After you receive dental implants, you should be able to look forward to many years of comfortable, pain-free dental function. After all, they are the gold standard of tooth replacement. But what if you start to notice some sensitivity in one of your implants? What does that mean, and what can you do to address the issue? This blog post offers some important information.
Why Does Your Implant Feel Sensitive?
It is important to note that dental implants do not have nerves, so they cannot actually transmit feelings of sensitivity to your brain. Therefore, when you feel sensitivity in an implant, the source of the problem is likely to be coming from nearby tissues. This can happen if:
- You have an infection in your gums. For example, you might have peri-implantitis, a specific type of gum infection that attacks the tissue around dental implants.
- Your gums or jawbone were injured in an accident or due to teeth grinding and clenching.
- The nearby natural teeth are experiencing sensitivity.
- Food is impacted (stuck) between your implant’s restoration and the adjacent natural teeth.
- There is tissue or nerve damage close to the implant.
- You are experiencing an allergic reaction to the implant (this is extremely rare).
What Should You Do?
You should not ignore feelings of sensitivity around a dental implant. Rather, you should seek professional care as soon as possible. There is a chance that your implant is failing, and the earlier you receive treatment, the greater the chances that the implant can be salvaged via conservative means.
While you are waiting for your appointment, you may be able to minimize discomfort by eating a soft, mild diet. It would be wise to avoid extremely spicy, hot, or cold foods. Also, if you notice food stuck around your implant’s restoration, you can use floss to try to remove it.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Your dentist will perform a thorough examination to determine why you are experiencing sensitivity. Based on what they learn, they will recommend a treatment plan. You might need something fairly simple, such as a new restoration or a course of antibiotics. In some cases, though, it is necessary to perform surgery to remove a failing implant. Later, it might be possible to place a new one.
Sensitivity in a dental implant is a cause for concern! Take fast action so you can get back to enjoying a pain-free smile!
Meet the Practice
Baltimore Dental Arts is home to four talented specialists and dentists. Our team offers comprehensive dental implant services, including maintenance and salvage. If you have concerns about the state of your replacement teeth, we are ready to assess the situation and recommend your next steps. Contact our office at 410-372-0202.