Metal Allergies and Dental Implants

I am in my late sixties and have lost my first tooth. Generally, my teeth have been healthy but this particular tooth blew up on me quickly. I would really like to replace it with a dental implant, as I am looking for a good permanent replacement and not something removable. The problem I am facing is that I have rather severe metal allergies, including nickel which seems to be in everything. I can’t even wear pants that have buckles. Is there any chance that I can have a dental implant or will I need to find a different procedure?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

I am sorry to hear about your metal allergies. That must make many aspects of life the rest of us take for granted quite inconvenient for you. The good news is that it should not affect your ability to get dental implants. The metal you will find in a traditional dental implant is titanium. This is very biocompatible. It’s been used for decades in prosthetics, including hips and knees. It has a proven track record.

If you are still concerned, you have a couple of options. First, you can get an allergy test done to check specifically for a titanium allergy. A second option is to get a zirconia implant. These are fairly new so not many dentists use them. It’s not because anything is wrong with them, but rather that they just don’t have the long term data we have on the titanium implants. If you decide you want the non-metal implants, you will have a better chance by looking for a metal free dentist or a holistic dentist. These are more willing to work around a patient’s allergies and preferences than other dentists.

You’ve made a great choice for your tooth replacement, so you’ve done some research. It is the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth in your jaw again.

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