If you have dental implants, you should already know they aren’t “real” teeth. These prosthetics lack the enamel and nerves that make up the natural parts of your smile. Having said that, what exactly does it mean when the posts start to feel sensitive? Your Rockville dentist has stopped by to provide an accurate and interesting answer for you. So, here’s a primer on what makes dental implants feel sensitive and how to address implant sensitivity.
Remind Me: How Do Dental Implants Work?
To grasp the causes of implant sensitivity, you first need to know how dental implants work. Your question’s final answer(s) won’t make sense otherwise.
Compared to other prosthetic teeth, dental implants work quite differently. They’re placed directly in your jaw’s empty sockets instead of on top of your gums. That way, your jawbone’s tissue can fuse with their titanium bases, making them permanent parts of your mouth. This process ensures your final implants remain stable and secure, so they won’t slip or fall out.
What Makes Them “Sensitive?”
Given the points above, dental implants don’t “feel” sensitive in themselves. It’s simply that the areas around them can get irritated, often due to:
Infected Gums
Whether right after implant placement or years later, the gums around dental implants can get infected. Such an infection – peri-implantitis – often causes jawbone erosion, which makes an implant “feel” loose and achy.
Nerve Damage
While dentists are careful with dental implants, they may accidentally “knick” some gum tissue or nerves during your placement. This mistake could cause permanent damage near your implant post, leading to sensitivity.
An Impacted Area
If debris gets impacted between your implant and natural teeth, the affected area could start to feel sensitive. That’s only natural – even a corn kernel can cause aches when it’s wedged in the gums.
Dental Crowding
You could suffer from dental crowding if a dental implant is placed too close to other teeth. From there, pressure could build near the post and make the area tender.
See Your Dentist for Sensitive Implants
A “sensitive” dental implant may not seem like a big deal, but you should see your dentist for it. Your sensitivity could be an early sign of implant failure, which would threaten your treatment results. A dentist will know for sure by noting if you show other relevant symptoms, including:
- Obvious oral pain and discomfort
- Tender and inflamed gums
- Difficulty with chewing
- Major gum recession
- Swollen & irritated gums
- Overly-loose implant(s)
When your dental implants feel sensitive, don’t just ignore them. See your dental provider – they can provide crucial help and treatment!
About the Practice
Rockville Family Dentistry is based in Rockville, MD. Led by Dr. Shahram Modarres, our practice takes pride in offering award-winning dental care to its patients. We go above and beyond to personalize our comprehensive dentistry and ensure each treatment suits your unique oral needs. That way, you and your family will have healthy and thriving grins after each appointment. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (301)-816-9400.