Dental Implant Pain After 2 Weeks: Is It Normal?

After a dental implant procedure, healing typically requires some amount of time depending on each individual’s circumstances. So, you will experience dental implant pain. Therefore, mild discomfort (pain, swelling, etc.) can be expected for the first few days after surgery as the gums and bone begin to heal. As such, when patients have discomfort after two weeks, they often begin to worry and wonder if it is normal.

The determination of whether pain after two weeks is normal or not depends on three factors: how much pain remains; has the pain improved since the last appointment; and do you have any additional symptoms? Generally speaking, most patients will have mild tenderness for approximately two weeks after having a dental implant placed, especially if bone grafting, sinus lifts or multiple implants were performed. However, if you have significant pain, increasing swelling, a bad taste in your mouth, pus, fever and/or a loose dental implant, you should contact your dentist immediately.

Although having pain after two weeks does not always indicate implant failure, it should cause you to have your dentist examine the site of surgery. Your dentist will evaluate your recovery on the date of your post-surgical follow-up, confirm that your recovery is progressing normally and determine whether your pain is associated with typical dental implant pain recovery or the result of complications.

What Pain Is Normal After a Dental Implant?

Following dental implant surgery, it takes time for the body to recuperate from the surgical procedure. The gum tissue has been cut, the bone has been drilled, and the dental implant has been affixed to the bone. Hence, during the healing phase, there will likely be some discomfort and swelling related to these events.

Typically, most individuals experience their most intense discomfort during the first few days following their dental implant surgery, and then the discomfort will gradually decrease. For some patients, they may also experience some level of sensitivity to pressure (e.g., chewing), difficulty opening their mouths, and/or tenderness around the surgical site; these types of discomfort are generally regarded as a part of the normal healing process, particularly if they follow a trend of being lighter and less severe on a daily basis.

The most important aspect regarding the symptoms after two weeks post-surgery is whether or not the symptoms continue to become better or worse. Mild tenderness, which is improving progressively, would be less worrisome than an acute increase in pain after the first week. If an individual continues to experience an increase in axial pain where the dental implant was placed after two weeks, they should contact the dentist for assistance.

Why Some Tenderness Can Last Longer

Every patient does not heal at the same rate. A simple implant will likely recover faster than a more complicated situation. If bone grafting, a sinus lift, tooth removal or multiple implants at once are required, the patient’s gums and bones usually require longer to heal.

Patients may also experience jaw pain for an extended period of time because their mouths were held open during the implant procedure. In addition, patients may develop stiffness around the jaw joint or have soreness in the muscles adjacent to the jaw because of this open-mouth position. This does not indicate that there is a problem with the actual implant; however, discomfort will gradually reduce.

The recovery period following the placement of dental implants will vary due to several factors, including the patient’s overall health, personal hygiene habits, tobacco use, pressure exerted on the bite, and how well the patient follows the aftercare instructions provided by the dentist. If the area(s) surrounding the implant(s) are subject to irritation due to chewing forces or inadequate cleaning, the discomfort may continue longer than if adequate care is provided.

When Pain After 2 Weeks May Be a Warning Sign

If the dental implant pain has persisted after 2 weeks, you should be concerned, especially if there are any additional signs of trouble. If the pain has worsened (become sharper, throbbing, etc.), consult your dentist immediately. They will be able to determine if the issue is due to some sort of infection, inflammation, or pressure around the site of the dental implant.

The presence of swollen gums around the implant could be another sign of concern. Swelling is normal during the first few days of surgery but should decrease over time after the first week.

Some of the signs that your gums are not healing properly include: redness; increased heat and/or bleeding; or drainage (pus). In some cases, you will also be able to feel the heat emanating from the gum tissue.

You could also have an infection of the dental implant site. Infections develop due to bacteria present near the surgical site. If you have an infection, you may notice some of the following signs: feeling discomfort biting down on the area, bad taste in your mouth, swelling, or drainage (discharge) from the site.

An infection of the dental implant does not necessarily mean that your implant will not survive; however, it will require prompt treatment in order to avoid damage to the tissues surrounding the implant – including bone and gum tissue.

Signs You Should Not Ignore

A patient experiencing increasing pain or swollen gums that do not heal, along with a persistent foul odor or bad taste from the area of the implant, recurrent bleeding from the same site and/or feverish sweaty episodes, or difficulty chewing, should contact their dentist immediately. These are signs of infection and may require cleaning or treatment of the area, or further imaging studies to evaluate.

Another important indicator of problems with implants includes looseness – the implant should remain immobile in the bone at all times during healing – if the implants appear to be mobile, or if the healing cap appears to be loose, this should be reported to your dentist as soon as possible. While sometimes only minor movements above the implant may occur, the area will most likely require intervention from your dentist to correct a problem.

Furthermore, prolonged numbness and/or tingling of the chin, lips, gums, and/or adjacent teeth may indicate nerve irritation and should be evaluated.

Could It Be Implant Failure?

Not all instances of dental implant pain following 2 weeks are representative of implant failure. Many sources of discomfort can be alleviated if addressed early on. Some common examples of things that may create pain are irritation of the gums, food stuck between teeth, pressure from the temporary restoration and slow healing or delayed resolution due to medical issues or other factors unrelated to the actual failure of the implant.

Any increase in pain should never go unreported to your dentist. Failure of an implant can occur as a result of improper integration with your bone, if there’s an infection present and/or due to too much force being applied to the implant prior to complete healing.

When you visit your dentist, he/she will evaluate the implant for stability as well as look at your gums and bite; this would include taking X-rays to evaluate the quality of the bone surrounding your dental implant. Based on this information, your dentist can make a determination as to the source of your discomfort (i.e., implant site, adjacent teeth, gums or jaw).

Common Reasons for Pain After Two Weeks

A variety of reasons can cause dental implant pain two weeks post-surgery. Delayed soft tissue healing is one such reason; if surgery was difficult, the gum may be irritated due to sensitivity, additional touching or residual stitches.

 It is also possible that the irritation of the gum by food particles, plaque or pressure caused by chewing is creating the soreness you are experiencing. This is one of the reasons for ongoing care and maintenance of the site that’s been implanted.

This area must remain clean, but the site should not be aggressively brushed until there has been sufficient time to heal. In addition, pain may also be generated by the adjacent teeth or your bite. In some cases the patient believes that they have ongoing discomfort in the implant, but the source may be an adjacent tooth, jaw muscle or temporary restoration. A clinical examination can help determine the true nature of the discomfort you are experiencing.