Diagnosing Titanium Allergy
If medical or dental professionals suspect that you might be allergic to the titanium in your dental implant, the first step is to take diagnostic tests, such as a patch test. Some physicians might also recommend in vitro blood tests to detect metal allergy, including the lymphocyte transformation test, the lymphocyte migration inhibition test, and the commercially available MELISA test.
The International Journal of Implant Dentistry points out that zirconia implants can be an alternative to titanium implants. But there isn’t long-term clinical data associated with their usage, and so your dental professional is the best person to speak to about alternative options.
It can feel both disappointing and overwhelming to learn that you’re not taking to your new implant as well as you'd hoped. But the good news is that there are other options available to you. A dental professional can help you treat your titanium allergy and ensure that you fill the gap in your mouth with a treatment that works for you!