Diagram of a dental implant
It’s been about a month since my dental implant surgery took place. Things seemed to go well. But, I’m starting to notice a grayish color develop around the site. Is this something to be concerned about? Do you think it could have been from lesser quality materials? Please tell me you have some answers.
-Ben in North Dakota
Ben,
Thank you for reaching out. Hopefully, this will give you some insight into what is going on. Your description of gray gum tissue around the implant site is not that uncommon. The metal (titanium) can show through the gum tissue resulting in a gray color.
Typically, during the dental implant surgery, the metal posts are placed deep into the gum tissue. This usually hides them. However, every patient is different and the exact location of the implant post in proximity to your jawbone may impact where the posts were placed. It doesn’t automatically mean that the material is not up to par. But, it could be an issue with the implant dentist’s technique used to place them.
One of the most important items to consider is the thickness of the gum tissue. This is even more important if your dental implants are in the front of the mouth. The location is just important as the depth. If this isn’t done properly, gum recession may be an issue as time goes on. In this instance, the implant would begin to show and appear darker along the gum line.
Some implant dentists will recommend Zirconia implants, which are a metal-free alternative or ceramic dental implants. These options will avoid the potential for a gray color to develop. Ultimately, the most important factor in a successful dental implant experience is selecting an expert implant dentist that is well-trained and experienced in all types of dental implant cases.
Hopefully, this gives you some insight into what is going on.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS.