With Covid-19 vaccination rates rising and the summer sun shining brightly, millions of people are making travel plans for the next few months. If you’re one of them, chances are you couldn’t be more excited to get away for a while. However, if your trip involves flying, you might be a bit nervous. Going through airport security is already stressful, but you haven’t traveled by plane since you replaced your teeth with dental implants. Will dental implants set off metal detectors and make things awkward? More often than not, the answer is no.
Titanium Shouldn’t Trigger Metal Detectors
The majority of metal detectors used by the TSA work by creating an electromagnetic field, which sets off an alarm when it detects any nearby magnetic metals. In most cases, modern dental implants are primarily made from titanium, a non-magnetic metal. So, titanium dental implants should rarely trigger metal detectors.
Do Zirconia Dental Implants Set Off Metal Detectors?
Of course, not all dental implants are made from titanium. Zirconia is becoming increasingly popular, especially with patients who have allergies or sensitivities to metal. While zirconia contains trace amounts of metal, it’s not enough to set off most metal detectors.
Full-Body Scanners & Dental Implants
These days, many airports in the U.S. use full-body scanners rather than traditional metal detectors. These systems tend to use either radio waves or low-level radiation, similar to X-rays. Both types of scanners may detect your dental implants, but TSA agents are highly unlikely to even mention it. After all, millions of people have replaced their teeth in this way, and it’s rarely a legitimate reason to put someone through additional screening.
A Note About Traveling Internationally with Dental Implants
Airports in other parts of the world may have different security standards. They might have more advanced metal detectors that will sound an alarm when they sense dental implants. However, you should be able to get through security fairly easily as long as you calmly explain the reason why you have the implants and cooperate with the rest of the screening process.
Dental Implants Make Traveling More Convenient
Traditional tooth replacements like dentures require special adhesives and cleaning products, which can quickly fill up the limited space in your suitcase. Dental implants, on the other hand, shouldn’t complicate your travel plans. All you’ll need to care for them is the same toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash you would use for real teeth. Plus, dental implants let you enjoy all kinds of foreign cuisine with ease, no matter how crunchy or chewy.
If you have dental implants, you shouldn’t need to worry about them setting off any alarms when you’re going through airport security. If you don’t have dental implants and you’re interested in rebuilding your smile with a solution that lasts, contact your implant dentist today!
About the Practice
At Meadowbrook Dentistry, our three skilled dentists are proud to provide families in the Plainview, NY area with the high-quality, personalized dental care they deserve. We aim to help patients of all ages achieve and maintain healthy smiles in a stress-free environment. Our team can even handle every step of the dental implant treatment process in-house! To find out whether dental implants in Plainview, NY are right for you, please contact us online or at (516) 346-5655.