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Why Are my Gums Black After Dental Implants Have Been Placed?

asked 1 year ago by TicaGaga in Stanton, CA
Latest answer by Brian Dorfman, MD, DMD
Question viewed 3,925 times
Tags: gums, gray

I just had two dental implants placed a month ago after missing two teeth for several years. I noticed that the gum tissue surrounding the two implants has turned to a darker gray color. Is that normal? Is it because a poor quality of metal was used? Thank you.

7 answers to Why Are my Gums Black After Dental Implants Have Been Placed?

+3

Dark area on gums around dental implants

All dental implants are made of titanium and have intrinsic metal color. The gum tissue can appear darker or more gray in the following situations: If your gum tissue is really thin with transparency allowing the metal color to come through If the implant is placed to close to the gum tissue level If there is bone loss along with gum tissue recession allowing implant to show through Depending on the source of the problem, you can do one of the... more
H. Ryan Kazemi, DMD

Bethesda Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

www.facialart.com

+2

Most dental implants are made from Titanium metal

Some newer implants are made from Zirconium, but are so new we can't tell how they will be long term.  If the tissue is thin, some grey may show through.  If the alignment pinches the tissues, or if cement was left behind, some discoloration may happen. If it is minor, it is likely not an issue long term.  Express your concerns to your dentist, but without photos and xrays, it is impossible to tell for sure if there is a problem.
Lance Timmerman, DMD

Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
+2

Dark gums following implants

Your situation is not uncommon. Thin gum tissue combined with metal (titanium) implants will often show through. If you have not had the permanent crown made yet, it may be possible to change the titanium implant head for a Ziconium head which is tooth colored and eliminate the grey show through.
Mickey Bernstein, DDS

Memphis Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Dark gums around dental implants

The dark colored gingiva is most likely from the collar of the implant showing through thin gum tissue. When implants are placed, one of the most important considerations is the thickness of the surrounding gum tissue, especially in the front of the mouth. If the tissue is too thin at implant placement and the implant is not placed to the proper depth, a gray / black color will show through the gum tissue ( titanium is gray in color). This can also result in recession of tissue over... more
Brian Dorfman, MD, DMD

Phoenix Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

drbdorfman.com

+1

Dark gums around dental implants

Whenever the gums are thin, the dark color of the metal implants can show through.   Most dental implants are made from the same metal: Titanium.  Some of the newer ones are made from Zirconia, but those haven't proven themselves over time yet.   There are two situations where this could be an issue: 1. Your dentist needs to make sure that there's no bone loss around the implant.  If bone recedes from the implant it may allow the implant to show through... more
Peter Mann, DDS

Manhattan Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Titanium can show through thin gums.

Hi TicaGaga This happens if the gum tissue is thin and/or the implant was placed close to the surface of the gum. The implant is made of titanium and imparts a metallic color through the gums.   I would go to your dentist so he/she can check the area and make sure there is no pathology going on, but otherwise if the color doesn't bother you esthetically you can leave the implant the way it is.
Steve Alper, DMD

New York Cosmetic Dentist
+1

The gingiva around the gums

The metal used for implants is titanium, which is the best implant material. There is two reasons for black line around the gum- one- the implant gives a fake black translucency of the gingiva second-you might have some kind of reaction to this metal, or any other metal.
Antoaneta Barba, DDS

Santa Ana Cosmetic Dentist

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