain when a crown is placed on an implant?

The entire process of prosthetics is carried out using local anesthesia, so the person does not experience any painful sensations.

There may be minor postoperative moments during dental implantation. In cases where more than one implant is implanted, slight swelling may occur. But it quickly passes if the patient strictly follows all the instructions and recommendations of the implant surgeon.

Typical consequences after implantation

Pain appears after the anesthesia wears off and can last for five days. You may feel drowsiness, fatigue, throbbing and pain in your head. Every day the discomfort will gradually disappear.
Due to the intense flow of lymph to the damaged area, swelling may appear. There are difficulties opening the mouth. On the second day, swelling reaches its maximum value. This happens if several implants are implanted. When one titanium root is implanted or membranes are replanted (to improve tissue restoration), swelling does not occur.
Numbness of the jaw is normal during anesthesia. May persist for two days after surgery. After a maximum of a week, the discomfort will completely disappear.
Bleeding from the wound or stitches can last about two hours. But if the patient’s head was turned during the entire operation, then the first days there may be intense bleeding.
Body temperature can rise to 39 degrees and persist for two to three days.

Conscientious adherence to all the rules of the rehabilitation period, tissue healing and implant fusion will be successful without any complications.

How to Reduce or Prevent Pain During Recovery, Do's and Don'ts

In the postoperative period, the main thing is to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations. Basic:

in the first hours after implantation, do not eat or drink;
the first days (about a week) eat liquid foods: soups, purees, baby food;
exclude hot, cold, spicy, alcohol;
After surgery, apply cold compresses to relieve swelling;
take prescribed medications strictly according to the schedule. Do not cancel them yourself if you feel better;
make mouth baths using antiseptics: chlorhexidine, chamomile;
sleep on a high pillow and on the opposite operating side;
forget about physical activity for a while;
Going to bathhouses and saunas is prohibited.

Usually, every dental clinic has a reminder about what is possible after implantation, what is prohibited, how to relieve pain after dental implantation, and a schedule for visiting the doctor.

The doctor will definitely prescribe painkillers - Nurofen, Nimesil, Analgin, Nise, etc. They need to be taken as long as the pain lasts after installing the dental implant, up to 7-10 days. If it persists longer, it is better to contact your dentist.

Causes of pain

Severe pain during implant healing may be due to:

Mistakes made by the doctor. It is very important to trust your oral health to an experienced implantologist. You should not skimp on choosing a dental clinic and doctor. Illiterate selection of medical instruments and equipment, violation of the rules of asepsis and antisepsis, improper preparation for surgical procedures or its complete absence, refusal to perform bone grafting in cases of severe bone tissue deficiency, traumatic actions during prosthetics - all these are factors directly related to the activities of the implantologist. And they are the ones that can lead to pain during the rehabilitation period.
Incorrect behavior of the patient. It is very important that a person strictly follows all medical instructions and carries out the appointments. It is unacceptable to eat solid food until the implant has taken root well. You should not take medications thoughtlessly. It is prohibited to drink alcohol-containing drinks. Under no circumstances should you visit a sauna or bathhouse in the first month after implant installation.
Opening of bleeding during implantation of a titanium root. This sometimes happens if the patient’s blood pressure has sharply increased or tachycardia has developed against the background of excitement.
Violation of the integrity of the maxillary sinus. It only happens when you work carelessly with the upper teeth. In this case, the integrity of the nerve endings is damaged, which negatively affects recovery.
Formation of an extensive hematoma. Then it puts pressure on the nerves and blocks conductive impulses. As a result, recovery processes cannot proceed normally in the operated area.

What if the implant gets sick long after surgery?

Peri-implantitis is insidious; it can occur unnoticed. After some time, there will be a sharp or bursting pain, radiating even to the nose, ear, head, face. This indicates inflammation of the tissue around the artificial root. Complaint: the tooth implant hurts; it is incorrect in this case. After all, the implant itself cannot hurt; it is a non-living structure, but the soft tissue around it can. The main thing is not to wait as long as you are willing to endure, but to go to the clinic urgently.

Peri-imlantitis on x-ray

The body is not always ready to accept a foreign object and osseointegrate with it. Rejection is extremely rare - less than 1.5% of cases. But you must always monitor your well-being.

