Sensitive Dental Implant? What’s Going on and How to Fix It

Over the years, technology has improved every facet of life. In the world of dentistry, CT cone beam scanners provide a detailed 3D image of the entire oral cavity, which makes implant placement that much more successful.

As amazing as technology is these days, there are certain things it can’t do. For instance, dental implants don’t have nerves, which means you won’t really feel anything in that particular replacement tooth. So when it seems to ping with sensitivity, you’re justified in being concerned!

How can a prosthetic tooth feel sensitive? What should you do about it? Keep reading to find out!

Causes of Implant Sensitivity

Although it is impossible for the implant itself to feel anything, your sensitivity may be the result of any of the following:

• A natural tooth next to the implant could have a cavity or excessive enamel wear.
• Something, such as a bit of food, could be stuck between the implant restoration and another tooth, making the area feel sore.
• Your gums could be infected and extra sensitive.

In all of these cases, the nerves near the implant can be disrupted, causing your discomfort. The problem may not necessarily be with the implant itself but close to it.

What to Do

If it ever feels like your implant is sensitive to hot or cold, you need to contact your dentist right away. That is always the first step because there could be a larger problem, which could lead to more pain, additional tooth loss, or even implant failure.

To treat decay that happens in nearby teeth, your dentist will remove the cavity, as well as possibly do a root canal, and then restore the damaged structure with a filling or a crown.

Without treatment, gum disease can endanger your implant as well as your natural teeth. For infected gum tissue, bacteria and plaque will need to be removed. More advanced cases involve treatment called scaling and root planing. Scaling is basically just an in-depth professional cleaning that goes below the gums to get rid of trapped plaque. Root planing occurs when the dentist makes the rough root more slick so plaque can’t build up there again.

In the end, getting an implant doesn’t mean your dental worries are over. Although your dental implant is likely not the issue, you shouldn’t ignore sensitivity or pain around it. It could be a sign that something else is wrong and needs attention.

About the Practice

At Boyles General Dentistry in Odessa, both Dr. Franklin Boyles and Dr. Stephen Boyles have achieved Mastership status with the Academy of General Dentistry. They are also members of the West Texas Academy of General Dentistry as well as Texas Dental Association and American Dental Association. If you have concerns about your dental implants, you can contact either Dr. Boyles by calling the office at 432-366-0896 or online here.