Recently a patient asked, “Why did I get a runny nose after my dental implant?
When you have an implant right in the front, the central incisor, lateral incisor teeth, those four teeth in the front, they’re close to the base of your nose.
So, sometimes after having a dental implant in the front, you could feel stuffy after having that procedure, or your nose may feel a little runny for a few days. It happens almost instantly after the procedure, and it’s almost always temporary.
Taking Sudafed or just letting it run its course is typically the way to go if you feel like you’ve been stuffy afterward. You don’t want to blow your nose hard after a procedure, just blot it.
For details about why this happens and what to do if it becomes problematic, watch the video below.
Why Do I Get a Runny Nose After a Dental Implant?
Video transcript lightly edited for easier readability.
Hello, Dr. Ramsey Amin, talking today about a little bit of a different topic. A patient had asked me a question about a situation where they had a runny nose or stuffy nose after having a dental implant. And that’s actually not that unusual, I just don’t think I’ve ever written or talked about that at all.
When you have an implant right in the front, the central incisor, the lateral incisor teeth, those four teeth in the front, they’re close to the base of your nose. The distance from the base of the nose to the roots is very small. It could be even five millimeters or so before you get to the inside of the nose, we call it the nasal fossa. Sometimes after having a dental implant in the front, you could feel stuffy afterward, or feel a little runny for a few days.
It happens almost instantly after the procedure and is almost always temporary. I’ve never had one that’s ever become permanent. Sometimes it’s just from the oxygen that was given to you. If you’ve had it under sedation, had some supplemental oxygen given to you throughout the procedure, it does dry out the nose a bit.
There is a nerve that goes right down the center behind your teeth called the nasopalatine nerve, and it can be irritated a little bit, it almost like a tickle. And there are nerve endings that come from your nose into your mouth and from your mouth into your nose. And of course, you go through those little tiny branches of nerve endings that make things a little bit altered for a few days. So sometimes people will say, “oh, I feel stuffy, or I feel like I have a runny nose.” Or they feel they’re getting sick after the procedure when they’re actually not.
Taking Sudafed or just letting it run its course is typically the way to go if you’re feeling stuffy afterward. You don’t want to blow your nose hard after a procedure, just blot it. It is something that does not last too long.
Keep in mind that the sinus cavities are different than the nasal cavities. They are interconnected, but in the front of the mouth where the nasal cavity is, it’s very much separate from the other end.
Of course, if you’ve had an implant that’s put in too deep and into the nose, well then that can cause problems where the lining, the mucosa of the nose becomes irritated. Maybe, in that case, the implant has to be removed or the top of it has to be cut off.
We try not to engage the nose all the time. Sometimes on patients that don’t have a lot of bone, I’ll actually do what’s called a nasal lift. Lift up the inside of the nose, add bone in between the nasal floor and the top of the implant just to get a little bit of a taller implant. But most of the time it’s not needed.
It’s not uncommon to purposely place the implant to just grab the tip of the nose floor, because it actually makes the implant stronger. It’s something that’s been done for many years, at least 20+ years, for sure. I’ve done it for that long myself. But if you do have a stuffy nose, keep in mind, it will go away.
Most likely, you’re on an antibiotic if you’ve had a really deeply placed implant, but just let it run its course. If you want, some Sudafed, Mucinex, Claritin, or there are other options. But in general, it’s not something to be overly concerned about and it should just go away on its own.
If your runny or stuffy nose is problematic, contact your dentist or leave a question or comment here. I hope this has been helpful for anyone who may be worried about this a little bit.
All right, take care. Thanks for watching the video.
To see more videos like this, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.
A month ago I had an immediate loading implant, two days later my nose swelled a little (it continues like this) and then my nostrils became blocked, which is why when I woke up I had headaches, as well as sensations as if I had something inside the nose. After 20 days, the doctor suggested performing another CT scan where he commented that the implant was well placed without affecting the nasal problem, but it was also possible to see that there was a large loss of bone caused by 1 poorly healed tooth six months previously located two positions back of the implant. The doctor decided to perform a root canal in addition to taking antibiotics for a week. Then, on a recommendation, I went to the otorhinolaryngologist and he told me, looking at the tomography, that there was nothing strange and that the implant had not affected the area of the nose, diagnosing me that I have a deviated septum and hypertrophy in the turbinates, but nothing serious, prescribing me medications for the nasal congestion. It’s been 10 days now and I haven’t felt any improvement I’ve also started to feel a permanent bad smell in my nose. The doctor’s opinion is that what may have caused this is bone loss and not the implant itself because it is well placed in an area with a lot of bone. What do you think could be the cause of all this? but all starts with the dental implant. I’m thinking of taking the implant out. Thank you for your recommendations.
