Do Dental Implants Hurt? What Patients Feel During Implant Treatment
Fear of pain is one of the main reasons patients delay replacing a missing tooth. Dental implant surgery can sound intimidating because it involves placing a titanium fixture into the jawbone. In practice, however, the experience is usually different from what patients imagine. Implant placement is performed with local anesthesia, and sedation may be considered for anxiety or complex procedures. Once the area is numb, patients should not normally feel sharp surgical pain. They may still notice pressure, vibration, movement, or instrument sounds. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons notes that most dental implants can be placed with little or no discomfort during the procedure. The more noticeable discomfort generally begins after the anesthetic wears off. Its intensity depends on whether treatment involves one implant or several, whether an extraction is completed at the same appointment, and whether bone grafting or full-arch surgery is required. What Does ...