When you got a dental implant to replace your badly hurting tooth, perhaps you felt relief—finally, the pain would be over forever! After all, a prosthetic tooth doesn’t have a nerve and can’t feel, right? Yet, you find yourself dealing with some sensitivity in a tooth that shouldn’t have any at all. What could be the cause of this phenomenon, and what can you do about it? Take a look at a few scenarios and actions to take.
The Dental Implant Wasn’t Placed or Hasn’t Integrated Properly.
If you just underwent the placement procedure a few months ago, sensitivity in the area could indicate that the treatment has experienced short-term failure. When it is positioned in the jawbone, the implant is supposed to stimulate new growth to the point that the implant is surrounded by jawbone and is firmly embedded in this tissue. In the hands of a skilled, highly trained, and well-equipped implant dentist, this rarely occurs. However, if your mouth hasn’t been cared for appropriately after the surgery, the implant may not integrate the way it should, making it loose and potentially put pressure on surrounding nerves.
In this case, you need to contact your dentist immediately to check for failure. Supposing the implant has failed, your dentist will likely remove the post, treat the issue, and perhaps try again.
One of the Teeth Next to the Implant Is Infected with Decay.
Sometimes, the area you feel pain or sensitivity might not necessarily be the direct source of the issue. Inside the mouth, nerves are located closely together. Even if the implant itself doesn’t have a pulp or nerve, your other teeth do. If they have become troubled as well, the close-by nerves could make it seem like your dental implant hurts, even though the real problem lies with an adjacent nerve.
To make sure all your teeth, both prosthetic and natural, are healthy, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist. Should they find decay in a nearby tooth, they can remove the infection and get rid of the source before it progresses into pain.
Your Gums Are Receding from a Gum Infection.
The pearly white portion of a natural tooth has a layer of enamel that shields debris from irritating its central nerve, but the lower part of teeth doesn’t have this protective layer. As a result, if your gums become infected with damaging bacterial plaque, they pull away from the teeth and leave the exposed tooth roots vulnerable to sensitivity, especially to hot, cold, acidic, and sugary substances. This recession can occur even if all your teeth are prosthetic, putting your entire smile at risk of failure, but still having natural teeth makes it possible to feel sensitivity and pain more acutely, warning you of a problem in need of addressing.
Because gum issues and cavities can be difficult to spot for the untrained eye, you may miss the early signs of them in your mouth and feel as though the sensitivity comes from your dental implant. Fortunately, if you continue attending your regular dental visits, your dentist can help you identify potential issues and resolve them before they lead to dental implant failure. Quick action if you notice sensitivity will also give you and your dentist the best chances of saving your implant for the future.
About the Practice
Williamsburg Dental has proudly served the Lincoln and surrounding communities for many years now and has six locations throughout the area. As a comprehensive dental office, we offer total care from the first consultation all the way through placement surgery to restoration and maintenance. If you are interested in leaning more about dental implants and other tooth replacement options, call one of our locations to schedule a consultation now.