Very odd. Give it 6 weeks before making a decision. Keep me posted
Hi. I had a full mouth op with 12 implants inserted 2 weeks ago. Clinician said that he is absolutely confident that they have taken, even although they had some issues with bone density. There was also what the clinician stated as a sinus communication due to a piece of bone left after a root canal some 8 months ago. This has been removed.
My question is that I have had a runny nose ever since. Given this is two weeks is the advice still to let it run its course?
Thank you these articles are really helpful.
Robert
Another course of antibiotics would be helpful
How is it now?
Has the runny nose gone away now?
Your informative blog post explains why some patients may experience a runny or stuffy nose after a dental implant, providing reassurance that it’s usually temporary and not a cause for major concern. Helpful advice!
Great post.
I had my implants done with a bone graft and no issues in November, teeth upper left. A 3 teeth implant. I went back this month. April 2023. Had my crowns attached. It has been a week of runny nose. Mucous in my nose. Clear. And a cough. I have never had a sinus issue and do not get colds. I read where it could be the sinus is irritated. Should I go back to my dentist and get an X-ray? Thank you very much.
Thank you so much for this article…it has put my mind at ease!
You are very welcome
Had molar #2 extracted 48 hours ago but NO implant done. Have had a severe runny tickling nose since leaving their office. Please tell me there’s hope! The oral surgeon did say I had VERY long roots.
Give it a few days. It should go away but might take as long as 6 weeks
Hi! I had my 8th tooth extracted and implant placed in right after. It has been 3 weeks and my nose feels really stuffy/congested.My nostril also looks a bit more closed in that area where my implant is. Is that normal?
Not really. The nostril was likely always a bit off like mine 😉 But the congestion should be gone.
I have a runny nose on left side and sneezing after having worn out fillings replaced (2 Rear LOWER left; 1 Rear upper right). Your article talks about this happening when work is done on the FRONT. Perhaps mine is due to Nitrous sedation and O2? What is your opinion?
should go away in 2-3 days -likely from the air blowing up there
I had all of my teeth extracted and Full Implants put in early 2021. Everything was good until I had a Stroke Oct 2021, since then my nose runs like a faucet when I eat?? Is something wrong ???
So no runny nose before the stroke?
The two may not be connected.
Usually a runny nose is very temporary unless you have a permanent connection between the implants and the base of the nose. This is quite rare even when implants are placed to engage the bone of the nose floor of which is fine to do
I had an upper maxillary wisdom tooth (first molar #3 right sdie) extracted 6 years ago and ever since I’ve had a runny nose only on that side near the extraction site with mild chronic aching. Sinus doctors say it’s dental origin and dentists say it’s sinus origin. Had endless tests and scans. No idea what to do anymore. The adjacent tooth was root canaled after becoming painful over the last couple years although the canal did not find an infection, only calcium deposits in the roots due to inflammation.
In any case I’ve thought of having that tooth pulled and getting a graft and possible sinus lift with the thought of getting an implant as the bone is very thin. Just curious if you have any insights, I’m out of answers at this point after consulting 40+ dentists and doctors about it. Best insight was that the surrounding bone has an infection we can’t see on the scans and I just need surgery to open up the area/remove the root canaled tooth.
Wow 😯
You might be contraindicated to have a dental implant. It is possible that things may worsen. Once you pull the tooth this is an irreversible decision.
Sometimes people get chronic pain from a tooth with a root canal that might have a fracture. Then when the tooth is pulled it gets better.
But for the runny nose I don’t think this would be of any help and you would just be without a tooth.
Some people have idiopathic rhinitis and nobody ever can find the reason.
See if changing your environment when you travel makes any sort of difference… Humidity, temperature etc.
