If you’ve gotten a dental implant in the past, your dentist may have told you that it can’t feel pain like a natural tooth. Being made of porcelain and metal, it lacks the nerves and tissues to do so. However, sometimes implants can feel oddly sensitive. How is that possible? What’s going on?
Regarding sensitivity in your dental implant, your Round Rock dentist has the answer. Read on to learn potential causes for the problem and why you should let a professional solve it.
Common Causes of Implant Sensitivity
Dental implants can’t themselves become sensitive. However, the area around the implant can become hurt and sensitive due to several issues:
- Gum infection: Gum disease can cause issues with your dental implant. As it progresses, the resulting jawbone loss could make your implant loose and irritating.
- Impaction: If food or other particles become impacted between an implant and natural teeth, the affected area may start to feel sore.
- Tissue or nerve damage: Though rare, the dental implant process has the potential to damage your gum tissue and nerves. The latter nerve damage can be permanent, leaving you sensitive in that part of your mouth.
- Implant crowding teeth: A dental implant can sometimes be placed too close to natural teeth, causing uncomfortable crowding. As this placement generates pressure, your other teeth might become sensitive.
- Implant failure: A failing implant often causes sensitivity. Said failure has several possible triggers, ranging from your body rejecting the implant to your jawbone dissolving.
(Temporary) Ways to Reduce Sensitivity
Implant sensitivity or failure is often out of your control. Even so, there are ways to protect your dental implant and keep it from getting more sensitive.
Most of these practices revolve around proper dental hygiene. For instance, you should continue brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing once daily. Afterward, you can rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to prevent gum inflammation. Eat a diet high in calcium to support jawbone density while also reducing your sugar intake.
Please keep in mind that these protection measures only work temporarily. Seeing your dentist for long-term solutions to a sensitive implant would be best.
Talk to Your Dentist
If your implant is already placed but still feels sensitive, schedule a visit with your dentist at once. Doing so will allow the dental practice to examine your smile for anything affecting your oral health. It also lets them apply potential treatments before serious complications arise.
Even if an implant itself can’t hurt, it can lead to sensitivity that warrants a dental visit. See your dentist about the problem so your replacement tooth can return to its regular job: restoring your smile!
About the Practice
Chisholm Trail Dental Health is one of the premier dental practices in Round Rock, TX. Believing that patient comfort is critical to successful dental care, they’ve designed their office to be a warm, inviting environment. With that comfort as a base, they perform excellent dental treatments that can make any smile beautiful and healthy. For more information or to book an appointment, they can be reached at their website or by phone at (512)-244-2796.