When should I contact my surgeon about pain, swelling, or mechanical problems post-implant?
Executive summary
If pain, swelling, or mechanical problems (looseness, movement, persistent severe pain, pus, fever >38°C, or altered sensation) occur beyond the expected early healing window — generally more than about 7–14 days after dental implant surgery — you should contact your surgeon promptly because those are classic signs of infection, osseointegration failure, nerve injury, or mechanical complications [1] [2] [3] [4]. For breast implants, new or worsening pain, skin problems, capsular contracture, or signs of infection merit urgent evaluation because complications can appear from months to years after reconstruction and may require implant removal or reoperation [5] [6] [7].
1. When “normal” pain stops and warning pain starts — the dental timeline to call your surgeon
Early post‑op tenderness and swelling are expected; most dental implant pain and swelling settle within about a week and are usually minimal by two weeks [1] [2]. Available sources flag pain that lasts beyond one week or becomes increasingly intense as an alarm sign that could indicate infection, nerve injury, or failing integration and advise you to seek care right away [1] [3]. If pain is accompanied by pus, a persistent bad taste, expanding swelling, or fever above 38°C, contact your surgeon immediately — those are classic infectious signs in the sources [3] [4] [2].
2. Swelling and signs of infection — not just discomfort, but a threat to the implant
Postoperative edema is common but problematic when it is significant, progressive, or accompanied by exudate (pus) and pain; infections in the first few postoperative days present with edema, exudate and pain and can compromise healing and osseointegration [2]. Multiple dental‑care sites advise that swelling with pus or prolonged pain is among the most common reasons to seek urgent assessment to prevent bone loss and implant instability [8] [3].
3. Mechanical problems — looseness, movement, or broken parts require prompt attention
An implant (or its restoration) that feels mobile or loose is not normal. Sources say mobility can signal osseointegration failure and that perceived looseness when chewing should prompt immediate consultation [4]. Mechanical failures — screw loosening, prosthetic misfit, or framework problems — are common technical complications in implant prosthodontics and often need clinical correction to avoid progressive damage [9] [10].
4. Nerve symptoms and persistent abnormal sensations — act fast
Sharp, radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or other altered sensations after implant placement may indicate nerve injury. One clinical overview warns that nerve damage from implant placement can cause significant pain and may necessitate implant removal and replacement if severe [1]. Sources do not provide an exact time cutoff for nerve repair windows; available sources do not mention specific timing for optimal nerve intervention beyond advising prompt evaluation [1].
5. Breast‑implant context — different timeline, similar urgency for new problems
In post‑mastectomy implant reconstruction, complications such as capsular contracture, skin healing problems, infection or implant exposure can begin months to years after surgery [5] [6]. Large series show a measurable rate of unplanned reoperation (2.7% in one multi‑center cohort) and that management ranges from antibiotics and washouts to implant removal or replacement, so new pain, skin changes, fever, or mechanical distortion deserves timely surgical assessment [6].
6. What your surgeon will consider and why early contact matters
Clinicians will assess for infection, prosthetic misfit, biomechanical overload (which causes mechanical complications), or biological failure of osseointegration — all of which have different treatments from antibiotics to salvage surgery or implant removal [9] [10] [6]. Early detection increases the chance to salvage an implant; delayed care raises the likelihood of bone loss or reoperation [6] [2].
7. Practical rule of thumb and limitations in the reporting
Practical rule: if severe pain, spreading or worsening swelling, fever >38°C, pus, mobility/looseness, new numbness, or prosthesis breakage occur — especially after the first week — contact your surgeon immediately [1] [3] [4]. Limitations: the provided sources vary (dental clinics, reviews, surgical cohorts) and don’t give a single standardized guideline for exact hours/days to call; available sources do not specify an exact universal emergency timeline beyond the clinical red flags cited [1] [2] [3].
Sources referenced above include clinical reviews and practice guidance on dental implant complications [2] [9] [10], patient guidance and clinic pages that summarize red flags [1] [3] [4], and surgical literature on breast‑implant reconstruction complications and salvage outcomes [5] [6] [7].