Dental implants are a fixed solution to missing teeth. They involve the manufacturing of a screw-like implant that is surgically positioned in your jawbone in an attempt to replicate your missing tooth root. Once in place, a crown is then placed over the top of the denture to replicate the remaining top portion of your tooth.

Over time, your jawbone will grow around the implant, helping to secure it in place. The result can be a natural-looking tooth and smile, and regained confidence you may have lost from your missing teeth.

When people are looking at the need for dentures, a common question that arises is ‘does getting dentures hurt?’ and ‘how long will my recovery be?’ Let’s look at both questions to put your mind at ease.

Do dentures hurt?

In short, dentures do not hurt any more than a regular dental procedure. As with any other dental procedures, you will be offered an anaesthetic to the local area to help numb the pain and discomfort. You may also be offered some form of sedation if you are particularly fretful of the procedure.

What will be recovery time be?

Once implanted, dentures will take some time to get used to. The implant will take some time to bond with your jaw and for you to get used to the new tooth you have now acquired. It is common to have some pain and discomfort after the implant, just like any other procedure in your mouth. Tis will settle down over time. If you are experiencing any ongoing and persistent pain it is advised to go back and see your dentist to confirm there are no additional issues at play.

With adequate oral hygiene and good dental practices, you can expect to get up to 20 years from your new dental implant, so be sure to keep up the dentist visits.