Dental Implants Metal Allergy
Dental implants are a revolutionary solution for missing teeth. No other dental restoration mimics the stability, function, and appearance of the natural teeth as effectively as dental implants, which rely on small cylindrical posts implanted in the jaw to support realistic-looking artificial teeth that emerge naturally from the gum line. These posts are usually made of titanium, which is highly biocompatible and usually accepted readily and healthily by the bone. Sometimes, however, people have allergies to metal, and these people may wonder if they can be good candidates for dental implants. The good news is that many people with metal allergies aren’t allergic to titanium, and the small percentage who are allergic still have options for dental implants. There is also a highly reliable blood test that isolates white blood cells to measure reactions to different irritants and detect allergies and hypersensitivities before any treatment begins.
The white blood cells are the part of the immune system that protects the body against infection and other irritants. Allergies appear when a person’s immune system reacts to a foreign agent that it perceives to be dangerous. Sometimes, an allergic reaction appears as something inconsequential, like a barely noticeable rash, and sometimes, an allergic reaction can be life-threatening, causing entire systems of the body to shut down. People are allergic to all sorts of things, both natural and artificial, and some people are allergic to metal. The majority of people with metal allergies are allergic to nickel, with chromium and cadmium allergies also appearing relatively commonly; it is estimated that about 13% of people are allergic to one or more of these three most common allergenic metals. Of course, metal allergies most frequently manifest externally and are usually caused by jewelry or other items that can irritate the skin, appearing as chronic inflammation or a rash near the area where the metal makes contact. When a metal allergy occurs inside the body, it can cause the body to reject the metal body part.
Some people may think that a reaction to the variety of metals used in dental procedures could indicate a larger metal allergy, but this is rarely the case. For example, the dental amalgam that has historically been used to fill dental cavities is made of a mix of many metals, including precious metals like gold and silver, along with more common elements like copper, tin, and even mercury. This is a far cry from the FDA-approved medical-grade titanium that is used in dental implants that are placed by experienced, reputable dental surgeons and should not be addressed in the same way.
Dental implants are made from titanium largely because of its demonstrated affinity for bone. This biocompatibility was first discovered in the 1950s, and shortly thereafter, the first dental implant was created. Bone cells are drawn to titanium, growing readily and adhering securely to the surface and providing the strong bond that anchors the implant in place and helps it support the force and pressure the teeth withstand daily. The process of bone and titanium fusing together is called osseointegration and is an integral part of the overall success of dental implants; if the implants are compromised during healing, the risk of eventual failure is far greater than when osseointegration is allowed to occur undisturbed. Titanium is also very rarely an allergen; while estimates suggest that about 17% of women and 3% of men have an allergic reaction to nickel, less than one percent of all patients report any reaction to titanium. Dentists can conduct testing while planning your dental restoration treatment to determine whether you have an allergy to titanium and to plan accordingly with the results. While there are a few different ways to test for a titanium allergy, the most accurate, and therefore preferable, test is the MELISA test, a blood test that is commonly used in the medical field to detect hypersensitivity to metals by isolating the white blood cells into a test group and a control group, and then measuring their response to titanium over a sustained period of time. When patients receive titanium implants and are allergic to them, the symptoms can include bumps, hives, or a rash in the mouth; patches of noticeably irritated gum tissue; inflammation of the tissue around the implant; and ulcerations or spots of swelling in the soft tissues of the mouth. When the implants are removed, symptoms subside.
If you do have a metal allergy, you can still be a good candidate for dental implants. Zirconia is used for dental implants with increasing frequency since its introduction into the world of dentistry in 1987 and is an excellent option for people with metal allergies, or simply for people who would prefer to not have metal implants. Zirconia is a non-metallic material that resists corrosion and demonstrates similar biocompatibility to titanium, fusing similarly to the bone during healing and providing a durable support for dental restorations. Zirconia is highly inert, meaning it’s unlikely to cause a reaction in the body, and it is naturally resistant to plaque; because it is a ceramic material, it also resembles the natural teeth and reduces the likelihood of an implant showing through the gum tissue. This makes it particularly appealing for implants in the front of the mouth, even among patients who aren’t allergic to metal.
If you are allergic to titanium and zirconia implants are not an option for you, you may want to talk to your dentist about a dental bridge. A dental bridge relies on existing teeth to support a dental restoration, bridging the gap between two teeth and replacing missing natural teeth. Bridges don’t pose any risk of allergic reaction, as they rely on dental crowns placed on the natural teeth, and they can be a durable, effective, and natural-looking dental restoration option for patients who cannot receive dental implants. Thankfully, only about .6% of people are allergic to titanium, so implants may actually be an option for you, and, based on their success rates and rave reviews, this is worth investigating.