Does ‘All on 4’ dental implant treatment hurt?
All on 4 is one of the most invasive dental treatments.
Most people’s instincts tell them that this would be one of the most painful too.
Before the procedure begins, we numb all areas, using a regular local anaesthetic (used for other dental treatments). However, for All on 4 we use much more anaesthetic and apply it in a special and specific way.
It would not be true to say that no one feels anything.
The procedure takes several hours and in some cases, the patient will regain some sensation again after about two and a half hours.
Fortunately, this is towards the end of the surgical phase of the treatment and patients describe this to be slightly uncomfortable but manageable.
We have found that it is more of an issue for the top teeth than bottom. This could be due to the patients feeling the vibrations of the instruments which are used more at the top set of teeth than the bottom set.
Conscious sedation is routinely recommended to our patients for this procedure.
This is where a hospital sedation specialist provides a drug (usually Midazolam) through the back of the hand which completely relaxes the patient and provides a period of amnesia where the patient cannot remember the procedure.
Sedation makes the whole process a lot more comfortable.
The downside is that it does typically cost an additional £700 to £800 on top of an already expensive treatment.
This is one of the main reasons why patients choose not to have sedation.
After being sedated, the patient will need a chaperone, someone who can come to the practice with them as the patient is unable to drive after treatment.
They will also need to be cared for a day after the treatment, whilst the medication works its way out of the body.
For most people, there will be little discomfort following treatment but some level of swelling.
Some will experience bruising that looks more dramatic than it is but very few will experience pain after the treatment.
Pain and pain perception is a complicated subject.
Some people will go through this whole process and feel completely fine at the end of it.
Often the patients who are most calm and not expecting it to hurt from the outset are those that have the most pleasant experience.
Patients that are already highly anxious of the whole procedure are the ones that are likely to experience more discomfort during the procedure.
For anyone anxious, we recommend sedation as part of the treatment, especially if the top arch of the teeth is being treated.
The treatment can be very tiring, especially for those who have not been sedated as they would have been seated in the dental chair for two to four hours whilst the treatment is carried out.
A lot of patients will bring headphones to listen to their favourite music or podcasts. We are happy to accommodate whatever helps to make the treatment more comfortable for the patient.
