Dental Implants Metal Allergy
With advancing age, a problem that is frequently encountered is that of tooth loss. It can occur as a result of inflammation of the gums - which become too weak to hold the teeth in place - of severe trauma or particular pathologies. Fortunately, it is possible to remedy these problems, limiting their aesthetic and functional damage, thanks to implantology.
What is dental implantology?
Dental implantology is a dental technique with which it is possible to replace fallen or missing teeth with prostheses. These consist of two parts: a screw - usually made of titanium or ceramic - to be inserted into the gum and the actual tooth. The installation, preceded by a careful evaluation by the dentist, takes place through a surgical operation, and is divided into two phases:
* Implant installation: this is the screw that will act as the root of the new tooth. This operation is performed under local anesthesia, and consists in opening the gum and placing the implant inside it;
* Application of the new tooth: after the first phase, it takes 2 to 6 months for osseointegration - the biological process by which the screw integrates with the bone under the gum. At the end of this period you can proceed with the second part of the operation, which consists in the application of the new tooth to the implant.
The latest generation implants mainly use titanium components, a material that has very high resistance characteristics and at the same time is highly biocompatible and therefore suitable for grafts in organic tissues. Nonetheless, some patients have experienced a kind of intolerance and sensitivity towards titanium. From a medical point of view, however, it seems that we cannot speak of a real allergy to titanium, but rather inflammatory reactions which, however, can easily extend from the oral cavity and to the rest of the body. In fact, in these cases, although the implant heals and begins to work successfully, it still triggers a process of inflammation that spreads through the blood. This makes it very difficult to diagnose titanium sensitivity. It must be specified, however, that cases of titanium intolerance are extremely rare and the material is now the most suitable for biocompatible dental implants.
Metal allergic reaction: frequent symptoms and less common symptoms
The main reaction of a metal allergy is contact dermatitis which manifests itself as eczema. The skin in contact with the metal object becomes drier and desquamated, reddened, blisters may appear, and severe itching that causes the patient to scratch, thus causing lesions on the skin. In a small percentage of patients allergic to nickel and metals, ingestion symptoms may also occur with the typical gastrointestinal symptoms, like abdominal swelling and pain, diarrhea, cramps. However, it must be said that the elimination of foods that contain very small amounts of nickel should only be prescribed in very specific cases where there is a real problem for the patient. The most frequent symptoms of allergies due to dental material are reddish discoloration, presence of blood, inflammation and pain which are often accompanied by gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and nausea. In case of sensitivity to dental metals, symptoms such as those just mentioned could also make you think of gingivitis, which is why it is important to go to the dentist as soon as possible.
If I suspect a metal allergy, what do I do?
The suspicion of a metal allergy must always be carefully evaluated starting from the symptoms reported by the patient during the visit. For example, if you have itching when putting on earrings, or have contact dermatitis with the button of the jeans, ask your doctor to do the patch test, which is a very simple diagnostic test that allows them to make a precise diagnosis on the type of metal or the allergen responsible for contact dermatitis. It should be emphasized that, in the case of surgical interventions that involve the implantation of prostheses with metal parts, the test has no predictive value, for example, it does not allow us to say whether in the future an allergy to nickel or metals may appear. In the event of a positive allergy test, the treatment consists of:
* avoid contact with the allergen, or with products and objects that contain that allergen (be it nickel, chromium or cobalt, or more of these metals)
* treat dermatitis, when it occurs with creams that are to be used for a short time, and soothing creams
* in case of severe itching, an antihistamine drug can also be prescribed.
Diagnose sensitivity to titanium
Titanium intolerance is diagnosed with a series of tests. It can be done directly on the skin, usually on the arm, where allergens are applied. After 72 hours, the presence of any redness, blisters or pustules occurs. If skin reactions then occur, the patient is subject to sensitivity towards that material. When we talk about titanium implants, it is very likely that the subject is allergic not to titanium itself, but to the small amounts of nickel or other metals present in the implant itself. To fully verify any allergies to implants and other materials used in dentistry, it is also possible to perform a lymphocyte test. This blood test is much more complex and can test for different types of intolerance or allergy to many materials.
Through implantology it is possible to completely restore the patient's teeth, with all the resulting aesthetic and functional benefits. The most used material for this operation is titanium, which, thanks to its high mechanical resistance and a fair biocompatibility, allows to obtain results that significantly improve the patient's quality of life. However, this solution is not without its problems: in fact, in case of allergy to metals, it is not possible to resort to titanium, and it is necessary to look for an alternative solution.
What to do if you are intolerant to titanium implants
The patient who is aware of his intolerance to titanium or other material, must immediately communicate it to his trusted dentist, who in case of need for implantation, will evaluate with the patient all the best alternative solutions. If, on the other hand, the patient does not know his intolerance to the titanium implant, he should immediately notify the dentist of all the reactions he is experiencing, usually gingival redness, the appearance of blisters and injuries and pain. In these cases, it is very likely that the best thing is to remove the dental implant grafted into the patient and then evaluate the alternatives to be used.
Metal free implantology against allergies
Metal allergy was a big problem for patients who needed dental surgery. In fact, repeated contact with even only small doses of titanium can create serious consequences, including fibromyalgia, eczema, cheilitis, hyperplastic gingivitis and much more. Furthermore, some substances contained in products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes could cause reactions in contact with titanium, corroding it over the years and compromising the effectiveness of the entire implant. It is unlikely to run into the latter inconvenience, but it is still a possibility to consider.