Are Dental Implants Painful

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Dental implants are not painful because they don't involve tooth nerves.

Luckily for those that need them, dental implants are not painful at all. Let me expand on that: The pain associated with dental work is generated through nerve endings located inside your teeth. Simply put, your teeth are what’s responsible for dental pain. Dental implants deal with your jawbone and not your teeth. Since your jawbone does not have the same sensitive nerve endings as teeth do, implant placement is not painful. To better understand this, let’s examine what causes toothache.

Dental pain is generated when a tooth is infected as a result of a cavity or fracture. The nerve ending inside your tooth detects this infection and sends a signal to your brain. This signal is what triggers toothache. When it comes to dental implants, we are not dealing with teeth nerves but jawbone. Since your jawbone is not equipped with similar nerve endings as teeth, there is minimal pain involved with dental implant placement.

What hurts in dentistry is getting a root canal or tooth extraction without being sufficiently numb. It's only during root canal and tooth extraction where the patient may not get sufficiently numb and pain becomes an issue. For instance, I’ve occasionally had to resort to 6 to 10+ injections to remove a badly infected tooth. On the other hand, I’ve never had to go beyond 2 to 3 shots when placing a dental implant. This is because dental implants don’t really hurt!

But Will I Feel Anything At All? 

You will feel something. What you will feel during dental implant placement, aside from the needle, is minor vibrations and pressure sensation. There is a series of sequential drills used in placement of dental implants and you will feel the pressure generated by these drills. Keep in mind that pressure differs from pain and pain is not really a factor in this situation.

What if I Can’t Deal With Pressure? 

If you don’t want to feel anything at all, then you should talk to your dentist about putting you to sleep. Nitrous Oxide is helpful for those who need just a little assistance. For those who are even more scared, sedation is the better solution. Keep in mind that most patients receiving one, two or three dental implants, do so while they are awake. Sedation is a better option for those who require multiple tooth extractions and several dental implants. Talk to your dentist to see what they recommend based upon your individual needs.

Conclusion

You really shouldn't make a decision regarding your health based solely on fear. Dental implants are usually a better option than bridges and dentures. The fact that a dental implant lasts you a lifetime is really what should be your main decision making criteria. If you are fearful of the treatment, talk to your doctor to see if he or she can offer you sedation or other relaxation techniques. Regardless of your decision, don't be afraid of dental implants because they are not painful.

Brush 'n Floss Yo Teeth! 
Ali John Jazayeri, DDS