I really want my husband’s dentist to swtich his implants from the metal ones to the titanium ones but he absolutely refuses and my husband won’t stand up to him. He’s got the implants done and the temporary dentures, which are acrylic. His mouth smells absolutely awful. Like rotten rubber. I think the metal implants are interacting with his jaw somehow. I’m worried it’s causing a serious problem and a few years from now we’re going to find out he has a huge infection or the metal ate away the bone. Is there any way to convince his dentist that my husband could have a problem and we need to switch these?
Madeline
Dear Madeline,
I can tell you are very worried about your husband and want to put your mind at ease. Your husband’s dental implants are not causing a problem because they are metal. Now, it is possible there is an infection there, but not because of the metal. Though, if there were an infection there would be other symptoms, such as a fever, pain, or a loose implant. You haven’t mentioned any of those.
The metal in dental implants is titanium. This particular metal is very biocompatible and has been used for decades in various prosthetics, including hips, knees, and teeth roots. There haven’t been any problems like you are worried about.
That being said, there is probably a horrible smell. I’m sure of that. The mostly likely cause of that is a result of food or other bacteria getting trapped between his gums and his temporary dentures. I would have him try something like a WaterPik to help him get all of the trapped things out of there.
Why You Don’t Want to Switch Dental Implants
Because his implants are secure and healthy you don’t want to try to switch them out for the zirconia implants. It’s not a simple matter of taking out the old ones and putting in the new ones. He’d have to have surgery to remove the metal one, then after that surgery heals have bone grafting done. After that surgery heals, he can finally have the metal-free implants placed.
That is three additional and unnecessary surgeries where things can go wrong. Right now he has a successful procedure. I’d leave it that way.
This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Lexington, KY Dr. James Williams.
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