What will help reduce pain during the rehabilitation period?

To alleviate the negative feelings of the post-implantation period, you need to follow the recommendations of your doctor :

do not give the implant chewing load, consume only liquid and soft foods;
food should be at room temperature, too hot will increase pain and swelling;
carefully monitor oral hygiene;
do not touch the wound with your tongue or foreign objects;
avoid physical activity;
do not visit the sauna, bathhouse, swimming pool;
stop drinking alcohol and smoking;
Take medications prescribed by your doctor in a timely manner.

Painkillers are taken 1-2 tablets no more than 4 times a day. The following medications will help relieve pain in the maxillofacial region:

Ketanov (Ketarol, Ketanal);
Nurofen (Ibuprofen);
Paracetamol (Efferalgan, Panadol);
Nimesil (Nise, Nimesulid, Nimid);
Dexalgin 25;
Trigan-D;
Solpadeine.

Each drug has side effects, so before taking it, you should consult your doctor to avoid harm.

How to relieve pain at home

It is very important to note that self-medication very often leads to negative consequences. These tips are aimed at reducing pain after implantation at home. But you can no longer endure severe pain - immediately seek qualified help.

Apply a cold compress to the source of pain, blood circulation will slow down and thereby the pain will subside;
The attending physician will prescribe painkillers for you, take them according to the instructions;
A day after the operation, begin to rinse the oral cavity with special solutions with soda, in order to avoid the onset of inflammatory processes;
The dentist will prescribe a diet for you for the next week, follow the recommendations;
Minimize physical activity; due to active blood circulation, the wound may open and throbbing pain may begin;
Get more rest;
In the first few weeks, it is very important to maintain regular oral hygiene.

Crown or implant: which design to choose?

After a complete examination and passing the necessary tests, you can move on to the next step - surgery and choosing a design for the future tooth. “Which is better to get: a crown or an implant?” - This is a question the dentist hears many times from patients. Not everyone understands the intricacies of dental techniques; people often confuse these concepts, meaning “implantation” and “prosthetics”. What is the difference between an implant and a crown? An implant is a titanium root that is implanted directly into the bone tissue; it is also an artificial root and support. The crown is the visible part, attached to the abutment (transitional element to the titanium rod). Implantation is the most reliable way to restore the functionality and aesthetic appearance of the dentition.

dental implant crown

Installing a crown on an implant: stages of the procedure.

Dentistry uses various methods to restore the beauty, naturalness and functionality of a smile. For each individual case, the surgical procedure and recovery period will differ. How long does it take to place a crown on an implant? Initially, the titanium screw itself is installed, after which it will take from 4 to 6 months until complete engraftment; it will also take several weeks to form the contour of the gum around the future tooth. Placing a crown on an implant is the final stage in restoring the dentition. This is the most anticipated moment for the client, because he will be able to enjoy the reflection of a perfect smile in the mirror, feel the new tooth to the touch, smile without hesitation and eat his favorite food.

implant or crown

Is it possible to undergo re-implantation?

Even despite the difficulties and complications that arise, many patients wish to undergo a repeat procedure. This is possible, but you must first establish what the reasons and signs were for implant rejection. Each case is considered separately.

Features of re-implantation, depending on the causes of the complication:

a medical error was made, it is necessary to contact another specialist;
the patient did not comply with the recommendations, then additional consultation is carried out about behavior after implantation;
natural rejection occurred due to an allergic reaction, etc., then it is possible to install another type of prosthesis;
the product was of poor quality, then you should choose another clinic and a different type of pin.

If the patient had contraindications that he did not know about or did not inform the implantologist about, re-implantation is impossible. As in the case when the body does not perceive any foreign bodies.

How is the repeat procedure performed?

Implantation can be performed next time only after 4 - 8 weeks. The structure is first dismantled and a course of medications is prescribed to eliminate inflammation, restore tissue and strengthen the immune system.

The success of re-implantation is influenced by compliance with the technique of removing the first implant. Depending on the condition, the product can be removed with simple manipulations, but if access to the pin is limited, the gum is excised. In the case where the artificial root has partially taken root, sawing of the bone will be required.