You just got dental implants, which is great – except something strange is happening. Even though these tooth replacements are made purely from inorganic materials, your implant feels tender. Hot and cold drinks shoot pain through your gums, and it’s uncomfortable to eat certain foods. What’s going on, and what should you do?
Dental sensitivity can impact your quality of life in a negative way, but don’t worry! This post will explain the problem and tell you what to do next.
Why Does My Dental Implant Feel Sensitive?
Technically, it’s probably not your dental implant that’s tender to the touch. The oral cavity is a relatively small space, so a lot of your dental nerves are clustered closely together. In other words, it can be difficult to know exactly where oral pain is coming from. Nerves in your surrounding gumline, jawbone, or even neighboring teeth could be sending pain signals to your brain, but to you it feels like your dental implant is experiencing the hurt.
Possible Causes of Implant Sensitivity
As for what’s actually causing your discomfort – that could be a couple of different things. Here’s a general list of the possibilities:
- Dental infection. If a natural tooth that sits next to your implant has an infection, the pain, swelling, and sensitivity could be what you’re picking up.
- Cavities. Similarly, cavities in nearby natural teeth could very well make you feel like your implant is tender.
- Gum disease. This bacterial infection attacks your gums, not your teeth, and the uncomfortable symptoms can be difficult to pin down to one specific area.
- Impaction or overcrowding. Dental misalignment can cause teeth to push against each other, which isn’t exactly pleasant! If other teeth are pressing against your implant, you’ll likely feel the pressure across several pearly whites.
- Nerve damage. Though rare, it is possible for a dental implant to be improperly placed in the jawbone. This can harm nearby nerves, resulting in tender teeth and gums.
The Best Course of Action
The best next-step you can take is to call your dentist and request an emergency appointment! Sensitivity around a dental implant can be a serious issue, and they’ll want to help restore your comfort as soon as possible. Depending on what they find during an urgent oral exam, they’ll recommend and provide treatment to protect your smile.
Experiencing pain near your new implant can be alarming, but it’s okay. Your trustworthy dental team will take care of you and have you back to normal in no time!
About the Practice
At EMA Dental of Westfield, we have several skilled and experienced professional on-staff, allowing us to provide truly comprehensive and convenient care for our patients. If you’re experiencing discomfort or other complications with your dental implant, our resident implant expert, Dr. Karolina Migus, would be happy to perform an oral exam and provide prompt treatment. To request a same-day emergency appointment, contact our office at 413-731-8800.