Short-term Postoperative Pain and Swelling Associated with Mini and Standard-Size Implants in the Same Patients

Purpose: To assess short-term postoperative pain and swelling after insertion of mini dental implants (MDI) and standard-size implants (SSI) in the same patients at different times. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 42 patients (22 females, 20 males; 58 to 73 years old) participated. Half of the participants received MDIs first, and the other half received SSIs first. Self-perceived pain and swelling at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days postoperative were assessed using a 0-10 visual analog scale. Results and Conclusion: Flapless MDI insertion led to significantly less intense postoperative pain, less intake of analgesics, and almost no swelling compared to SSI insertion.