I had one done more than five years ago. Pain was not an issue at all. I guess there was a little soreness-like muscle pain. The main issue for me was the removing of the old tooth. They had to stop for a bit as I almost fainted and broke out in a cold sweat. Not from pain, but from the deep cracking sound in my skull. Really launched me into a primal state. The nurse teased me, "It's always the men."
All that being said, I never think about the tooth and it is completely part of me now. I reallyhave a hard time remembering which tooth it is. I would do it in a second again. So much a better alternative than a bridge.