But again I would be very hesitant to just remove a tooth unless you absolutely had to
If you can post an image to a public Google drive so that I can see some of the images of your sinus/tooth
Posting to public is the only way this can work
Husband had upper teeth extracted for denture. Now when he wears them to eat his nose runs. They told him it would quit, its been a year. He was born with cleft palate and Hairlip, several surgeries later he was normal agin. This was done in 60s. He thinks it has something to do with that.
Were the teeth extracted in the front or were they in the molar region?
If they are in the front they may have re-opened part of the cleft palate which would require a revision procedure
If it’s in the back part of the mouth where the molars are it’s possible there is a sinus communication.
Either way both can be repaired fairly easily. It’s something that can happen. It’s not necessarily something that the dentist did wrong 😑
I had an oral surgeon put large bone graft on top of my jaw and under my nose crooked. He left a large drill bit he broke of in there and it caused nose bleeds for over 45 days.He knew I and never disclosed it.Another oral surgeon found it on imaging after multiple nose hemmorage and he removed it but now my nose literally runs like a faucet and nothing totally stops it. Need help. Please tell me what to do.
Oh gosh I’m sorry. Is there an “oral-nasal fistula?”
Or is it just runny?
What is the timeline of all of this?
Hello,
I had an implant in my UR4 and UR5 Tooths, 3 days a go, today I have a runny nose and pain sinuses, is that normal😞😞
This can be normal for a few days even up to a couple of weeks. I would not worry about it right now. I’m sure it will get better. It’s not a complication unless it becomes chronic. You’re going to be fine! 😊
Hi there, I am trying to find out information about why I have had a runny nose since I had two cavities filled in the front of my mouth, the two corner front teeth on the left side. I was completely fine and healthy prior to sitting down in the chair. I have never had this reaction before when going to the dentist, but I’ve also never had cavities in the front of the mouth, only in the back. It feels like my sinuses/nasal cavities on the left side (where the cavities were) have been irritated and it’s a tickle/runny nose. Could it be from the nitrous oxide or the novacaine? The novacaine has since worn off but the tickle feeling in my nose has not gone away. Thanks for your help!
How long ago was this? It is possible that you just had some irritation from the nitrous oxide which will get better in a few days. It is also possible you just have a coincidental rhinitis. Of course just to be safe you could Covid test as well.
This would be uncommon from cavity type of treatment. It can only really happen sometimes from root canal treatment or implant treatment under the nose. Keep me posted let me know what happens please
Hello, just had root canal and temp crown put on yesterday. Never had this happen before and informed dentist when it happened. While getting injection in mouth to numb, felt this painful rush of fluid fill my face rushing up to my nose and eyeballs and felt like it was coming out of my eye sockets. It burned so bad I almost couldn’t stay in my seat. That has never happened to me when getting a dental injection. I couldn’t feel right side of my face, my eyelid, nose top of forehead, couldn’t blink. After leaving the office yesterday and still to this minute, my nose wont stop running, its raw from blowing it, stuffy, congested, feel like I have a cold and the worst part besides my nose running constantly and raw is my nasal passage is burning so bad I’m in tears, and this burning has been from the time I left the office to still happening right now! I can’t breath in through it or its worse, have tissue shoved in that nostril so I can’t breath in thru it, burning is all the way up the nostril into my sinuses and with the burning sensation it also tickles constantly like right before you sneeze so I’m also wincing constantly. This is horrible! Called them back just now, just said it will go away. This is so bad I would rather have endless numbing shots in roof of mouth without pre-numbing! Anything I can do to relieve the burning in my nostril????? Have taken allergy meds but does nothing for the dripping nose and burning. This is just horrible and has never happened with any of the previous root canals I’ve had!
My mom just got her upper tooth extraction and same day implant on tooth number 7 or 8 I am not sure which. Same day on June 16 after the surgery she was sneezing her head off and her nose dripping for few days… . Thank You for the article I didn’t understand why she was sneezing and her nose running… she thought that she was allergic to something in the air…I was planning to call the doctor. Now I will observe it . Hopefully it will go away. Maria.
Glad the article helped. Give it a few days for sure.
