While great at restoring smiles, dental implants aren’t “real” or natural teeth. They don’t have the enamel and nerves that make up the pearly whites you were born with. With that said, you may ask yourself a worrying question: Why is your dental implant sensitive? There’s no need to endlessly mull over this odd issue; your Royal Palm Beach dentist is here to address it. So, here’s a primer on what makes dental implants feel sensitive and how to treat such sensitivity.
Context: How Dental Implants Work
To fully address the sensitivity question, you must first know how dental implants work. The reason for your sensitive implant won’t make sense otherwise.
The fact is that dental implants work differently from other prosthetic teeth. Unlike dentures or dental bridges, they’re placed directly in your jaw’s empty sockets; they don’t just sit on your gums. The titanium posts thus fuse with your jawbone to become permanent parts of your mouth. Through that process, your final implants should remain stable and secure for many years.
What Makes Dental Implants Sensitive?
Due to the traits above, dental implants don’t actually “feel” sensitive (or anything else). The mouth tissues around them just get irritated at times, often as a result of:
Nerve Damage
As careful as they are during implant surgery, a dentist could still “nick” gum tissue or nerves during the placement process. This mistake can cause permanent damage near your implant, leading to sensitivity.
Dental Crowding
If a dental implant is placed too close to other teeth, you’ll suffer from dental crowding. This condition can cause pressure near your post and make the area tender.
Infected Gums
You may not have known, but the gums around dental implants can get infected after placement. Such an infection (i.e., peri-implantitis) would cause jawbone erosion, which could make your implant “feel” loose and achy.
An Impacted Area
Once debris gets wedged between your implant and natural teeth, it could make the affected area feel sensitive. This result would be a natural outcome; even a corn kernel can cause aches when wedged in the gums.
How Should You Respond?
While a “sensitive” implant may seem harmless, you should quickly see your dentist about it. Your sensitivity may point to early implant failure that threatens your treatment. Fortunately, a dentist can confirm the matter by noting whether you show other relevant symptoms. These include:
- Obvious oral pain and discomfort
- Tender and inflamed gums
- Difficulty with chewing
- Major gum recession
- Swollen & irritated gums
- Overly-loose implant(s)
Only a dentist can settle why your dental implant is sensitive. Given that fact, see your dental provider as soon as possible.
About the Practice
Pearl Palm Beach Dental is based in Royal Palm Beach, FL. Led by Dr. Ashley Civetti, our practice combines top-tier dentistry with attentive and convenient care. You can trust us for preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to your smile’s needs, as well as emergency dental work. Whatever is ailing your grin, our team has the power to help it thrive! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (561)-798-4200.