Dental Implant FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have temporary teeth during the healing phase?

If the implant site is of cosmetic concern, there are a variety of temporary options to get you through the healing phase. In some cases, a temporary crown can even be placed onto the implant at the same time as surgery.

Do dental implants hurt?

With whatever anesthetic choice you pick, be assured that you will be comfortable throughout the implant procedure. After surgery, you’ll be relieved to know that most of our patients experience very little, if any, discomfort, which is usually managed well with over-the-counter pain medications. Any necessary prescriptions provided to you will be discussed prior to your discharge.

Do dental implants feel like real teeth?

Yes, in fact, many patients can’t tell their implants from their natural teeth once they have been restored.

Will I need to miss work for dental implant surgery?

Patients typically take anywhere from a few hours to a few days off of work, depending upon the extent of their surgery.

What if I am missing a lot of teeth?

We treat patients ranging from the loss of one tooth to the complete loss of all teeth in an arch(s). Your surgeon and the restorative dentist will review your scans and develop a variety of treatment options for your specific case. You will then have the opportunity to pick the most appropriate choice to satisfy your concerns and desires.

What are the risks and complications associated with dental implants?

Dental implants have an extremely high success rate. However, as with any other surgical procedure, there can be complications including the loss of the implant. If this were to occur, in most cases the implant can be replaced successfully.

How long do dental implants last?

Studies have shown that properly placed and well-cared-for dental implants can last indefinitely. Advanced technology and experience enable us to give you the very best chance of keeping yours for life!

How do I care for my implants?

Care for your implants just like you do your natural teeth: by brushing twice and flossing once daily. Regular check-ups with your restorative dentist are required to maintain the health of your implants and prosthesis.

How Painful Is Dental Implant Surgery?

Not surprisingly, most people are concerned they will feel pain or discomfort during dental implant surgery. The process requires our implant surgeon to make a small incision into your gum tissue to drill a tiny hole directly into the jawbone before inserting an implant post. Once the hole is created, we can insert the implant and use special tools to tighten or torque it into place. You may feel some pressure during this process, but it should be entirely painless.

We never begin dental implant surgery without first ensuring your mouth is completely numb in the area receiving treatment.

Dental Anesthesia

Before beginning any procedure, we ensure your mouth is properly numbed using a local anesthetic. Modern dental anesthetics are safe and very effective. This process may involve using an oral nerve block or dental block. A dental block helps numb unwanted sensations that could cause pain or discomfort. It can numb your jaws or lips, helping to ensure treatment is more comfortable. Some people may find injections a little uncomfortable, but we can apply a topical numbing agent to your gum before injecting the anesthetic.

If you feel more anxious, we can discuss using sedation dentistry to ensure you feel more relaxed and comfortable during treatment.

Is Sedation Dentistry Safe?

When patients require any form of sedation dentistry, their health and safety are always our top priority. We carefully evaluate a person’s suitability for sedation dentistry or general anesthesia, and patients are monitored continuously during the procedure and for a while afterward.

Our practice founder, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Jason M. Auerbach, has dual certification. Dr. Auerbach is certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology, so if you do choose or need to have dental sedation, you can be sure you are in good hands.

Will I Feel Pain after Dental Implant Surgery?

Once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some discomfort, especially if you need more complex dental implant treatment or require multiple dental implants. Any discomfort or pain shouldn’t last longer than a few days and should be easily controllable with over-the-counter pain relief, or we can prescribe something stronger.

When healing is smooth and uneventful, any pain and discomfort should disappear around 3 to 5 days after treatment, but you may only need pain medication for the first couple of days. Other possible symptoms after implant surgery include minor bleeding around the surgery site. You may experience minor bruising and facial swelling or swollen gums. You may experience minor swelling, bruising, or stiffness in your jaw for a little longer, up to a week to 10 days after surgery.

If you only require a single dental implant, it’s not unusual to experience zero discomfort afterward.

What If I Experience Pain Days after Dental Implant Surgery?

It isn’t common to experience pain days after dental implant surgery. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may initially experience discomfort until you take pain medications. This discomfort should diminish as your mouth starts to heal. If it worsens or doesn’t seem to get better or you are concerned, please get in touch with Riverside Oral Surgery in case we need to provide additional dental care. It’s important to stress this would be extremely rare, especially if you follow all after-care instructions closely.

Do Dental Implants Hurt? With Dr. Auerbach

 

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