Dental Implant Safe for Tinnitus?

[mick1987]

Hi everyone, has anyone had a dental implant fitted? Did that result in any change in your tinnitus?

I've got a dentist appointment for tomorrow, for an extraction on a upper first molar.

I originally was going to have an endodontist perform a root canal on the tooth, but due to the tooth having an old amalgam (silver) filling, there would be an prolonged amount of drilling before the RTC can be done. On top of all that, at a later stage I would need a crown fitted to reinforce the tooth, again this would require a good 20 minutes of drilling... not good!

So I've decided it would be safer, tinnitus wise, having the problem molar extracted. Due to the molar being visible at the front it will leave a noticeable gap, so I would like an implant fitted at some stage, preferably within a few months after extraction to avoid problems with teeth shifting and bone loss which can lead to complications. Would really appreciate some advice from others who've had the procedure done.

Many thanks.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@mick1987
From experience of having a dental implant.
Two things to do and not to do.

1. Keep head on headrest. Have a small pillow placed under head.
Don't lift head off the headrest or pillow.
Look straight ahead and don't position head to one side. Never to the left side.

2. Closed mouth a little to relax jaw when you can.
Having the jaw wide open for this long procedure
can cause, although rare, TMJ that can appear within days, weeks or months.

The drill used is low speed, so noise should not be a problem.

If you can take magnesium, take a tablet within one hour before appointment.

This procedure will take several visits.

 

[mick1987]

@mick1987
From experience of having a dental implant.
Two things to do and not to do.

1. Keep head on headrest. Have a small pillow placed under head.
Don't lift head off the headrest or pillow.
Look straight ahead and don't position head to one side. Never to the left side.

2. Closed mouth a little to relax jaw when you can.
Having the jaw wide open for this long procedure
can cause, although rare, TMJ that can appear within days, weeks or months.

The drill used is low speed, so noise should not be a problem.

If you can take magnesium, take a tablet within one hour before appointment.

This procedure will take several visits.

Thanks for the advice, Greg.

While doing a search for related topics, I came across your experience in one thread, regarding neck and jaw issues causing a spike in your Tinnitus, sorry to hear this, I gather it was a permanent worsening? Seems like there is more to be worried about than simply loud noise after all!

But I will take into consideration your 2 key points of advice, thank you very much.

 

[Mister Muso]

The drilling into the bone is very loud, but low-frequency rather than high. It only takes a few seconds but be prepared.

PS It doesn't hurt

 

[mick1987]

The drilling into the bone is very loud, but low-frequency rather than high. It only takes a few seconds but be prepared.

PS It doesn't hurt

Thanks, @Mister Muso

Yeah, I can imagine the drilling into the jaw being quite intense! But like you say it's for a short amount of time, certainly much less that the tooth drilling.

Where did you get the implant fitted? As in upper or lower jaw? front or back? Any increase in your T?

 

[Mister Muso]

Thanks, @Mister Muso

Yeah, I can imagine the drilling into the jaw being quite intense! But like you say it's for a short amount of time, certainly much less that the tooth drilling.

Where did you get the implant fitted? As in upper or lower jaw? front or back? Any increase in your T?

Upper jaw, on two separate occasions.

No change in my tinnitus until a full year after the second implant, the first implant being 5 years previous. My tinnitus was definitely noise induced due to loud music.

 

[PaulBe]

I had two done but under anaesthetic. I regret them not because of tinnitus. I believe they can create a low-grade chronic, systemic immune activation problem in some people. I would approach them with caution.

 

[mick1987]

I had two done but under anaesthetic. I regret them not because of tinnitus. I believe they can create a low-grade chronic, systemic immune activation problem in some people. I would approach them with caution.

Thanks for your input, Paul. See this worries me because I haven't done any real research on the various complications the unlucky few have with dental implants? When I think about all the possibilities with nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, bone rejections, infections, immune responses, metal reactions causing currents in the mouth , etc etc. No doubt there must be many many successful implants performed with no issues, but still there are others left with unsatisfactory outcomes and a different set of problems?

It makes me wonder if extracting the tooth is the right thing to do? Sure avoiding the root canal and crown will cut down on the drilling, but what about the other issues/potential complications that can arise from drilling titanium screws into the jaw bone? Sigh...this is concerning me because once the tooth is extracted tomorrow there is no going back...

 

[incelitus]

Man get good earplugs and go for it.
IMO if you lost a tooth you really need one.
If you don't, a lot of your jaw bone is going to disappear and all the teeth right next to that missing tooth will have to get removed after some time because the bone is disappearing.