If you are experiencing pain from your dental implant, you may be wondering what is causing it and how you can make it stop.
Why is my dental implant causing me pain?
Dental implant pain can be caused by various things, including infection, poor dental hygiene, and even the type of dental implant used.
Pain After Dental Implant Surgery
After a dental implant procedure, you will likely feel some minor pain and discomfort for the first few days and possibly longer. Remember, the procedure is minimally invasive but still a major oral surgery to replace your natural teeth. Some pain in the cheeks, face, and jawbone is normal. Pain shouldn’t last more than two weeks.
Contact your dentist immediately if you recently had a dental implant procedure and are concerned about severe pain.
You shouldn’t experience pain during oral surgery, as you will most likely have local anesthesia. As the anesthesia wears off, you feel some pain near the implant site.
During the dental implant healing process, you will most likely experience swelling, minor bleeding near the implant site, and tenderness in the mouth. Your dentist will recommend over-the-counter medication and will most likely prescribe you pain medications to help relieve any discomfort.
Why do your dental implants hurt?
If you feel like your dental implants are causing you more pain and discomfort than they should, or if you’ve had dental implants for a while and are now experiencing serious pain or dental implant complications, there could be a few reasons why.
Dental Implant Failure
Most dental implants have a high rate of success, but they are some cases where dental implants fail and need to be removed. Here are some signs to look for if you think you might be experiencing implant failure.
- Inflammation or recession of the gum line
- The dental implants or tooth coming loose
- Increased swelling of the tissues in your mouth
- Pain and discomfort chewing or biting
- Severe pain and discomfort following the initial recovery period.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Infection
An infection is an early sign of implant site complications that can cause tooth implant pain. Infection can be prevented, so make sure to follow all of your dentist’s instructions on the care of the implant site after surgery.
Various factors can increase your chance of infection, including smoking, autoimmune disease, and bad oral hygiene. Take extra care of your implants until they are completely healed and after.
Lack of Bone Structure Support
The implant procedure can fail or cause complications if a patient doesn’t have enough jaw bone structure to support that dental implant.
Your dentist will place the implant in your jaw bone during the procedure and place a permanent crown to replace any missing teeth. Sometimes if this is all done in one appointment, that implant could fail if the jaw bone isn’t strong enough to support the load all at one time.
Allergic Reaction
Dental implants are typically made of titanium alloy, which can sometimes cause an allergic reaction.
If you’re allergic to the implant, it can feel like the area is tingling or burning. If you know you are allergic to titanium, be sure to discuss this with your dentist before the procedure and during the initial consultation.
Bad Oral Hygiene
If you want your dental implants to last for years and years to come, it’s essential to maintain good oral hygiene.
Brush and floss two times a day and use a mouthwash to destroy any lingering bacteria. Don’t forget to visit your dentist for regular checkups every six months to ensure proper oral health.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding puts excessive pressure on your dental implants and eventually damages them. Unfortunately, most people don’t know if they grind their teeth because it typically occurs at night when they’re sleeping.
If you grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about possible solutions to preserve your implants and oral health.
Smoking
To ensure the long-term health of your implants, avoid smoking. This is the most avoidable risk factor for dental implant failure. If you are a smoker, you have a higher chance of developing complications over the years.
Discuss your smoking habits with a dental professional before your procedure. This may be the best time to quit and save your oral and overall health.
Remedies to Reduce Pain From Dental Implants
The dental implant process is not pain-free, but there are steps that you can take to alleviate the pain from a dental implant.
- Take your dental medications as prescribed. Be sure to follow all of your dentist’s instructions about taking any antibiotics or other medicines before and after surgery.
- Don’t smoke for at least a week following dental surgery. Smoking constricts blood vessels in the mouth which can cause poor circulation and slow recovery time from dental procedures such as wisdom teeth removal, tooth implants, etc. If possible, quit smoking altogether to avoid complications with your dental implants down the road due to them failing or becoming infected over time.
- Use an ice pack on swollen areas of your mouth for 15 minutes each hour until the swelling subsides (usually up to 48 hours).
- Eat soft foods such as yogurt or applesauce for the first few days after dental surgery. Avoid crunchy, hard, spicy, and acidic foods because they can irritate your implant site further and increase dental pain.
- Keep sugary drinks at bay (especially soda) until you are healed from dental surgery. Sugary drinks can cause dental implant pain and increase your risk of developing dental cavities.
Make an appointment to see your dentist if the pain persists or worsens after a few days. Dental implant pain that doesn’t improve after a week could be a sign of infection and needs to be addressed by a professional as soon as possible.
Contact an Experienced Implant Dentist
If you are considering dental implants or your dental implants hurt, contact the experts in implant dentistry at Wince Family Dentistry. Our team is ready to make your first appointment. Give us a call at 620-241-0266 or visit our website to get started. Dr. Wince has more than a decade worth of experience caring for each patient and providing high-quality dental care. So, please don’t wait to improve your oral health and let our team take care of you today.