My husband recently had dental implants placed in order to replace his teeth. He currently has an acrylic denture, which will be switched to porcelain. Before that is done, I’d really like my husband to switch his metal implants to zirconia. The smell of his metal implants is making me gag every time I’m near him. I’ve even taken to sleeping on the couch. His dentist, however, said there is absolutely no reason to switch the implants. I think that is because he doesn’t offer the zirconia ones. Is there a way to convince my husband it is worth going to another dentist?
Louise
Dear Louise,
While I do not doubt there is a smell bothering you, I have to agree with your husband’s dentist that the dental implants are not the problem. The metal implants your husband has are made from titanium. This is not only very biocompatible, titanium is inert, which means it will not have a smell. I bet if you asked your dentist to allow you to smell one that he has on hand he would. You would see there is not smell.
So, the next question is what could be causing the problem? My guess (and I have not examined him so it is only a guess) is that there is food and other bacteria getting caught in his denture, which is leading to the smell. I would start by getting him something like a WaterPik in order to help him get the area thoroughly cleaned out. If that is the cause, the smell will clear up.
Why You Don’t Want Him to Switch Implants
In order for him to switch implants, he would first have to remove the titanium implants he currently has. That process would also remove some of the bone structure he has in his jaw that had integrated with the implants.
That bone structure is necessary in order for him to retain any dental implants, metal or otherwise. This would necessitate him having another surgical procedure, known as a bone grafting procedure in order to build back up the missing bone.
Then, after a time of healing, he would need yet another surgery to place the new implants. Of course, both the bone grafting and the second surgery have a risk of failing. That is a lot to ask your husband to go through when the implant is not the actual problem.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.