Do implants hurt? What do you actually feel?

The anaesthetic stops the nerve sending signals, but it does not switch off every sensation at once. The fibres that carry pain are blocked first; the ones that carry pressure and vibration keep working for a while longer. That is why the pushing you feel in the chair is uncomfortable but is not pain. Confusing the two causes more anxiety than the procedure itself.

The second fact is reassuring too: there are almost no pain-sensing nerve endings inside the bone. The sensation of pain comes from the thin membrane that covers the bone (the periosteum) and from the gum over it. That is why what you feel as the implant goes into the bone is pressure; the tenderness in the following days also comes mainly from the soft tissue.

The swelling afterwards is not a sign of a problem; it is the first stage of healing: the body sends fluid and repair cells to the area, and the tissue puffs up temporarily. The yellow-purple discolouration that appears on the cheek or under the jaw is part of the same process; it may look alarming, but it is the expected course.

The effect of the Implant72 protocol on this picture comes from the scope of the surgery. A strategic implant locks mechanically into the hard outer layer of the jaw (cortical bone); a conventional implant, by contrast, attaches to the softer, spongy bone inside, and you have to wait months for osseointegration. That is why, in most cases, a bone graft and a sinus lift (sinus floor elevation) do not come into it. The smaller the area opened up, the less tissue there is that needs to heal.

There is another side to it too. This protocol is for full-mouth cases or people missing many teeth; someone having a single implant and someone having the whole jaw done do not go through the same thing. In the second case, the swelling spreads over a wider area and the first two days are more tiring. On the other hand, at the end of three clinical days you leave with your final fixed teeth, and you are not wearing a removable denture that shifts about over healing tissue.

Pain thresholds vary from person to person, but the process is not down to luck. The points below are the factors that genuinely affect how comfortable the first days will be. If you see yourself in the second list, it does not mean the door is closed; it means there is something else we need to talk about first.

Most anxiety comes from not knowing. The sequence below describes what you feel, and how, on the day of the procedure; it is not the technical flow of the treatment.

1. 1

   Before the anaesthetic

   The surface of the gum is numbed with a gel, which softens the feeling of the needle going in. Giving the anaesthetic slowly also makes a difference: anaesthetic given quickly stretches the tissue, so you feel it more.

2. 2

   As the numbness sets in

   Within a few minutes, a warm, tingling feeling starts in your lip and tongue; then the area goes numb. We do not start until you say it is numb, and if it is not, more anaesthetic is given.

3. 3

   While the implant is being placed

   What you feel is not pain but pressure: a pushing sensation, a feeling of strain in your jaw and the vibration of the instrument. We agree on a raised-hand signal at the start; when you raise your hand, we stop. This agreement on its own eases many patients' tension.

4. 4

   While the teeth are being prepared

   Taking impressions, the try-in and fitting the final fixed teeth are not surgical stages. They take patience, but they are much more comfortable than the surgical stage; a large part of the three clinical days is spent here.

5. 5

   As the numbness wears off

   It lasts a few hours after the procedure. During this time, do not have hot drinks and be careful not to bite your cheek; because you cannot feel it, you could injure it without realising. Taking the first painkiller at the time you are told makes the evening more comfortable.

6. 6

   Before you leave

   Which medicine to take at what time, how to use a cold compress and when to call are all given to you in writing; spoken instructions do not stick when you are tired on the day of the procedure.

If what you find hard is the idea of the procedure more than the pain, tell us. It is nothing to be embarrassed about, and it really does change the plan. We decide together which option suits you.

We are not writing the points below to frighten you, but so that you are not caught unprepared if you come across them. If a dentist does not bring these up of their own accord, ask.

The course below describes what to expect with a full-mouth plan. It does not progress at the same pace for everyone, and most variations do not mean there is a problem. What tells you most is the direction: are your symptoms easing over time, or getting worse?

1. The first 6 hours

   Tenderness starts as the numbness wears off. A cold compress held against the outside of the cheek noticeably reduces swelling: twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off. Choose lukewarm, soft food, and do not drink through a straw.

2. The first 48 hours

   This is when swelling and tenderness are most noticeable: the swelling reaches its peak towards the end of the second day, then goes down. You may see yellow-purple bruising on your cheek; the blood in the tissue is moving downwards, which is expected. Sleeping with your head raised reduces swelling in the morning.

3. Days three to seven

   The swelling goes down visibly and you need fewer painkillers. Keep the area clean with a very soft brush and the mouthwash you have been given; avoid hard, crunchy and very hot food. This is when people return to their daily routine.

4. The first few weeks

   The gum shapes itself around the fixed teeth; mild tenderness that comes and goes is normal. Because your final fixed teeth are in place from the start, you do not spend this time without teeth, but you do need to stick to the chewing restrictions.

We do not give figures on this page; a price can only be given after an examination and a CBCT scan, item by item and in writing. But it helps to know how the choices you make on the comfort side affect the total:

Choice of anaesthesia

Local anaesthetic alone and conscious sedation are not the same thing. Sedation means extra medication, extra monitoring and extra staff; a general anaesthetic is a separate item on top of that.

Scope of the procedure

The number of teeth to be extracted and implants to be placed in the same session, and whether the plan covers one jaw or both, determine both the time in the chair and the healing burden.

Whether extra surgery is needed

If a bone graft or a sinus lift comes into it, the scope widens and healing takes longer. In most cases, a strategic implant means these do not come into it.

Medication and check-up plan

Painkillers, antibiotics if needed and check-up appointments are part of the plan. Ask in writing from the start which of these are included in the price; not only from us, but from every clinic you go to.