By Dr Daniel Ghent, in-house implant dentist at H Williams & Associates, Petts Wood
It is the first thing nearly everyone asks me. Not how long it takes, not what it costs. “Is it going to hurt?”
It is a completely fair question. You are talking about a tooth being replaced at the root, in your jaw, so of course your mind goes there. Rather than skirt around it, let me tell you honestly what getting a dental implant actually feels like, from the day you sit in the chair to the weeks after.
The honest answer:
Less than most people expect.
For the vast majority of people, the procedure is painless. It is done under local anaesthetic, the same kind you would have for a filling, so the area is completely numb. You feel some pressure and a little movement, but not pain. When I see patients two weeks after their implant, most tell me they took a painkiller for a day or two and probably did not even need it, because they had not felt any real discomfort. For some of the more complex cases there can be a little swelling or bruising, but for a straightforward implant, that is the exception, not the rule.
Do nervous patients need sedation?
Most of our patients choose to have their implant without sedation, and that often surprises them. We work in a calm, steady, unhurried way, and by the time we reach the surgery appointment most people feel they simply do not need it. If you would feel more comfortable with sedation, we can talk about it. But please do not assume you will need to be sedated to get through this. Most do not.
What you actually feel on the day
Placing a single implant can take as little as twenty minutes. Once you are numb, the only thing you tend to feel is some pressure, and perhaps a gentle tugging at the cheek. That is it.
Honestly, the most common thing patients say to me when we finish is:
“Is that it?” Or: “Really, you're done already?”
That reaction, more than anything I could tell you, is the real answer to whether it hurts.
What about afterwards? The recovery
Once the anaesthetic wears off, it is normal to feel a little tenderness around the area for a day or two, much like after any dental work. We always suggest taking a painkiller for the first 24 hours, but most people find they feel little more than mild tenderness, and it settles steadily from there.
How we keep it as comfortable as possible
A lot of the discomfort people worry about comes from the unknown, and from treatment that is rushed or poorly planned. We plan every implant in advance using a 3D digital scan, so before we begin we know exactly where the implant is going. I often work with a fully guided system, which keeps the procedure shorter and the treated area as small as possible. A smaller, more precise procedure is a more comfortable one.
Where it helps, I also use platelet rich fibrin, taken from a small sample of your own blood, to support healing and comfort after the implant is placed. It is one of the ways we look after you beyond the procedure itself.
The fear is normal. You do not have to face it alone.
If you are anxious about dental treatment, you are in good company, and it is nothing to feel awkward about. We work with nervous patients every single day, and we have seen it all. We take real pride in how we do this, and the moment we love most is when someone who walked in terrified walks out smiling their new smile, saying things like:
“I wish I'd done this years ago.” Or: “That was so much better than I could have hoped for.”
If that sounds like the outcome you want, the best first step is simply to come in and talk it through. No commitment, no pressure. You can ask me every question on your mind, and we will go entirely at your pace.
To book your free dental implant consultation with Dr Ghent, simply call us on 01689 823636 or chat to a team member by WhatsApp during opening hours, or click book now and select free implant consultation.
Missing a tooth, or struggling with dentures that move when you don't want them to? Dental implants are the closest thing to having your own teeth back, secure, natural-looking, and made to last. Eat what you like, smile without thinking about it, and feel like yourself again. Your treatment is led start to finish by our in-house implant expert, Dr Daniel Ghent.
About 1 in 10 people in the UK have varying degrees of dental phobia. If this leads to you avoiding or delaying treatment, this can lead to further problems developing over time requiring even more complicated treatment.
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