Numbness after implant placement

[Jamus]

Hello

Last week my dentist placed a dental implant in my lower jaw at the back to replace a tooth I had lost through infection. At the time when he was doing the implant surgery, he numbed my lip and tongue in the same way as he usually does when I am having dental treatment.

After the surgery finished, I went back home and started taking my antibiotics and painkillers that he had prescribed to deal with the after pain. I noticed that all that night my lip was still numb but the numbness on my tongue disappeared.

Now a week after the procedure has been completed, my lip and chin are still numb and I don't know if this is a usual situation or not. Is it normal to have lip and chin numbness a week after the procedure or not?

[Ali-G]

Numbness 1 week after Implant placement is not unheard of, but it would be a wise precaution to go and see your Dentist for a review.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post. Numbness after implant placement could have many different causes and as I was not present at the surgical appointment, I could not tell you exctly which cause is applicable to your case.

Broadly speaking numbness after surgery could be caused by:

1. Direct damage to the nerve that supplies the chin and lip with sensation during the implant placement surgery either by the implant drills or the surgery retractors or the implant itself. This damage could result in temporary or permanent change in sensation of your lip, chin.

2. Prolonged anaesthesia can sometimes occur after adminsteration of local anaesthesia and this numbness usually recovers.

3. Haematoma formation after surgery can sometimes exert pressure on the nerve and cause numbness of the chin/lip but in time this usually recovers.

I would suggest that you book to see your own dentist ASAP for a full assessment.