Dr. Amin
I had all on four implants one month ago on my upper. I am still feeling pain right under the left nostril and when I pressed the gum under the left nostril it has pain and there is still a slight throbbing. do you suggest that I go back and have a checked. They told me the implants are not near my sinuses is it possible it’s an infection?
That’s not a great sign. How is it now? Yes, I would go back!
Hello,
Just had an implant in my UL2 tooth, I have a runny nose and something is touching my left nose hole floor which me sneeze. I hope its temporary and Notting is damaged
give it a few days. It will subside.😁
When my dentist injected me to numb my lower mouth for a tooth extraction I had pain that felt like an electric shock that went all the way to my left eye.
Within minutes I felt the need to sneeze and my left nostril started leaking. It’s been over 24 hours and my nose is still leaking like a faucet and I keep sneezing a lot. I also feel a sharp painful tickle going up my left nostril.
just replied 😉
I had a left bottom tooth extracted. As soon as the dentist numbed my mouth I started feeling a need to sneeze and my nose started to run. I also feel a sharp painful tickle going up my nose. My nose is been running non stop along with a lot of sneezing for the last 24 hours. Is this normal?
hmm… Now that it has been a few days it should have gone away. This usually only happens on the upper. Sometimes some Flonase will help reduce this. Did it go away after 3 or 4 days?
Yes! After a couple of days the sneezing and runny nose was much better and by the third day I hardly noticed the problem.
The odd thing is that it was the first time that a shot to my mouth caused a feeling like electricity going all the way to my eye ball. Within minutes I started to sneeze and in need to blow my nose.
Thank you for your prom response and for your concern.
Best wishes Jim
I have a full upper denture since June 2019 (and full lower over denture – 3 post abutments . Since then I have a runny nose seemingly initiated when eating ; although the nose runs 80% of the time when not eating.
Very odd 🤔. Unrelated to the lower implants. It sounds like you need to see an ENT for a sinus and nasal evaluation.
Thanks for this article…super helpful!!
I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to yoᥙr new updates.
I just got an implant my nose is running how long should this last? And my nose is sore from me rubbing it the 1st day. What I can put on it it help it get better?
Did it improve? Dr. Amin
I had two implants done a few years ago right under the nose where th incisors are. Ever since then I have had a runny nose but also a very sore gum right behind the two front teeth, sometimes it is very sore others times it is just annoying, it is not a ache like pain it is as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper. The implant surgeon did some scans and said the implants were fine and there was no infection and no problems with the implants, in fact they have been fine and solid. I had a second opnion from another implant surgeon, and he too could find or see any problems. I also went to an oral surgeon and and ENT specialist and neither found any problem around the mouth area or sinuses etc. It is now four years since these implants were done and the gum is more sore than ever and nasal discharge all the time. I went to an Implant Forum on the internet and someone suggested that maybe the surgeon damaged or compressed a nerve around the implant area whilst drilling or setting the implant. It is also much more sore when I feel stressed or nervous or anxious. I would be interested to know your thoughts on this, is the nerve thing a possibility? The oral surgeon suggested removal of the implants as been the only way to assess what the problem was, obviously this would be very expensive and quite traumatic. Thanks, Michael.
That is a very odd scenario that you have. It sounds like you have had multiple opinions and things seem okay. There is a nerve that naturally runs between those teeth but it generally does not cause any problems. In fact you can drill right into it with no issues. Often times I remove it during a full arch procedure for full mouth upper dental implants. I think removing the implants would be a rash decision. My guess is something in your nasal mucosa is irritated. Some people have nonallergic rhinitis. The gum behind the 2 front teeth may be sore from having a nasopalatine duct cyst. If you have had a 3D scan I am sure somebody would have seen that already. Let me know how it works out~stay safe during COVID 19
Hello I had my two front teeth extracted yesterday and bone put in. I’m waiting to heal before implants. I have probably sneezed five hundred times since yesterday and my nose is running so bad I have to leave a tissue stuffed up there bc it’s like a faucet…. I’m really hoping this is temporary but I’m getting scared. Any thoughts?
Temporary! It happens to just a few people. Did it stop?
It’s good to know that getting a runny nose after a dental implant procedure only usually happens when the implant is for an incisor. I will be getting an implant for my molar soon after I had it extracted due to tooth decay. Hopefully, I won’t be experiencing runny nose after undergoing the procedure.