Dental Implant Pain: How Long Do Dental Implants Hurt
Learn how to manage dental implant pain typically lasting a few days. Find tips and know when to call ClearChoice.

Dental implants can be an excellent way to replace one or more severely damaged, decayed, or missing teeth.
Some patients may be concerned about the pain involved in dental implant surgeries, but the good news is that today’s advanced technology and modern pain management techniques minimize discomfort during and after the procedure. This article will explore dental implant pain in more detail, explaining how long it lasts, some techniques to manage it, and when to contact a dentist.
If you want to learn more about restoring your smile with dental implants, schedule a consultation with us today.
Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?
During dental implant surgery, the patient typically does not feel any pain thanks to advanced technology and pain management techniques. Dentists have numerous options for maximizing comfort depending on the individual patient’s needs, ensuring a smooth and successful procedure.
As a result, the strongest sensation patients may experience tends to be a pressure or pushing motion. Dentists acknowledge this ahead of time and explain why it happens to help the patient feel more relaxed and comfortable going into the procedure.
How Long Does Pain Last After Getting Dental Implants?
For many patients, post-procedure dental implant pain lasts a few days to one week. The pain starts off mild after the procedure and may increase over 48 hours.¹ However, after that, the pain decreases within a few more days. The pain should be very reduced or subsided by the end of the week. Contact your dentist if you experience worsening pain, because this may be a sign of problems.
How to Manage Pain After Getting Dental Implants
Here are some ways to manage and relieve pain and swelling while recovering from dental implant surgery:
Take Prescription or Over-the-Counter Medications
Dentists may prescribe medications after the procedure to help you manage and reduce pain. Taking these as instructed can make the first few days — when pain tends to be more intense — easier to manage. After a few days, you may be able to switch to over-the-counter medication until the pain subsides. Follow all dosage instructions for prescription and over-the-counter medications to ensure safe usage and effective pain management. Furthermore, coordinate with your dentist about any other medications you take to ensure they don’t interfere with healing.
Use Ice Packs
Dental implant surgery can cause swelling and inflammation. Ice packs can help reduce these side effects and soothe some of the pain. Wrap an ice pack in a towel to prevent irritation from direct contact, then apply it to the area for a few minutes per use. If you don’t have access to an ice pack, a bag of frozen veggies works just as well. Take breaks between each use to give your skin time to rest. This prevents skin irritation while effectively managing inflammation.
Stick to Soft Foods
Hard foods can cause pain and potentially lead to issues when dental implants are healing, so stick to soft and liquid foods. Start with liquid foods like room-temperature soups, shakes, or smoothies. This will help you eat your meals without chewing when the pain is most intense.
As pain decreases, you may introduce soft foods, like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and thoroughly cooked pasta. Check in with your dentist and reintroduce harder foods as they instruct. Avoid drinking with straws.
Get Lots of Rest
Vigorous activity drains resources from the healing process and worsens swelling and inflammation. Therefore, avoiding exercise and other strenuous activities while healing is recommended.
Furthermore, get lots of sleep. Sleep gives your body a chance to repair damage and facilitate healing. Elevate your head while sleeping with an extra pillow to minimize swelling and avoid side sleeping.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Excellent oral hygiene helps keep your mouth clean, reducing the risk of the site becoming infected. Brush at least twice a day, and floss and rinse your mouth once daily. Consider an antibacterial mouthwash to inhibit bacterial growth and reduce the risk of infection even more. As always, follow your dentist’s advice regarding oral care at home.
When to Call Your Dentist
Advanced technology and techniques make implants a safe, effective procedure. However, any surgical procedure brings the risk of complications during healing. Contact a dentist immediately if you experience any of the following after receiving dental implants:
Pain Lasting More Than 10 to 14 days
Dental implant post-operative pain tends to fade by the end of one week, although may persist for a few more days. That said, if it continues beyond 10 to 14 days, there may be an issue, such as infection or improper healing.² Contact your dentist immediately if pain doesn’t subside or worsens.
Fever
Fever, fatigue, chills, and other flu-like symptoms are not normal side effects of dental implant recovery. Instead, these may indicate an infection. Untreated infections don't just slow healing by diverting resources to your immune system. It can also worsen and lead to other health issues. Even if you think you are sick independent of the procedure, speak with a dentist immediately. It is better to know for sure and rule out an implant infection. If they determine the implant led to the infection, they can prescribe antibiotics if needed and offer further guidance to return to health.
Discharge from the Implant Site
Normal dental implant healing does not result in pus or discharge. This can be a sign of infection, as it indicates that your body is fighting a foreign pathogen, such as bacteria. If you notice pus or discharge from the implant site, speak with a dentist immediately. They can assess the situation and take the proper action, such as prescribing antibiotics and providing other instructions.
Bad Taste in Your Mouth
Both bacteria and trapped food debris and lead to a foul taste in your mouth or bad breath. Pus or discharge may accompany this as well. Regardless, persistent foul taste or bad breath may be cause for concern. If left untreated, it can worsen the issue. Contact your dentist immediately so they can determine the cause and recommend the best treatment.
Swelling and Redness That Worsens
The dental implant site will swell and redden after the procedure as part of the body’s natural processes. Like pain, these typically fade over several days. However, if swelling and redness worsen and persist, it could indicate various issues, such as infection or improperly placed implants. Speak with a dentist immediately to get an evaluation and address the issue to avoid damage and maximize implant success.
Get the Care You Need After Getting Dental Implants
Dental implants are an excellent and reliable way to replace missing or damaged teeth, restoring your smile’s look and function. Some pain, swelling, and tenderness are normal as your body recovers and should fade within a week. You can manage it with pain medication, ice packs, and proper lifestyle choices.
That said, worsening pain or other unusual symptoms may be cause for concern. If you experience these, contact your local ClearChoice Dental Implant Center to find and fix the issue immediately. That way, we can ensure your implant’s success and restore your smile.
Dental Implant Pain FAQs
Does dental implant surgery hurt more than a tooth extraction?
Dental implant surgery tends to cause less discomfort than tooth extractions since a device is being placed rather than a tooth removed. Modern pain management and surgical techniques make the process quite comfortable. Patients generally only feel a pushing sensation during the procedure. Pain and swelling occur during recovery, but they are similar to and often milder than those after a tooth extraction.
How long does it take for a dental implant to stop hurting?
Dental implant pain tends to peak within a couple of days post-procedure, then fade and subside by the end of a week. Sometimes, it may last slightly longer than a week. Pain that persists or worsens beyond 10 to 14 days is not normal and may require professional attention.
What is the best pain relief method after getting dental implants?
The best pain relief method for post-operative pain management generally involves a combination of over-the-counter pain relievers with ice packs or cold compresses. Your dentist may prescribe stronger pain medication for more complex or intense procedures. On top of that, get plenty of rest and eat soft and liquid foods for several days. Ultimately, follow your dentist’s instructions and recommendations closely.
When does dental implant pain peak?
Dental implant pain, swelling, and tenderness tend to peak 48 hours post-procedure. Dentists may prescribe stronger pain medication to manage pain during this time.
Sources:
¹Aspen Dental – Do dental implants hurt? Everything you need to know
²Aspen Dental – Getting used to dental implants