Is it painful to place a dental implant: treatment nuances and patient reviews

The opinion that “implantation is painful” exists among those people who have not yet had such an operation. The fear has its roots in the Soviet past, when treatment and many procedures were indeed painful and were carried out without anesthesia. This approach has not been used for a long time. Modern high-quality dentistry offers treatment without pain; for this, specialists have a whole range of special methods and means. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of implantation. This operation brings even less discomfort than tooth extraction or pulpitis treatment.

Dental implantation - does it hurt?

Is it painful or not to insert a dental implant? Many patients are interested. The answer is no, since the operation is performed under anesthesia. Types of anesthesia used in dentistry:

1. Local - an injection is given, after which the sensitivity of the area disappears for the duration of the operation. The gums are “frozen”, and the bone tissues are not susceptible to pain.
2. Anxiolysis is minimal sedation with a calming effect, the patient ceases to be afraid of the procedure.
3. Moderate sedation - the patient is completely relaxed, but still conscious.
4. Oversedation is a state of half-asleep.
5. General anesthesia is rarely used. Indications: gag reflex, allergies to local anesthesia, mental disorders. Performed during extensive operations - bone grafting, installation of more than 10 implants.

In our Center, we offer the patient light sedation; the patient in this state does not feel pain, does not worry, and calmly responds to the doctor’s requests.

Indications and contraindications for implantation

You can resort to implantation in case of partial or complete loss of teeth. This operation helps restore the dentition after the loss of one or more teeth, and also solves the problem of edentia.

However, the use of implantation methods is not always possible - the procedure has a number of contraindications:

Absolute

• Severe diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, endocrine, respiratory systems (diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, oncology, poor blood clotting, mental disorders, etc.).
• Recent chemotherapy or organ transplantation – during this period there is a disruption in the body’s restorative functions, which can lead to rapid implant rejection.
• Allergy to any type of anesthetic - the operation itself is very painful and cannot be performed without pain relief.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Relative

• Any diseases of the oral cavity (they must be eliminated before installing implants);
• Insufficient hygiene (before installing implants, it is necessary to remove tartar and plaque);
• Malocclusion (corrected with braces);
• Bone atrophy (corrected through bone grafting);
• Vitamin deficiency, exhaustion of the body, stress (implantation is acceptable after complete recovery);
• Smoking more than 1 pack of cigarettes per day - after surgery this leads to implant rejection (before implantation it is necessary to get rid of the bad habit or reduce the number of “consumed” cigarettes as much as possible);

The dentist will also recommend avoiding extreme and traumatic sports to reduce the risk of mechanical damage to the implant.

As for age restrictions, there are none (with the exception, of course, of childhood and adolescence) - the possibility of implantation is determined not by the biological age of the patient, but by his general condition (often older people tolerate the procedure much easier than younger patients).

In any case, the possibility of performing an implantation operation is determined by the doctor.

How to install implants

Anesthesia is performed only during surgical interventions. Prosthetics is a painless procedure. The implantation process consists of several stages:

• First surgical – implant installation

  The procedure begins with anesthesia. The patient is injected with an anesthetic into the area where the artificial root is installed. If the operation is performed under sedation, the anesthesiologist will first administer a sedative intravenously. The gum is peeled off, and a bed for an artificial root is created in the bone using special instruments. The implant is inserted into the prepared hole, a plug is fixed on top, and the tissue is sutured. The operation lasts 15-30 minutes. The anesthesiologist brings the patient out of a half-asleep state, after 20-30 minutes the patient can move independently, even drive a car. The next appointment is scheduled in 10 days to remove the stitches. The implant takes 2-4 months to take root in the lower jaw and up to six months in the upper jaw.

• The second surgical stage is the installation of a gum former

  After engraftment with the jaw bone, the implant is opened, the plug is removed, and a former is inserted. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and lasts no more than 10 minutes. The former is installed for 10-14 days to create an even gingival contour.

• Prosthetics

  This stage is completely painless, because... no tissue incisions are required. The former is replaced by an abutment that connects the implant and the prosthesis. A crown is installed on it, made from previously taken impressions.

Complication after surgery

Even the most experienced dentist cannot guarantee you a complete absence of complications after dental implant surgery.

We will talk about the most common of them, and also give some tips for their treatment.

Pain

Pain after the anesthetic wears off is absolutely normal. Violation of the integrity of the gum tissue simply cannot be completely painless, and discomfort for 2-3 days after surgery is quite acceptable.

