This is hands down the number one concern I hear from patients considering All-on-4 at Townsville Dental Clinic, and I completely understand why. As a dentist who’s performed these procedures on plenty of North Queensland locals, I reckon it’s important to give you the honest truth about what to expect pain-wise, not just reassuring platitudes.
Our Dentist’s Direct Answer
“Most patients are surprised by how manageable the pain is with All-on-4. During the procedure itself, you’ll feel nothing because you’re under local anaesthetic or sedation. The first few days after surgery involve moderate discomfort, similar to having several teeth extracted, but it’s well controlled with pain medication. Here at Townsville Dental Clinic, patients typically rate their pain as 4 to 6 out of 10 for the first 48 hours, then it drops significantly. By day five, most people are pretty comfortable and back to soft foods without much trouble.”
What Happens During the Actual Procedure
Here’s the thing: you won’t feel pain during the surgery itself because we numb the entire area thoroughly with local anaesthetic. You might feel pressure or pushing sensations, but no sharp pain. If you do feel anything uncomfortable, we add more anaesthetic straight away.
Many Townsville patients opt for IV sedation on top of the local anaesthetic. With sedation, you’re relaxed and drowsy, and most people remember very little of the procedure afterwards. It’s like having a really long nap at the dentist. You’re technically conscious, but you’re not bothered by what’s happening.
The procedure takes about two to three hours per arch. That sounds like a fair while, but with proper anaesthesia and sedation, it’s not an ordeal. At Townsville Dental Clinic, we make sure you’re comfortable throughout, checking in regularly and adjusting anaesthetic levels as needed.
Some patients choose general anaesthetic in a hospital setting, though this adds significantly to the cost. For most people, local anaesthetic with sedation does the job perfectly well.
The First Few Days After Surgery
Right, this is where you’ll experience the most discomfort. Once the anaesthetic wears off a few hours after surgery, you’ll notice swelling, soreness, and a general achy feeling in your jaw. It’s not excruciating, but it’s definitely noticeable.
The pain peaks around 48 to 72 hours after surgery, then starts improving steadily. Most patients describe it as similar to having a few teeth pulled at once, or like a really bad toothache that’s spread across your jaw. In my experience with North Queensland patients, it’s uncomfortable but not unbearable.
We prescribe pain medication that takes the edge off nicely. For the first couple of days, you’ll want to take the meds regularly rather than waiting until you’re hurting. Ibuprofen and paracetamol together work brilliantly for most people, though we can prescribe stronger options if needed.
Swelling is often worse than pain for many Townsville locals. Your face will puff up, and you might look like you’ve gone a few rounds in the boxing ring. Ice packs for the first 24 hours help heaps with both swelling and discomfort. After that, switching to warm compresses can ease any residual achiness.
Week One Recovery
By day four or five, most patients at Townsville Dental Clinic are feeling considerably better. The sharp pain has usually settled into a dull ache, and the swelling is going down. You’ll still need to be careful with eating and might take the occasional painkiller, but you’re over the worst of it.
Sleeping can be tricky for the first week because lying flat increases swelling and discomfort. Propping yourself up with extra pillows helps. Some patients reckon sleeping in a recliner for a few nights makes a real difference.
Sticking to soft foods for the first week is essential, not just for pain management but to protect the surgical sites. Think mashed potato, scrambled eggs, soup, smoothies, and pasta. Anything that doesn’t require much chewing. Most people find eating isn’t particularly painful if they choose appropriate foods.
You’ll need to avoid the gym, heavy lifting, or strenuous activity for at least a week. Getting your heart rate up too much can cause bleeding and increased swelling. Here in Townsville where everyone’s pretty active, this is often the hardest part for patients.
After the First Week
By week two, you should be feeling pretty good. Most Townsville patients are back at work and resuming normal activities, though still being gentle with their new teeth. Any lingering discomfort is mild and manageable with over the counter painkillers if needed at all.
The temporary teeth fitted on surgery day can cause some irritation as you adjust to them. Your mouth needs time to get used to the new hardware, and you might have some sore spots where the prosthetic rubs. We can adjust these easily at followup appointments.
Some patients experience nerve sensitivity or odd sensations for a few weeks as everything heals. This is normal and settles down as the surgical sites fully recover. It’s not painful as such, just a bit weird.
By six to eight weeks, you should feel completely normal. The implants are integrating with your bone, and you’ve adapted to your temporary teeth. Most people at this point forget they ever had surgery.
Managing Pain Effectively
Taking your pain medication on schedule for the first few days makes a huge difference. Don’t try to tough it out or wait until you’re in agony. Staying ahead of the pain is much easier than catching up once it’s established.
Follow all the post-operative instructions we give you at Townsville Dental Clinic. This includes the ice packs, elevated sleeping position, soft diet, and avoiding certain activities. Patients who follow instructions religiously have easier recoveries with less pain.
Keep the surgical area clean but be gentle. We’ll give you specific cleaning instructions. Infection will make everything hurt more and delay healing, so proper hygiene matters.
Don’t smoke or drink alcohol during recovery. Both interfere with healing and can increase pain and complications. I know that’s tough for some Townsville locals, but it’s genuinely important for a smooth recovery.
If you’ve got more questions about pain management with All-on-4 or want to discuss sedation options, pop into Townsville Dental Clinic and we can talk through what would work best for your situation.
