Is It Normal To Have Pain After Dental Implants?
It is normal to have some pain after dental implant procedures for fitting bridges, dentures, anti-snoring plates or any other kind of implantation. However, the pain should not be crippling. If it is crippling pain, then something has gone wrong and you need to contact your dentist immediately (or have a friend or family member make the call for you). But, on the whole, pain after dental implant procedures tends to be more annoying than painful.
Will Drugs Be Involved?
Usually, dental implants and pain do not necessitate you being prescribed any kind of major narcotic painkiller (Sorry). The pain after dental implant procedures just isn't that bad. Usually, over the counter painkillers will be able to take care of the discomfort, or at least tone it down to a dull roar.
There are times, depending on the procedure, that you may be prescribed antibiotics. They won't kill pain, but they do great at killing an infection that would cause crippling pain. Anytime when you are prescribed antibiotics, you must take all of the pills in the bottle, even if you feel fine. Otherwise, you won't do your body much good.
What Should I Expect?
Ideally, you should have someone drive you to and from your dentist or oral surgeon. You will be too loopy on Novocain and anesthetic in order to safely drive yourself. Worse comes to worse, get a taxi. It will be worth the money for the cab fare. The immediate pain after dental implant procedures won't be so bad, because you'll still be loopy.
The pain after dental implant procedures starts some time after you recover from the Novacain and any anesthetic begins to wear off. You can expect a lot of blood, swallowing blood and nausea from swallowing blood. You might vomit the blood up. If you keep vomiting blood up after three days, you need to scream at your dentist.
Your mouth will be sore and probably swell a bit. You can help with swelling by using an ice pack wrapped in a towel against your mouth. You might also feel cotton padding, which will feel uncomfortable more than painful. Each person has their own rate of recovery. Some people can go back to school or work the day after their dental implant procedure. Other people take a bit more time.
Getting used to your new dental implants is a bit like breaking in a new pair of shoes. It takes time for your mouth to adjust. It is during an adjustment period of a few weeks that you will have the most trouble and discomfort.
