Allergy to Dental Implants?

Could You Be Allergic to Dental Implants?

Recently, a patient verbalized a concern about being allergic to dental implants.  I have not surgically placed a dental implant on this patient – his concern stems from a previous failing complete knee replacement.  His medical doctors had mentioned that this might be caused by a nickel allergy.  Approximately, 10 to 12 percent of the female population and  6 percent of the male population report an allergy to nickel. Signs and symptoms of a nickel allergy include rash, itching, redness, and swelling.

If you are interested in how dental implants can change your life, Check out our Dental Implants Page.

Intrigued by this topic, I contacted the dental implant manufacturer, Straumann Inc, about the metallurgy composition in their implants.  They responded with the following details.  The chemical composition of the Grade 4 Titanium Alloy used in their Dental Implants and Abutments includes a maximum concentration of Oxygen 0.4%, Iron 0.5%, Carbon 0.1%, Nitrogen 0.05%, and Hydrogen 0.012%.  Also, Straumann reported that all dental implants are made of Grade 4 Titanium (Titanium-Aluminium-Niobium Alloy) containing 90% titanium.  There is no nickel added to these materials, and only trace amounts of nickel are present.  Metal allergy to titanium and the Titanium-Aluminium-Niobium alloy is extremely rare, and Straumann has no record of a proven case of titanium allergy caused by Straumann dental implants or components.  In my opinion, Straumann dental implants are not contra-indicated in patients with a nickel allergy.  To prove this theory to my concerned patient,  I’ve acquired a sample of the dental implant and had the patient tape it to his skin.  This simple technique is to confirm that the dental implant titanium does not cause an allergic reaction.

by