titanium/vanadium/aluminum dental implant

[curedsoon]

Eleven months ago I had a titanium alloy dental implant along with a sinus lift and bovine bone graft.  The surgery was successful and the implant has since integrated with the bone.  One to two months after the surgery I started having cramps in the lower extremities that progressed to constant aching in the feet and knees.  Five months after the implant I elected to have the swine flu vaccination which resulted in a numb feeling and tingling in the extremities along with diarrhea and dizziness that subsided after a few days.  Since then the tingling has combined with the aching in the lower extremities and progressed upward to include the thighs.  Exercise makes all of the symptoms worse, as I experience severe aching and muscle twitching after any kind of physical activity.  A MRI of the brain and neck revealed increased areas of signal in the brain not consistent with ms.  Blood tests suggest autoimmune disfunction (positive ana, antithyroid antibodies, high IgG for parvovirus and EBV and CMV without being conclusive of connective tissue or thyroid disease.  A cone beam ct scan revealed an inflammatory process in the sinus above the implant and apical periodontal inflammation on the tooth behind the implant which was also giving me night fevers.  I have since had the root canal retreated on the tooth that was being blamed for my mouth discomfort.  This has resulted in a 100% improvement in the pain and feverish feeling emanating from THAT tooth, but I still have an strange irritating sensation emanating from the implant that extends to the cheek, nostril, and eye above the implant.  I have a feeling the implant is the cause of the mouth trouble and wondering if it is the cause of my neurological symptoms as well.  My physical activity has been reduced to a minimum compared to the level of physical activity previous to the surgery.  I wonder if the implant does not show the typical symptoms of rejection because of nightly bronchial and nasal steroid inhalations.  The implant looks good on scans and xrays.  I am not so good.  I am living a life of an inactive person because I have no tolerance for exercise.  I love to exercise and my dogs need a walk!!!  Today I went for a lower back MRI and had a hard time holding still because of feeling crampy and cold.

All of the docs say it is a coincidence that any of my problems started shortly after receiving the implant.  I have sent blood in for the Melisa test, but wonder if a reaction will show being I was not able to refrain from using inhalers for five days.  The implant has adhered to the bone and looks "perfect".  I am ready to get it out and praying I can return to my normal level of activity.  Is there anyone out there with some information that could help?

Am I the only one????  I don't think the ADA or the implant manufacturers want to investigate the possibility of this lucrative procedure being a problem for anyone, so it is hard to find any data supporting my suspicion.  

Thanks.

[B4SuzieQ]

My sister had a surgically implanted tens unit to control pain from a previous back surgery.  She developed a lot of symptoms similar to mine plus some different ones when I had a cervical titanium plate implanted.  Since I personally had to have a cervical plate removed, I told her to get a Melissa test.  She scored 1.5 on about 10 different metals, but nothing over a 2.  She decided to have it removed and is doing a lot better 2 months later.  

This is a difficult and personal decision.  I hope you get some answers too.

[Bluebird22]

I finally saw Dr. C in Philadelphia.  He thought that it would be a mistake to have my titanium implant removed.  When I described my symptoms to him, he said that I was describing damage to the 5th cranial nerve 'to a tee'.  Unfortunately, he said that only about 1% of the patients who come to him with my symptoms are helped by dental implant removal.  He said the people who are helped by this are those who come to him complaining of a general feeling of malaise, fatigue, and symptoms that are not necessarily in the vicinity of the dental implant. He was so very informative and I liked his bedside manner.  I am disappointed, though, that implant removal is probably not the answer for me.  He said that my symptoms could have been caused by a dentist or oral surgeon hitting that nerve or it could be related to my battle with chronic Lyme disease.  I am probably going to try treating this more aggressively.  I thought I should post this information for all of you out there considering implant removal. By the way, both Clifford testing and MELISA testing showed no sensitivity to titanium for me.  But I do still wonder if the corroding metals could be leaching into the tissue and bone where the implant is placed.  If only there was an x-ray or test to determine this!

[terrybrown12]

crazy how every time I come here to this site to check in, the page is covered with ads for titianium implants!
just had to share....

[Bluebird22]

I heard from someone in this forum about an oral surgeon in Philadelphia (Dr. C) that I have an appointment with later this week.  If there is anyone closer, I would love to get that contact info!  Thanks, Terry.

[terrybrown12]

I hope someone has replied to you, i believe there are a few in your area.

[Bluebird22]

My MELISA testing came back negative, but after a long discussion with Dr. Valentine, my dentist thinks my titanium implant is at the root of my chronic illness and multiple head symptoms.

The hard part is finding an oral surgeon who is willing and competent to do this.  I have been to 3 so far and nobody wants to take it out.  My dentist gave me an article written by a holistic oral surgeon all about the problems with titanium implants - her name is Lina Garcia.  She is in Chicago and she does remove intact implants.  Problem is, I am in New England.  The other oral surgeon my dentist found is Dr. Sammy Noumbissi in Silver Springs, MD.  That would be closer for me.  

Forgive me if you have already provided this information, but... do any of you know of any oral surgeons in New England or NY, PA, NJ who are experienced and capable of moving intact dental implants?  I am really scared, but hopeful that this will help to relieve me of my awful symptoms.