Can Dental Implants Cause Headaches?

As mentioned above, dental implants themselves do not cause headaches. If you experience a headache after receiving dental implants, then one of the following is likely the cause of the issue:

Implant Loading

As the study suggests, the onset of pain during the dental implant procedure for some patients was after the implant loading (placement of the crown or bridge). This could indicate that the pressure or changes brought about by the loading process might irritate the surrounding tissues or nerves, leading to headaches.

Trigeminal Nerve Irritation

The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensations in the face and mouth. Any disturbance or irritation to this nerve, even post-surgery, could lead to various symptoms, including headaches.

Inflammatory Response

The body’s natural response to any foreign object, including dental implants, is inflammation. This inflammation, especially if prolonged, can potentially lead to headaches.

Secondary Infections

While rare, any secondary infections or complications arising after the dental implant surgery but not directly because of the surgical procedure could lead to headaches.

Implant Misalignment

Placing an implant is a delicate job that requires accuracy and precise measurements. If your dental implant is incorrectly placed and ends up being misaligned, you could experience headaches.

This is because having misaligned teeth or implants can lead to an uneven bite. Having an uneven bite places more strain on your face and jaw muscles, leading to increased head pain.

Muscle Strain or Temporomandibular Joint Issues

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems can arise if an uneven bite persists for too long. Your TMJ acts as a sliding mechanism between your jaw and your skull bone. An uneven bite means that the TMJ may end up sliding imperfectly, which could lead to severe headaches.

This is predominantly a jaw issue that stems from your bite. An improper implant placement surgery could end up causing long-term TMJ issues.

How Do You Get Rid of a Dental Headache?

We have all experienced some sort of dental headache in the past, even if it stemmed from something small like tooth pain or a light gum infection. These kinds of headaches are the most painful out there! Here is how to gain some relief from a dental headache:

• Avoid grinding your teeth whenever possible. Although most teeth grinding occurs while we sleep, it is helpful to be conscious during the day. Tooth grinding is one of the major causes of head pain around the world and only exacerbates dental headaches, especially after receiving an implant.

• Get plenty of rest: People who have received dental implants suggest resting as much as possible post-surgery, especially if you suffer from headaches. According to this study, lack of proper sleep will also cause headaches to increase in severity.

• Alternate between hot and cold sensations. Placing an ice pack on your temples and alternating that with a heating pad can help relax the muscles in that area. Try alternating between hot and cold while gently massaging your temples for maximum effectiveness.

When to Seek Medical Attention

The duration of any given implant headache is difficult to predict. Some people experience headaches for the first few hours after surgery, while others suffer for a few days.

If your dental headache persists for more than ten days after your dental implant procedure and the symptoms are severe, constant, or recurring, then please contact Belmont Dental Surgery to get to the root cause of the issue.

Is It Common to Experience Headaches After Dental Implant Surgery?

Less than a quarter of patients experience headaches after dental implant surgery, and most people experience no side effects at all. As with any other surgical procedure, getting dental implants comes with its own set of risks.

Headaches are more common when teeth in the upper jaw are replaced because the implant site may be quite close to, or even extend into, the sinus cavity. This can result in headaches and a range of sinus issues, including a shift in airflow as well as sinus infections.