I Can Smell My Husband’s Implants
Posted by writeradmin
I need some advice on how to convince my husband and his dentist to switch out his dental implants. He currently has titanium implants and has the temporary teeth, which are acrylic. He’ll be getting permanent porcelain teeth soon. But, I want him to switch out the implants first. Whenever I get close to him, his mouth smells like rubber. I’m convinced that I am smelling the metal implants. I’m worried they’re reacting in his mouth. I’m worried about his health. His dentist said that only the titanium works for full implants. I can’t believe that is true and I don’t know what to do.
Sarina
Dear Sarina,
While I do not agree with your dentist that the titanium dental implants are the only ones that will work, I don’t think that is what you are smelling. I can tell you are very worried about your husband’s health and I want to put your mind at ease. Then, we’ll talk about what could be the issue here.
Titanium is very inert. Even when they are exposed in the air, they don’t have a smell. This is different from other types of metal, such as iron. I bet you could ask your husband’s dentist to show you one and let you smell it. Plus, your husband’s implants are deep in the bone, so it is unlikely that is what you are smelling. I also hope it will make you feel better to know that titanium has been used in prosthetics for decades and is very biocompatible. There are many follow up studies that show how safe and non-reactive they are.
The smell is likely coming from the the acrylic teeth he has. He may not be getting all the food debris and other bacteria out that is getting trapped in the dentures. I would start by having your husband try something like a WaterPik to help him clean everything out. He can also periodically do a peroxide rinse. Make sure he doesn’t do the peroxide every day or he will develop an oral yeast infection.
Replacing Dental Implants
Switching out dental implants is not an easy or simple thing to do. First, he would need surgery to remove the implants. Then, the bone would need to be filled in, which is another surgical procedure known as bone grafting. After that healed, he would need a third surgery to place the new implants. Each of those surgeries carry risks. Plus, dental implant failure is a risk with the new implants even if the dentist does everything right.
If, in the future, your husband ever does actually need to get new implants, then zirconia implants are a metal-free option that has been having good results. There isn’t as much data on their longevity because they are more recent than titanium, but the prognosis looks good so far.
This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.