Will the implant feel fake?

[Salehan]

I would like to know if when you have an implant you can feel an obvious difference from the rest of the teeth. I remember once having a crown/cap on a tooth and it really annoyed me to the point of distraction. It felt uncomfortable and I could tell it was fake, I mean it didn’t feel like my natural teeth did and it was sort of painful. I had to have it removed and this is why I am now finding myself needing an implant because the crown was the last ditch attempt to save the tooth. Without it the tooth was not strong enough. I am worried that this implabt is going to be the same problem. I know that I will find it very annoying. I expect you cant have the implant taken out once its in and then I’ll be stuck feeling uncomfortable forever.

[Sharon]

Hello,

Thank you for your post.

It is bound to feel different initially as you are now used to there being a gap between your teeth. When the implant is fitted this will no longer be there so you would feel an obvious difference in that sense. However, as far as the tooth feeling fake or uncomfortable then this is highly unlikely to happen. Most people report that they cannot tell the difference once the initial discomfort has subsided and the area has healed. Sometimes, what can happen with a crown is that it is slightly too high for the gum and this causes the restoration to press into the gum, especially when you eat or bite together. Thus, this can cause redness, swelling, discomfort, and sometime infection. I would say that you are most likely to find that the implant does not cause you any issues, it should just blend in naturally with its surroundings. Also, on an additional note, technically it is possible for most people to have a healthy implant removed, however, it is very uncommon. Best of luck to you.