Airports have always been a source of stress for many patients, especially frequent flyers. So, it’s only natural that one of the first questions they ask when considering dental implants is, “Will this make my life more difficult?” Despite your dental implants being made of metal, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Here’s why.
Titanium Is Built Different
Dental implants are made from titanium, a non-ferromagnetic metal, so it doesn’t react to magnetic fields the way iron does. Most modern metal detectors, including the walk-through scanners used at airports, are specifically designed to detect ferromagnetic metals. This is because they are far more commonly used in things like firearms or small blades—items that need to be confiscated to keep passengers safe.
Titanium’s non-magnetic properties are one of the many reasons it became the material of choice for medical and dental implants alike.
What About Body Scanners?
Many airports now use millimeter wave scanners or backscatter X-ray technology instead of traditional metal detectors. These systems detect density and mass rather than magnetic properties. However, like other systems currently in use, they have been pre-programmed to ignore items, such as medical prosthetics.
The majority of the time, your dental implants won’t raise an eyebrow, let alone a red flag at the gate.
Why Do People Worry About These Scans?
Before the advent of modern scanning systems and biocompatible titanium implants, it’s likely that some people had a hard time at airport security. Larger metal implants, like hip and knee replacements or metal bone-stabilization rods do sometimes trigger alarms, even today.
However, it’s important to note that these involve significantly more metal than dental implants, which are only a few millimeters wide.
Dental Implants Won’t Hold You Back
Even with dental implants, you can walk through airports, attend concerts, visit government buildings, and other secure places without worry. They have evolved over time to integrate seamlessly into your life—and that includes your daily routine. If you ever do experience an unexpected alarm, it’s almost certainly something else causing it.
Now that you know the facts behind dental implants and security scans, you should have peace of mind. The only thing your new smile should change about your airport experience is your confidence as you stroll through.
About the Author
Dr. David Nisenboym is a talented dentist with a dental doctorate from the University of the Pacific Dental School. After graduating, he completed a rigorous dental residency where he gained extensive experience in implant placement and specialty procedures. Dr. David also holds Fellowship status at the Misch International Implant Institute and brings that expertise to every case. Call (925) 934-3395 to schedule a dental implant consultation at Blue Wave Dental of Walnut Creek or visit our website to learn more.