I'm around 5 months post-implant now, and I totally get what you're going through. At about three months, I was still feeling that weird sensitivity too, especially with ice water or anything really cold. It was annoying because I'd heard people say they felt normal after just a month or so, and here I was thinking, "did something go wrong?"
My dentist pretty much gave the same explanation yours did—nerves just take their sweet time healing sometimes. She also suggested switching to a toothpaste made specifically for sensitivity (like Sensodyne or something similar). Honestly, I was skeptical at first because it seemed too simple, but after about two weeks of consistent use, I did notice a difference. Have you tried anything like that yet? Might be worth giving it a shot before spending more money on another dental appointment.
Yeah, totally agree about the sensitivity toothpaste—it helped me too after my implant. Also found that avoiding super cold drinks for a while made a noticeable difference. Hang in there, it does get better eventually... just takes patience.
"Also found that avoiding super cold drinks for a while made a noticeable difference."
That's interesting, because for me, lukewarm drinks didn't really change much. What actually helped was gently rinsing with warm salt water a couple times daily—it seemed to speed up healing and eased the sensitivity quicker. Everyone's different though, so might be worth trying if you're not seeing improvement just from temperature adjustments. Either way, patience definitely is key... you'll get there eventually.
"What actually helped was gently rinsing with warm salt water a couple times daily—it seemed to speed up healing and eased the sensitivity quicker."
Glad you mentioned the warm salt water rinse—I was actually pretty anxious about trying it at first because I worried it'd sting or irritate the extraction site. Surprisingly, it turned out to be really soothing and calming for me too. I did notice that colder drinks made things feel worse, but honestly, the biggest factor was just giving myself time and not stressing too much about every little sensation (easier said than done, I know...). Recovery felt slow at first, but eventually things improved bit by bit. Everyone heals differently, so try not to worry if your experience doesn't match exactly what others describe. Hang in there, you're doing great.
Interesting to hear the salt water rinse worked well for you guys. For me, it wasn't really helpful at all—I tried it a few times but didn't notice much difference. In fact, what actually helped me most was sticking to room-temperature drinks and foods for a while. Anything too hot or cold made things feel way more sensitive and uncomfortable.
I think you're spot on about everyone healing differently, though. My dentist mentioned that some people heal quicker if they just leave the area alone completely, rather than rinsing or messing with it too much. I guess it's about finding what feels right for your own body and situation. Recovery definitely felt slow at first, but once I stopped worrying so much about every little ache or twinge, things seemed to improve faster...or maybe I just stopped noticing as much! Either way, patience seems like the key here.
