Dental implants are sometimes rumored to cause headaches, migraines or facial pain, but is there any truth to these stories? Although there is currently no evidence that implants themselves cause headaches, complications from their installation may lead to consistent pain and sinus pressure when ignored. If you have been experience headaches ever since your implants were put into place, schedule an exam with your dentist to rule out these three possible causes.
Examining the Installation Site
Like any surgical site, your mouth will take some time to heal after your implants are installed, and a lot can go wrong in the meantime. An infection may set in, causing inflammation and swollen sinuses in the process. In other cases, the implant may settle too close to a nerve in your jaw and constantly irritate it as you speak and chew. Your dentist may need to detach the cap on your implant to get a better look at the post and screw. If everything appears to have healed correctly, it will be time to check for more obscure complications.
Testing for Titanium Allergies
You may have been tested for a titanium allergy before you had your implants installed, but if that step was skipped or you have reason to believe the result was a false negative, then you should have it performed again to be sure. Titanium is one of the safer metals for use in dentistry because it corrodes and ionizes at a very slow rate compared to other metals, but it does still emit foreign particles that can trigger an allergic reaction. If you do in fact have an allergy to titanium, you may need to explore alternative options to cover the gap in your teeth without provoking your immune system.
Measuring Your Bite
Your natural teeth line up precisely to provide the correct support and structure for your jaw, but when you begin implanting artificial replacements, the potential for a misaligned bite rises. This bite problem, or malocclusion, often presents itself as a constant headache or sore neck and shoulder muscles. When your dentist prepared for your implant surgery, he or she likely measured your bite to shape unique caps to accommodate your occlusion. But if those measurements were off, you may need new caps fashioned to match your bite more closely. In severe cases, you may be suffering from TMJ disorder, which occurs after damage to the joint in your jaw. No matter what is causing your headaches, there is no reason for you to live in pain. Schedule an appointment with a dentist like Whistler Smiles Dental Clinic Dental Implants to identify the culprit and begin seeking treatment options or to rule out your implants entirely.
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