If you’ve recently gotten a dental implant and your gums look gray, or you know someone who has had a dental implant and experienced this issue, you may be wondering what’s going on. Can dental implants really discolor your gums, and should you be concerned about this issue? Find out now in this article from the Mandeville Center for Dental Excellence.
So, let’s answer your question. Can dental implants turn your gums gray? The answer is “no.” Dental implants will not change the color of your gums. That’s simply not possible.
Instead, this issue usually happens when the upper part of the metal implant shows through your gum tissue. This can happen if your gum tissue was very thin at the time of your implant placement surgery. If the gums are thin, the gray color of the implant can make them look darker, and may even cause them to look gray and discolored.
This can be made worse if your dentist did not place your implant at exactly the right depth. The collar may be too high, which could contribute to a grayish appearance of your gum line.
If your gums look gray after implant surgery, this is a serious issue. Because your gum tissue may be very thin near the implant, this can lead the further recession of your gums over time, which will negatively affect your appearance and could lead to a higher risk of implant-related complications like peri-implantitis (the infection of the gums around the implant).
Usually, the best option to reverse the grayish look of your gums is to have a soft tissue graft, also called a “gum graft.” In this procedure, oral tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth and is surgically grafted in the area where your gum tissue is thinning.
Over time, this tissue heals and thickens, covering up your dental implant more effectively. Since the tissue will be thicker, the collar of the implant will no longer be close enough to the surface to cause gray discoloration.
Another option could be switching out the top of the implant with a tooth-colored zirconia prosthetic. Zirconia is matched to the natural color of your teeth, so it will not discolor your gums in the same way that a titanium implant would.
Worried that a dental implant may turn your gums gray? Don’t be. At the Mandeville Center for Dental Excellence, we're here to help you through your dental implant surgery. Before your treatment begins, Dr. Schof will check the thickness of your gums and create a unique surgical model to ensure that your implant is placed perfectly.
This reduces the risk of any kind of discoloration occurring after your implants have been placed. To learn more and see if dental implants are right for you, just contact us online to get a consultation, or call the Mandeville Center for Dental Excellence at (985) 626-4401.