Depending on the patient's pain threshold, these sensations can range from slightly unpleasant to very strong. It is best to discuss pain relief options with your doctor (anti-inflammatory powders such as Nimessil, painkillers Aertal, Ketanov, etc.), and if you have unbearable pain, you must definitely go to the clinic - there may be severe inflammation, serious swelling or damage to the nerves. endings.

Swelling and inflammation

After a foreign body (dental implant) is implanted into the bone tissue, the body regards it as a danger and provides protection by accumulating fluid in adjacent tissues - this is how swelling is formed. This process begins within a few hours after surgery and lasts 5-7 days.

To relieve swelling from the gums (and sometimes the cheek also swells), it is recommended to apply ice. If the swelling does not go away for more than a week, the pain does not subside, blue discoloration or suppuration is observed in the area where the implant was implanted, the body temperature remains at 37-38 for more than a week, an inflammatory process may be occurring. It can also occur as a result of poor oral hygiene. If it is not corrected in time, the implanted tooth may be completely rejected by the body.

Bleeding

The place where the implant was screwed in may bleed for several days - during the deformation of the gum tissue, the blood vessels are inevitably damaged. It is important to correctly assess the strength of the bleeding - if it does not stop for more than a week, while the spotting is constantly increasing, hematomas form around the operated area, we can talk about serious damage to the capillary network.

For patients with poor blood clotting, the doctor will recommend hemostatic drugs.

Seam divergence

During the process of dental implantation, suturing is almost inevitable - it is performed after bone grafting, after screwing in the implant, after installing the gum former. Since it is impossible to ensure complete isolation of the operated area (the patient needs to eat, drink, talk, and perform daily hygienic procedures), it is important to carefully monitor the condition of the sutures: if they become separated, you should immediately consult a doctor - there may be mechanical damage (in this case In this case, the dentist will repair the sutures) or the inflammatory process (serious treatment may be required).

Temperature increase

Within 2-3 days after dental implantation, body temperature can remain at 37-37.5 degrees. If the thermometer shows 38 or higher for 4 or more days, the gums at the site where the pin is implanted fester, there is severe swelling and unbearable pain - this is already a cause for concern. In this case, we can talk about inflammation and the risk of subsequent implant rejection. Immediately go to the clinic - the dentist will take all necessary measures to eliminate the resulting pathology.

Numbness

Complete loss of sensitivity can be observed within several hours after implantation of a dental implant - this is due to the action of the anesthetic. In addition, in case of severe swelling, the fluid accumulated in the implant area puts pressure on the nerve endings, causing long-term numbness, which disappears after the swelling subsides.

Often there is damage to the neurovascular bundle (located in the lower jaw) during surgery - in this case, sensitivity will not return soon.

Implant rejection

This complication is quite rare - according to statistics, only 1% of all installed implants are rejected.

Reasons for rejection:

• Infection (untreated oral diseases, poor hygiene);
• Bone deficiency;
• Smoking immediately after the implantation procedure;
• Allergy to titanium;
• Carrying out implantation during periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases.

It is not difficult to detect implant rejection - the pin is mobile, there is severe pain and suppuration. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the dentist removes the pin, performs an antiseptic treatment and prescribes a complex of vitamins and minerals to restore the gums. Re-screwing the implant is possible after 1-3 months (depending on the condition of the patient’s tissues).

If any complications arise, you should not self-medicate or follow the advice of traditional medicine: you must immediately consult a doctor - timely medical assistance will help avoid serious problems such as inflammation and implant rejection.

The doctor’s opinion is that the operation itself is completely painless

Before installing a dental implant, patients often worry about the procedure and how they feel in the dentist’s chair. But there is no discomfort at all; the patient can only feel slight pressure or vibration. If we compare the procedure with tooth extraction, the latter feels much more unpleasant. For anxious patients, you can take a course of premedication before surgery.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Chief physician, Ph.D.

Feelings when building bone tissue

A dental implant can only be placed when the jaw has sufficient volume. Insufficient bone tissue will cause the rod to become loose. Therefore, bone grafting is used to increase volume. The method of directed tissue regeneration, sinus lifting, and bone block grafting are used.

