Microcurrent With Dental Fillings, Implants or Braces
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
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Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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Many people with fillings or crowns use microcurrent comfortably on a lower level, but metal implants and braces near the treatment area are a reason to ask your dentist or orthodontist first, since training materials list metal in the treatment area as a precaution.
This article covers each type of dental work, such as:
- fillings and crowns
- dental implants
- braces and retainers
- the precautions to take
- when to ask first
and many more!
We make facial current devices, and our advice is always to check with your dentist when in doubt.
Key Points:
Esthetics training materials list metal implants, pins and plates in the treatment area as a reason for caution with electrical treatments.
Fillings and crowns can make current near the mouth easier to feel, often as a buzz or a metallic taste.
Dental implants and braces are metal close to the skin of the jaw, so ask your dentist or orthodontist before using a device there.
If you go ahead, use a low level, plenty of gel and keep off the area directly over the dental work.
Clear aligners contain no metal and are removed during a session anyway.
Why metal matters
Metal conducts current more easily than surrounding tissue, so current can concentrate near it. Training materials list metal implants in the treatment area as a reason for caution.
Facial metal and implant precautions are also covered in our thyroid, pacemaker and implants article.
Fillings and crowns
Many people use microcurrent with fillings and crowns, sometimes noticing a buzz or metallic taste. Lower the level near the mouth. See our teeth and metallic taste article.
Dental implants
Implants are metal posts in the jawbone. Ask your dentist before using a device over the jaw near an implant, and avoid the area while it is healing.
Braces and retainers
Metal braces sit close to the skin of the lips and cheeks. Ask your orthodontist first, and if they agree, keep the device away from the mouth area.
Clear aligners contain no metal and are removed during a session.
The precautions to take
Ask your dentist or orthodontist first.
Use the lowest comfortable level near the mouth.
Use plenty of gel and keep moving.
Skip the area directly over implants or braces if you feel any discomfort.
Questions to ask your dentist or orthodontist
Is there any metal close to the skin of my jaw, lips or cheeks?
Is a dental implant fully healed and integrated into the bone?
Should I avoid any area of my face, and for how long after new work?
Is there any reason, such as recent surgery or a sensitive tooth, to wait?
Bring the device or its manual so they can see what it is. The general safety list is in our side effects article.
Other reasons not to use a device
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use microcurrent with fillings
Many people do, usually on a lower level near the mouth. A buzz or metallic taste is common.
Can I use microcurrent with dental implants
Ask your dentist first, since metal in the treatment area is a reason for caution.
Can I use microcurrent with braces
Ask your orthodontist first, and keep the device away from the mouth area.
Can I use microcurrent with Invisalign
Clear aligners contain no metal and are removed during a session.
Why does microcurrent feel stronger near my fillings
Metal conducts current more easily, so it can be felt more near metal dental work.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.