My husband has worn temporary dentures with All-on-4 dental implants since late July. Something about his denture teeth or implants has an annoying rubber/plastic smell. I cannot know what is causing the sensitivity, but whenever my husband talks, I smell it. I have multiple chemical sensitivities, and whatever it is, the implant denture irritates and increases my fatigue. My husband’s implants are titanium, and the temporary teeth are acrylic. The final teeth will be porcelain. If the posts are causing my sensitivities, is there a less toxic option? My sensitivity does not offend my husband, but he is concerned about switching to another implant type. Thanks. Stacie from Boston
Stacie,
People with multiple chemical sensitivities have extreme sensitivity to certain smells. Titanium posts for dental implants are embedded in the jawbone, so it is unlikely that you can smell them. Even when titanium is exposed to the air, it is unlikely to transmit an order.
All-on-4 dental implants
However, acrylic has a slight odor, so that you may smell the acrylic in the temporary teeth attached to All-on-4 dental implants. Food debris can collect around or beneath the implant denture and cause odor. Many patients use a water flosser to remove debris beneath the denture.
Can You Replace Titanium Dental Implant Posts with Another Material?
Although it may be possible to replace titanium dental implant posts with another material, the process can be complex. Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, so an implant dentist must take these steps:
- Surgically remove the dental implants
- Graft new bone in the implant sites and allow several months for it to heal
- Make new implant sites in the jawbone for zirconia dental implants
No one can guarantee that you would not be sensitive to the zirconia dental implants. Titanium and zirconia are biocompatible with rare instances of sensitivity. You may benefit by consulting with a doctor specializing in multiple chemical sensitivities to test your acrylic, titanium, and zirconia sensitivity.
Sugar Land implant and cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post.