1. New tissue is introduced into an area where there is little of it. Artificial materials, animal tissues and bones of the patient are used. They are taken from places where there are enough of them. The patient does not experience any painful sensations, since all manipulations are performed under anesthesia. The psychological attitude towards the operation and the support of family and friends are important.
2. If there is not enough tissue under the lateral units in the upper jaw, simultaneous implantation is performed. This technology is low-traumatic. Patients tolerate the operation well. Unpleasant sensations are minimized. The procedure can be performed using a closed or open method. The method of operation is chosen depending on the volume of tissue being grown. When the closed method of surgery is chosen, the pin can be installed immediately. With an open surgical procedure, the rod is implanted no earlier than after 3 months.
3. The blocks are seated after cutting out the material in the lower jaw area. After transplanting it to the desired area, it is covered with a membrane. This method is one of the most traumatic and difficult. It does not involve simultaneous prosthetics. The operation is performed under anesthesia, so patients endure it painlessly. The probability of engraftment of such tissue is 100%, because it was taken from another area of ​​the patient’s jaw.

The treatment is painless thanks to high-quality anesthesia, modern anesthetics, the use of anesthesia and premedication. The following technologies are used:

• injection anesthesia;
• application type anesthesia;
• general anesthesia;

How long does pain last after implantation?

Getting a dental implant does not hurt. But after the end of the anesthesia, discomfort will be felt; this is a normal reaction to the intervention. On average, it lasts 1-3 days, the intensity and duration depends on the volume of the operation and the number of artificial roots installed. The nature of the pain can be sharp, diffuse, shooting, pressing, aching or cutting. Other body reactions are within normal limits:

• itching;
• edema;
• compression of tissues and muscles.

Types and benefits of dental implants

In modern dental clinics, high-quality implants from world manufacturers are used to restore the aesthetics and functionality of the dentition. All designs are divided into several groups.

Types of dental implants: description

, indications for installation:

1. Root-shaped - the most popular dental implants are cylindrical in shape with threads. The main design is a titanium pin. The implant takes root quickly, the risks of postoperative complications are the lowest. Installed when there is sufficient bone tissue.

2. Plate implants have a porous plate with a pin. Can be used if the bone tissue is too thin, when installation of a root-like structure is considered impossible. They are not designed for heavy loads, so they are mainly used to restore front teeth.

3. If there is a lack of bone tissue, subperiosteal implants, implanted into the space between the bone and the gum, are also effectively used. Recommended for installation after long-term absence of teeth.

4. Mini-implants are the optimal design for installation in patients who are contraindicated for full dental implantation. Such implants are used in single quantities and are not suitable for restoring a whole series.

On the dental implant market, global manufacturers present a wide variety of designs for restoring lost teeth, each with its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Before carrying out a surgical procedure to implant an artificial tooth, it is very important to choose a high-quality implant with good performance characteristics and rapid healing.

What to do to reduce pain

Unpleasant sensations come only after the anesthetic wears off. To reduce them it is recommended:

• take medications against pain, swelling, inflammation;
• avoid physical activity;
• do not touch the wound with your tongue or other objects;
• avoid hot baths, steam baths, saunas;
• do not drink alcohol, limit smoking.

We give out the necessary medications after the operation in a special package; you do not have to buy anything at the pharmacy. Rules for taking medications and other recommendations are indicated in the Patient Instruction.

Recommendations after surgery

Most often, implant rejection occurs due to the patient’s fault (failure to follow the dentist’s recommendations, failure to go to the clinic in a timely manner in case of complications, self-medication).

In order for the implant to take root, you need to follow a number of simple recommendations:

• Do not eat for 2 hours;
• During the entire healing period, do not eat spicy or too hard foods, avoid cold or hot foods;
• You can only chew on the side of the jaw opposite the sutures (to avoid their divergence);
• Take anti-inflammatory and painkillers recommended by your doctor, do antiseptic baths and rinses.
• Daily regular oral hygiene (brushing and paste, rinsing, flossing, etc.);
• If swelling occurs, apply ice to the cheek;
• Avoid any types of serious physical activity, avoid overwork;
• Smoking and drinking alcohol are ideally allowed only 1-2 weeks after surgery;
• Avoid active articulation, sneeze and cough very carefully;
• Add as many vitamins, minerals and nutrients to your diet as possible.

If these simple recommendations are followed, implant rejection, as well as the occurrence of any other serious complications, are excluded.

To avoid problems during implantation surgery, as well as in the postoperative period, you should give preference to trusted clinics and experienced, highly qualified specialists.

How long does it take for a wound to heal?

