I have multiple chemical sensitivities and never anticipated a problem with dental implants. I am in the middle of dental implants and wearing temporary dentures. But when I open my mouth to talk or eat, I smell a distinct rubbery smell. I asked my dentist about the implants. And it was everything I  know already. The implants are titanium, the temporary denture is acrylic, and my final teeth will be porcelain. But I was not expecting a chemical smell. My dentist says that the odor is probably coming from my acrylic teeth and will go away when I get my final denture. But the strong smell is annoying. Will the scent really go away? – Thank you. Daniella

 

Daniella,

Thank you for your question. Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your implants and temporary dentures, several elements could be causing the odor.

Odor with New Dental Implants

We will discuss whether titanium posts, temporary acrylic teeth, or food debris can create an odor in new dental implants.

New titanium dental implants and odor

A dentist embeds titanium implants in your bone. They are beneath the gumline, so they are unlikely to produce an odor that you can smell. You can ask your dentist to let you smell an implant like the one he placed in your bone. But if titanium posts must be replaced, your dentist or an oral surgeon must remove the implants surgically. Afterward, you need bone grafting. And after the bone heals, your dentist must make new implant holes for zirconia implants.

Acrylic implant denture and odor

Acrylic has a slight smell, so the odor from your implant denture may be coming from the denture itself. If that is the case, it will probably resolve when your dentist places your new denture.

Odor from food debris

I food debris collects in your mouth—perhaps beneath your temporary denture, you could be smiling it. You may benefit from a water flosser to clean beneath your denture. You can also rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide to clean out food debris and neutralize odor. But do not use peroxide for more than two or three weeks because it will promote an oral yeast infection.

Does the odor cause a reaction?

You mentioned that the strong smell is annoying, but we wonder if it causes a sensitivity reaction. Does it make you tired or cause a reaction that you usually get with strong smells? Your answer is another clue to the source of the odor.

Consider getting a dental implants second opinion

If the odor causes a reaction and your dentist cannot identify the source, you can consider getting a second opinion from a skilled implant dentist.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.