Is a Dental Implant Procedure Painful?
Apprehensive about the dental implant surgery? Worried it’s going to hurt? It might sound that way, but at The Smiles Studio in Hampshire, it’s a straightforward procedure done in the dental chair under local anaesthetic, which blocks the pain.
The word “surgery” can make the implant procedure sound far worse than it is.
In fact, during a dental implant procedure, patients do not feel any pain with effective anaesthetic. At most, they may feel pressure or movement as the area is completely numbed before placement begins.
But if you’re particularly anxious, you can explore dental sedation with Dr Mahesh Nagpal to help you relax more deeply throughout the procedure.
Don’t just take our word for it – what patients said about their experience
The following reviews are from real patients of The Smiles Studio and have been verified on Google.
“I was incredibly nervous, but I have to say it was fine; it was actually less uncomfortable than some of the other work I have had done.”
Nicola Baker
“After the local anaesthetic, I felt no pain at all. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would, which was a pleasant surprise. I took painkillers afterwards, on the day of the procedure, but I was amazed that the following day I didn’t feel I needed any pain relief.” Judith Martin
“I was very nervous and worried about the whole procedure and again nearly didn’t come. However, after the numbing cream had been put on and a slight pressure applied for the numbing injections, I can honestly say it was fine – good even! There was no pain at all; there were vibrations from the drill, but it was done slowly, checking on my wellbeing the whole way through. Over the next few days, I followed the instructions given and took paracetamol, but soon found I didn’t need it.”
Miss Collins
“I had my first implant here with Dr Mahesh. At first I was worried about the pain I might have during the surgery, but I was in very good hands and didn’t feel any pain in the whole process.”
Sanky Wong
“Dr Mahesh fitted my implant! I was very nervous before the appointment. I received top care and service, and Dr Mahesh was very professional, and I felt in safe hands. And the best bit is I couldn’t believe there was absolutely no pain or discomfort whatsoever! Absolutely incredible.”
Sarah Taylor
“I have seen Mahesh over the last 10 years for dental implants, and I have to be honest with you: I find dental fillings more painful. I’m currently in the process of having a 3rd implant done and haven’t needed any pain relief after the operation.”
Kimberley King
I went through the apprehension and stress for absolutely no reason. After local anaesthetic, I felt a little discomfort – who wouldn’t, with your mouth wide open for an hour – but absolutely no pain. I left for home with the advice that I could increase the number of painkillers I could take after I had the feeling back in my mouth. I didn’t take a single one. Not because I’m brave; I just had no pain.”
Roger Creamer
“I have been seeing Dr Mahesh Nagpal for a dental implant. I was very nervous as I thought the implant would be very painful. The process was not painful at all.”
Rachael Brown
What to expect from the dental implant surgery
Patients are allowed to be rightfully concerned about the dental implant procedure, especially when learning how it works, which can lead them to ask, “Will it hurt?”
During the procedure, it shouldn’t.
- Dental implants are placed under local anaesthetic
- The injection blocks pain signals from the area
- But you will remain awake and aware of the procedure
What you might notice is:
- Pressure around the treatment area
- Movement
- Vibration
- Your dentist working within your mouth
- Sounds associated with the procedure
But sensations are different from pain – and you can still feel uncomfortable from any sounds or noises you hear. So if you ever feel uncomfortable, just let us know, and we’ll stop.
How we make the dental implant procedure more comfortable
At The Smiles Studio, making implant treatment comfortable begins before Dr Nagpal places the implant.
- Local anaesthetic: The implant site is numbed before surgery begins, and the procedure doesn’t take place until Dr Nagpal is satisfied the area is sufficiently anaesthetised. If anaesthetic isn’t enough, sedation can make a major difference for nervous patients.
- Pain-free injection techniques: We offer pain-free injection techniques as part of our approach to treating nervous patients.
- Oral or IV sedation: We offer oral and intravenous conscious sedation at our Chandler’s Ford and Lymington practices for anxious or phobic patients. We can discuss this as part of your treatment plan during a consultation. Anaesthetic blocks pain while sedation reduces fear.
- 3D implant planning: Our in-house CBCT scanner lets Dr Nagpal assess your anatomy before surgery begins, helping him plan the implant position in three dimensions. That means surgery isn’t when we start figuring out where the implant needs to go.
- Experience: Dr Nagpal has 36 years of implant experience and has placed more than 5,000 dental implants, from straightforward single teeth to complex cases.
- Treatment at your pace: If you’re nervous, you don’t need to pretend otherwise. We give anxious patients more time, explain treatment before starting and allow you to pause whenever you need to.
Start with a conversation, not surgery
If fear is the only thing stopping you from replacing a missing tooth, don’t book implant surgery yet. Book a conversation.
You can:
- Explain exactly what you’re frightened of
- Ask what the procedure will feel like
- Discuss pain-control options
- Find out whether sedation would help
- Have your jawbone assessed
- Understand how complicated your case actually is
- Receive your treatment options and costs
- Decide whether you feel ready to continue
At The Smiles Studio in Chandler’s Ford & Lymington, your implant consultation with Dr Nagpal is £50.
What does it feel like after dental implant surgery?
Here is where we distinguish between pain during placement and soreness afterwards. Once the anaesthetic wears off, some postoperative discomfort is normal.
You may experience:
- Tenderness
- Mild to moderate soreness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Minor bleeding around the surgical site
While the procedure itself is pain-free with anaesthetic, it’s misleading for any implant dentist to promise that every patient experiences absolutely no tenderness once the anaesthetic wears off. Some patients have remarkably little discomfort. Others need simple pain relief for the first couple of days.
Any post-operative discomfort is managed with over-the-counter medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Why choose The Smiles Studio if you’re nervous about implants?
Experience matters when somebody is operating on your smile. Choosing The Smiles Studio means you can benefit from:
- £50 implant consultation with Dr Nagpal
- 36 years of implant experience
- 5,000+ dental implants placed
- Pain-free injection techniques
- Oral and IV conscious sedation
- In-house 3D CBCT planning
- Extra time for nervous patients
- Complex implant procedures under one roof
- 500+ Google reviews across our Hampshire practices
Being frightened of implant surgery doesn’t mean you can’t have implants. It means we need to make treatment work around you. Book a consultation in Hampshire.
