Although dental implants have an incredibly high 95 percent success rate even a decade after placement, they are not indestructible and sometimes do fail. This means that caring for them properly is extremely important. One of the main indicators that something is wrong with your restoration is if it begins to feel sensitive. After all, because it’s not a real tooth, it shouldn’t feel anything at all – good or bad. Here’s a closer look at some reasons why you might be experiencing sensitive sensations, and what you should do to stop it!
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the world’s only permanent tooth replacement restoration. They are surgically implanted into the jawbone, where they should remain for a lifetime with proper care. To protect your prosthetics, you’ll need to protect your smile with regular oral hygiene practices like brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking, vaping, grinding your teeth, and even using them as tools.
Why Does My Dental Implant Feel Sensitive?
There are many reasons why your dental implant could feel sensitive, including some that don’t mean failure is imminent. Here are a few common causes of discomfort.
Infected Gums
Although it occurs in your periodontal tissue and not in the dental implant itself, a gum infection could still put your dental implant at risk for failure. In fact, the leading cause of failure is a condition known as peri-implantitis, which is very similar to gum disease. Thus, if you are experiencing sensitive gums anywhere in your smile, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible to protect your implants and any remaining teeth.
Allergic Reaction
Although your dentist does their best to ensure that you are given the right type of dental implant, sometimes patients can develop metal allergies or sensitivities as they age, or they may not even realize they had one in the first place. The good news is that zirconium implants contain no metal and still offer the same durable, natural looking treatment without putting your health at risk. If you have developed an allergic reaction in the meantime, you may need to have it removed and replaced but be sure to see your dentist at once to discuss your options.
Impaction
Dental implant crowns are just like real teeth in that they too can get food and debris trapped between them. This is why even though they’re “fake” you still need to brush and floss them regularly. If you have something lodged in your smile that you can’t loosen with brushing, flossing, or water irrigating alone, contact your dentist at once for assistance. They can usually squeeze you in and help you ‘free the debris’ within a short period of time so you can go about your day pain-free!
Nerve or Tissue Damage
Although rare, tissue and nerve damage is possible during dental implant treatment. However, the odds of this occurrence drop dramatically when you choose a qualified, experienced dentist for your procedure. Thankfully, tissue damage is not usually permanent; however, it is possible that nerve damage could be, meaning you’ll always have sensitivity in that portion of your smile.
Dental Crowding
Dental crowding can occur if your dental implants are placed too close to your natural teeth. This in turn puts pressure on them, making them feel sensitive. Although this discomfort isn’t coming from the dental implant itself, it can still hurt your real teeth, making it feel like there’s something amiss with the prosthetic. If this occurs, it’s important to let your dentist know, as they may be able to reduce the size of your crown, or possibly replace or reposition the post if that’s the true cause of the problem.
Is My Dental Implant Failing?
Although extremely rare, there is always a possibility that your dental implant could fail. If it is in danger, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- Redness, inflammation, or sensitivity in the gums.
- Gum recession.
- Difficulty or pain when chewing.
- Persistent pain in the implant site.
- A loose implant.
Should you experience any of the above, contact your dentist as soon as possible.
Remember, while there are many reasons that your dental implant could feel sensitive, the good news is that failure is extremely rare. Still, it’s important to have any unexplained symptoms checked out as soon as possible by your dentist. This way, you can bring back your healthy, pain-free smile as soon as possible, so it looks and feels its best for a lifetime!
About Our Practice
At Iglesias Dental Group, we want you to have beautiful, pain-free smile. If you are experiencing any strange symptoms surrounding your dental implants, don’t ignore them or wait until your next checkup to get help. Contact us today for an urgent exam and let us help you get the healthy gleaming glow you deserve! We can be reached at 954-341-0500, or by visiting our website.