Are you planning on traveling overseas for a business trip or family vacation? Do you also have dental implants? Since your restorations are made out of titanium, you’re probably wondering if they’ll trigger any alarms while going through airport security. However, you might be surprised by how the technology works with your new pearly whites. Read on to learn how these devices operate and whether your dental implants will set off metal detectors when you’re traveling!
How Do Metal Detectors Work?
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) metal detectors function by creating a magnetic field through a series of pulses around you. These forces form a natural echo, which bounces back to the device and creates a reading. If there’s a metal object passing through the detectors, the magnetic field from the machine will generate another one around the item. This will cause a longer and larger echo, disrupting the one the device is expecting to read. The disruption is what sets off the metal detectors.
Will My Dental Implants Set Off Metal Detectors?
Although your dental implants will be constructed out of titanium, not every metal alloy will create a magnetic field. For this reason, you won’t typically need to worry about triggering any alarms from airport metal detectors. But if you have any other items containing steel, nickel, iron, or cobalt-chromium on your person, they can still set off these devices.
While you won’t normally expect any alarms or hassles with your dental implants, it’s important to remember that there are different security regulations in every country throughout the globe. When traveling internationally, you might consider allowing yourself ample time to head through security. Some countries may implement varying devices and technology that can pick up on the smallest traces of metal. Even if this happens, you won’t be the first person to travel with dental implants. You can simply step to the side for a pat down, explain to security about your restorations, and you should be able to head to your destination in no time.
There have been plenty of people who’ve replaced their missing teeth with dental implants, and they may even take frequent flights throughout the year. For this reason, you won’t have to stress about traveling or experiencing any dental implant-related hassles while going through airport security!
About the Author
Dr. Sujal Patel is a proud member of several prestigious organizations such as the Dallas Local Society, and the American and Texas Dental Associations. He graduated with his dental degree from New York University and has been providing outstanding care for nearly a decade. He offers multiple high-quality treatments, including dental implants to restore your pearly whites. If you’d like to know more about traveling with dental implants, feel free to visit our website or call 972-629-9339.