DENTAL IMPLANTS - A HEALTH PROBLEM?
When you have a dental extraction, what do you put in its place? The choices are a plastic tooth or denture - these can be a single tooth, a partial denture or a full denture when all the teeth are replaced in the arch. You can also have a bridge. You need two sides to hold it - I make a local analogy of the Devon and Cornwall sides of the Tamar Bridge - you need both. Or you can have an implant, the majority of which are made out of titanium alloy. At one time, it was thought that titanium implants were a good solution to missing teeth. However, in recent years, scientific evidence points to a number of health issues that can arise as a result of titanium dental implants. Fortunately, there are safe alternative solutions.
Tooth replacement is a long term goal in modern dentistry. In 2012, the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) estimated that approximately 100,000 to 300,000 dental implants were placed in the UK. About 99% of these implants are titanium. The main metal is titanium with smaller amounts of other metals like iron, aluminium, vanadium, nickel etc.
This is the same material used to produce spacecraft. In 2024, some dentists and doctors are now beginning to realise from the scientific evidence that titanium implants are not as problem free to health as was originally thought. What most people don’t realise is that there are two kinds of dental implant - titanium and zirconia.
Your Immune System
The sole job of your immune white blood cells is to detect foreign invaders (non-self particles) in your body and get rid of them. A white blood cell swimming about in your bone marrow is about 8-10 microns wide. When it sees a metal implant that is about 10mm wide, this looks like the Titanic to the white blood cell. It recognises this as non-self and starts a plan of attack to get rid of the invader. The immune system then goes on red alert and remains in attack mode 24/7 as long as the implant remains.
Titanium Dental Implants
A Titanium implant is a metal alloy where titanium is the main metal, along with other metals which may include aluminium, iron, vanadium and nickel. Metals are not suitable to be placed into the human jaw because of their known toxic, immunological and metabolic risk factors.
Systemic reactions to metal implants can include: fatigue, muscle spasms, joint pains, sleeping problems, migraines, skin problems, emotional problems, tinnitus, nerve symptoms, exacerbation of rheumatoid problems, autoimmune conditions, allergies and more.
Immune effects are particularly dangerous as they can trigger allergies and autoimmune diseases. Titanium allergy is well recognised in mainstream medicine. Anything foreign inside your bone marrow is going to depress your immune system. Then, when some infection comes down the pipeline, your white blood cells may not be as able to deal with it as they should because they are overworked and underpaid and never get a day off.
Titanium particles from dental implants dissolve into the surrounding jaw creating chronic inflammation over time (peri-implantitis) leading to gaps between implant and bone which are a breeding ground for bacteria that are difficult to contain. On lab tests, this is often seen in elevations of the inflammatory markers TNF alpha and Rantes. This can lead to local and chronic systemic health problems like autoimmunity and cancer which are the clinical and visible manifestations of a constantly stimulated immune system.
Titanium implants move a few microns in the jawbone with chewing, biting and swallowing.
The body uses a number of electrical impulses i.e. in the heart and central nervous system. Having two dissimilar metals in the mouth generates a small amount of electrical current, known as oral galvanism. This can then disturb the body’s own electrical currents. Titanium and cobalt are positively charged, stainless steel and mercury amalgams are negatively charged. Oral galvanism interferes with the firing of nerves in the body.
Another electrical component to titanium implants is the fact that we live in a soup of electromagnetic radiation (EMFs from wifi, mobile phones, Smart devices, Smart meters, 5G etc.). If you have a metal implant in your mouth, this amplifies the radiation effect and you then become a walking antenna for wifi radiation. The bone around the implant can heart up by 4 degrees Celsius due to this radiating effect. Symptoms of electromagnetic hypersensitivity include: confusion, forgetfulness, poor concentration, fatigue, general weakness, headache, tinnitus, balance problems, chest pain, head pressure, heart problems, itchy, burning skin, rashes and more.
Statistics show that after 5 years, 80% of titanium implants are affected by gingivitis, 56% by bone inflammation and 15% fail and need to be replaced.
Zirconia Dental Implants
Zirconia implants are made of zirconium dioxide, a white ceramic material. They are metal free, yet harder than steel.
Zirconia implants should not stimulate the immune system to allergic or autoimmune reactions.
Dentists who place zirconia implants say they do not generate inflammation or pockets of infection round the gums.
Zirconia implants do not move in the jaw like titanium, but remain completely rigid.
Zirconia implants do not conduct radiation into the bone or heat up the surrounding jaw when in contact with radiation exposures like mobile phones.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, you can see that there are a number of important factors to be taken into consideration when replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Your own health status is paramount - is your immune system already suppressed and fighting a constant battle with chronic infections? If so, do you want to add to it by acquiring a metal implant in your body that will activate your immune system and has a high risk of gum inflammation or infection? Additionally, we live in an electromagnetic soup in which the combination of daily mobile phone use and a metal implant turns the host into a walking antenna for radiation. Metal in the jawbone is not far from the brain.
Therefore, if choosing a dental implant, zirconia is the only option to safeguard your health. If you already have a titanium implant, this can be safely removed and replaced by zirconia by the right Biological dentist. This is even more important if you have a medical condition like autoimmunity, chronic fatigue or anything else chronic!
Patients with titanium implants are often dismayed at the prospect of implant replacement simply because they invested a considerable amount of money in titanium treatment. I can understand their frustration. However, at the end of the day, what is the most
important - money or health? In other words, can you really afford not to remove a piece of metal that could precipitate a serious decline in health and life enjoyment?
Dentures
There is another option for missing teeth - dentures. This is certainly the most economical option. They are my personal choice and can be an excellent non-invasive option provided they are well made and are metal free. The impression taken for a denture should be done while the jaw is relaxed and not in a fight or flight state. I have seen this best done by putting the patient on a tens machine for about 30 minutes prior to taking the impression for the denture.
Education
I am passionate on educating people about the effects of dental health on whole body health. This is because the dental area has such big influence on all organ systems and yet is often ignored by both dentists and doctors. Yet, for over a century, doctors and dentists have known that infections and toxins in your teeth, gum and jawbone can damage the rest of your health. German physician Dr Reinhard Voll estimated that nearly 80% of all illness is related entirely or partially
to problems in the mouth. Because most dentists are not researchers and don’t read anything about their subject beyond what they are taught in dental school, I highly recommend that you educate yourself on the tooth-body connections by looking at the Youtube Dr Blanche D. Grube New Patient Video Series. (from hgdcoffice.com/new-patient-video-series/). London based Biological dentist Dr Giuseppe Mariniaci has also brought out his own patient video series at biohealth-uk.com/videos.
An integrative approach is needed for success - the right nutrition, the right lab tests, the right Biological dentist. If you would need help with your health on any of the above issues, please get in touch with the Good Health Clinic on goodhealthclinic@outlook.com to request a free 30 minute Enquiry Call or book an appointment. Please note that an Enquiry Call is not a consultation but an exploratory call to see if this a clinical approach you wish to pursue.
To your very good health,
Suzanne Jeffery (Nutritional Medicine Consultant)
M.A.(Oxon), BSc.(NMed), PGCE, MNNA, CNHC
The Good Health Clinic at The Business Centre, 2, Cattedown Road, Plymouth PL4 0EG
Tel no: 07836 552936/ Answer phone: 01752 774755
Disclaimer:
All advice given out by Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic is for general guidance and informational purposes only. All advice relating to other health professionals’ advice is for general guidance and information purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information provided with other sources. Patients and consumers should review the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by other practitioners and physicians. Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.