Is Implant Treatment Painful? Anesthesia, What You Feel During the Procedure and Afterwards

The question patients considering an implant ask most is: "Will it hurt?" The short answer is that the aim is for you to feel no pain during the procedure and that pain afterwards is managed in a planned way. We explain the details below. For the whole treatment, see our dental implant treatment page.

What anesthesia is used for an implant?

Dental implants are generally placed under local anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs only the area being worked on; you stay awake throughout the procedure. In some cases, for example in patients with coordination problems, in elderly patients or in people with a high degree of fear and anxiety, performing the procedure under general anesthesia may be considered.

How is the pain of the needle reduced?

Before the local anesthesia injection, topical anesthesia in gel or spray form is applied to the area. This reduces the pain at the needle's entry. The local anesthesia that follows blocks the pain pathway; when applied correctly, patients complete the procedure comfortably.

What do you feel during the procedure?

Local anesthesia only blocks the transmission of pain; it does not completely remove the sensation of touch, pressure and hot-cold. So during the procedure, instead of pain, you may feel the following:

• A feeling of pressure
• A feeling of touch
• Sensing hot and cold

These are normal and do not mean that the procedure is painful. If you feel anything uncomfortable, it is enough to tell your dentist.

Will there be pain after the procedure?

When the anesthesia wears off, some pain and tenderness are expected. We plan for this in advance. In our clinic we apply the following method:

1. The prescribed painkiller is taken about half an hour before the procedure.
2. Depending on the type of painkiller, it is repeated on a full stomach about 4 hours later.
3. Afterwards it is continued morning and evening.

Three days after the procedure we call our patients and ask how often and for how many days they used the painkiller. The answer we get most often is "morning and evening was enough, I used it for 2 days, I took one on the morning of the 3rd day." So pain is often limited to a few days.

Why does pain vary from person to person?

The severity and duration of pain are affected by additional procedures performed during the operation:

• Bone augmentation with bone powder (graft)
• Soft tissue transfer
• Placement of more than one implant
• Placing an implant in the same session as a tooth extraction

For this reason, a patient using a painkiller for a week does not mean there is a problem with the procedure; this period is acceptable for us.

Swelling

Swelling, like pain, varies from person to person; it generally increases until the third day and then decreases. Applying ice to the treated area, not lying on that side and keeping the head above heart level reduce swelling. In some patients there is no swelling at all.

Conclusion

Implant surgery is planned to be painless under local anesthesia, and pain afterwards is a short and manageable process of a few days. You can come for an examination for any questions on your mind; we explain the procedure step by step before starting.

This article is for general information only. Every patient's situation is different; the treatment plan is determined together with your dentist after the examination and any necessary imaging.