After surgery, the wound remains sensitive for 1-3 days. She needs special care for the next 2-3 weeks:

• upon returning home, apply ice or a cold compress to the intervention area;
• During the first hours you should not lie down, otherwise swelling may occur; it is better to sit or take a walk;
• You can only drink water at room temperature;
• Before the stitches are removed, you cannot eat flour, sticky foods, sweets, yoghurts; light soups, purees, and soft cutlets are allowed;
• in the first days, strong tea, coffee, and highly carbonated drinks are prohibited;
• You can chew only with the healthy side, rinse your mouth with warm water after each meal;
• one day after the operation, you can brush the adjacent teeth with a soft brush, but not with an electric brush or an irrigator.

"All-on-4"

Obviously, those who have no teeth left in their jaws experience the greatest fear of pain from implantation. However, these worries are completely unfounded. For this case, a convenient and popular “All-on-4” technique is provided, which turns a completely bare jaw into a sparkling set of teeth. The essence of the method is to install only 4 implants on the upper or lower jaw (or 8 units if the patient has complete edentia in both jaws). A common prosthesis of 10 artificial teeth is immediately fixed onto the tops of the installed implants.

The dentist will advise which dental implants are best for each specific case. However, the patient should not be concerned about the pain of the procedure. It is much more important to choose a clinic and a specialist who will do everything correctly so that the result pleases both the aesthetic and functional side.

Author:

Mayorov Andrey Mikhailovich

Specialization:

orthopedic dentistry, dental prosthetics, implant installation

If the pain in the implant area does not go away for a long time

Pain may be felt for up to 1-3 days, after which it is considered a deviation. Long-term discomfort is caused by impaired healing and microbial contamination. Signs of complications that do not stop for more than three days and are progressive:

• edema;
• bloody issues;
• strong pain;
• bad feeling;
• elevated temperature.

You cannot take anything on your own; you need to contact the doctor who performed the operation for help.

We want to reassure patients who are afraid to undergo implantation - this is a painless operation with a predictable successful result. Complex tooth extraction can be much more traumatic. If you follow the doctor's recommendations, there are no consequences. Even if all stages were successful, we schedule preventive examinations 2 times a year. This will help identify possible problems at an early stage and avoid complications.

Can implantation be dangerous to health?

Dental implantation is an absolutely safe procedure, much more atraumatic than wisdom tooth removal. By the way, the latter is much more serious than installing an implant in terms of complexity, number of complications and the difficulty of eliminating them. As with any other operation, various complications may arise after dental implantation, but all of them are compatible with life. The most unpleasant thing that can happen is, of course, implant rejection. Returning to the problem of pain associated with implantation, artificial dental roots are rejected almost imperceptibly for their owner - without pain or discomfort. However, if you seek help from a reputable dentist, the risk of such a complication or any other problem is reduced to zero.

If your doctor suggests you have a dental implant procedure and you're starting to wonder if it will hurt, don't be afraid to ask the doctor to talk about how the procedure will go. Understanding what you will be doing will help you get rid of groundless fears and overcome feelings of fear. Choose a specialist you can trust and a clinic where you will feel comfortable. With a professional approach to the patient from dental staff, fear and anxiety disappear completely in 100% of cases.

Myth 5. “Smokers don’t get implants because of rejection.”

Smoking worsens and shortens life, reduces oral hygiene, leading to dental diseases. But to say that smokers are condemned to wear dentures when their natural teeth fall out is wrong.

What are the risks of implantation for a smoking patient? During wound healing, nicotine promotes infection, the development of inflammation and subsequent reimplantitis. If there is no wound, then perhaps smoking will not lead to the described complications in 100% of cases.

Minimally invasive basal implantation restores a large number of teeth without incisions, sutures or wounds. A thin puncture is made in the mucosa and an implant is inserted through it. This gentle method is used to restore the dentofacial apparatus of patients who smoke, suffer from diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Martin, Tver

“I’ve been smoking for 25 years. I went to a good private dentistry in Tver to have 6 teeth inserted. But they refused to install implants, citing a high risk of rejection - they say, we don’t want to spoil the statistics for ourselves, but your bone is porous, and even smoking. I went to Moscow, where the implants were installed without any problems. And what is noteworthy: they did not do (and therefore did not take money for) bone grafting, and immediately after the procedure they installed temporary dentures. Naturally, I am very pleased. The only inconvenience is that I go to Moscow every month to see a doctor for an examination (so that the guarantee is preserved), but there are 2 visits left and the temporary dentures will be replaced with permanent ones.”