How Painful Is The Dental Implant Procedure
We know it’s oddly satisfying to watch dental videos when they show up on the explore page on your Instagram feed; but, unless it’s a video of some screw-like thingy getting hammered to a patient’s jawbone. I mean how sadistic it would be to enjoy watching something like that?
But if we step back and think, the question regarding why would anyone need those mini-screws anchored in their jawbone might arise.
Well, Dr. Tejas Patel, well-known cosmetic dentists in Austin, TX, shared some nitty-gritty about the dental implants, which up until now we have been calling the mysterious mini-screws.
Dental implants are screws having a similar look to an artificial tooth root. They are anchored in a patient’s jawbone to replace one or more missing teeth by creating a base to support a crown or dental bridge. Now, these crowns are custom made while keeping in mind the original color of a natural tooth, to restore a patient’s overall facial aesthetics.
There’s no doubt that the outcome of getting a dental implant is always worthwhile and beautiful. However, the procedure may look extremely scary, especially for those who are thinking of getting implants to fill the gaps due to missing tooth or teeth. This fear often has the chance of halting the patients from achieving a healthy mouth.
DOES THE PROCEDURE HURT?
Like any other surgical procedure, getting a dental implant involves two steps- surgery and recovery. The first step is what makes it more intimidating for patients to move forward with the procedure.
The surgery step involves a prosthodontist cutting the gums first. Sounds scary, right? Well, it is not as frightening as it sounds since before they start with the procedure, your prosthodontist ensures to put you under local anesthesia to numb the area thoroughly. After that is done, they will proceed with making incisions to expose your jawbone.
Next, your prosthodontist will move on to drill a hole in your jawbone to create a base to support the implants. Here, a patient might feel some pressure due to the drills, but again, our jawbone doesn’t have any nerve. So a patient will feel no pain during this step. And at last, the implants are screwed and anchored in your jawbone, before your prosthodontist closes up the incision. This whole procedure takes half an hour to an hour at most. And before you know it, you will be done with the surgery procedure!
THINGS TO EXPECT DURING THE RECOVERY PROCESS
Now, with the first step completed, there are things a patient might need to keep in mind during the healing process. Since different people heal differently, recovery time will vary for people undergoing dental implant surgery.
Some soreness after the anesthesia wears off is expected, which is normal. For that, and to get relief from any discomfort during the healing process, your prosthodontist might even prescribe medicine. In addition to that, a patient must follow the aftercare steps as mentioned by their doctor. Failure to do so might elongate the healing process.
Following are some of the points your doctor will ask you to keep in mind.
- Avoid using a straw post-surgery for at least 24 hours.
- Stick to only a liquid diet for two days after surgery.
- Avoid hot food for two days as that can help your gums to heal fast.
- A salt water rinse is a must for 3-4 times a day.
- And lastly, smoking is strictly prohibited post-surgery for at least a week.
If a patient follows these steps like an obedient student, be assured that the recovery process will have little to no pain. But failure to do these might aggravate pain and lengthen gums and mouth to heal. However, if at all, pain persists despite following the aftercare steps, consulting with the dentist is what we would suggest to a patient. And once a patient fully heals, they will be then asked to book an appointment for crown restoration.
IS GETTING DENTAL IMPLANTS WORTH IT?
There’s no doubt that it is! Our smile contributes majorly to boosting our confidence. So when a patient loses their teeth due to reasons as such trauma, decay, or other factors, it can take a toll on one’s esteem. And we know how low esteem affects the different areas in our lives!
Also, a healthy mouth is one of the crucial pillars to support the other functionalities in our body. So it’s always best to get implants if a patient has a missing tooth or teeth.
If you are in Austin, still having some questions about the dental implants, well, don’t worry! One of the best dental clinic, Austin Cosmetic, takes pride in the successful treatment of dental implants in Austin, TX. Their team of experts in prosthodontics is always delighted to have you in their clinic, to erase your doubts and provide you with a treatment plan as per your needs. All you have to do is schedule an appointment, and voila! You’re one step ahead of getting your dream smile.