Dental implants.

Hi Philomena, 

I am new to this forum, was diagnosed with OLP about a month ago and have some skin LP too now. My oral sumptoms started about 3 months ago. I have several dental implants, first two put in 7 years ago when I was 50, had 2 more about 4 years ago and was planning to have two more this year, am just waiting for mu OLP to settle down a bit as I think it would be too sore just now. The implants are usually made from titanium. I don't think it can be the implants that cause the problems for OLP as have mine so long, I think likely other triggers such as stress, virus, hormone changes etc more likely culprits, but having dental work probably makes the symptoms worse- my mouth was really sore after I had my regular hygienist appt. I do have amalgam fillings and as I lost a crown at the end of last year ( my reason for more implants) I do wonder if I have more exposed amalgam which has affected the OLP if not caused it- have been a matyr to me teeth since my teenage years- I'd be very wealthy if it wasn't for my teeth!! I'd be really interested to hear your and anyone elses experiences of implants and OLP. There seems so many theories about it but no one really seems to know!

Have to say, the implants themselves are fantastic! 

Hi philomena

I believe my OLP started when I had several crowns put in, menaing that lots of mercury amalgam fillings were removed as the teeth were filed down. It eventually calmed down.

I later had all the remaining mercury fillings replaced, and the OLP flared up again, but again calmed down after a few weeks.

I had 3 teeth out 6 months ago, to be replaced with implants, and the OLP flared up again!

I am advised that they don't want to do the implants until the gum is healthy, and the OLP has calmed down again. My (Swiss) surgeon says OLP is never "cured", just controlled, or calms down for a while, till something  triggers it again.

He also said, comfortingly, that in 95% of his patients it does not lead to major problems, and is pain-free (like mine), so I guess this board has postings from the other 5%.

I have had one titanium implant for the last 3 years, when an old crown and post split, and there does not seem to have been any problem with that.

My UK dentist was sympathetic to the idea that mercury amalgam fillings can cause problems, in those who are susceptible to it, not the whole population. She once removed all MA fillings for a patient who had suffered from ME for 4 or 5 years, and was at her wits end, and even two weeks later, the patient called her and said she felt better than she had in years, and she was quickly back to normal again. 

Canada has been ahead of the US - in 1996 it recommended banning the use of MA fillings for children and pregnant women, and has been campaigning for a worldwide ban.

Dear Gillian,

thank you for your story and comments. As I mentioned to David, I am still waiting to hear from my dentist ( US),  who my family have known and gone to for years, so he is most trustworthy. I shall come back as soon as I get any info from him. I guess he is doing a lot of research over the weekend.

I too developed OLP during a period of have two jaw teeth replaced with dental implants with a Periodonal dentist; this particular dentist worked in partnership with another 'cosmetic' dentist who was performing cosmetic reconstruction/replacement on nine upper teeth. I associate the OLP to the total impact of this concentration of work during a period of roughly eighteen months...my age from 67, 68 years. The suffering has gone on now for about 2 1/2 years.