Smoking affects oral health, but it does not automatically disqualify you from getting dental implants. Many smokers successfully receive implants every year. However, smoking increases certain risks that you must understand before starting treatment.
If you smoke and are considering dental implants, this guide explains how smoking impacts implant success and what you can do to improve your outcome.
How Smoking Affects Dental Implants
Osseointegration is what makes dental implants work. The implant joins with your jawbone throughout this phase to make a strong base for your new tooth. This healing process is slowed down by smoking.
Nicotine decreases blood flow to the gums. Reduced blood flow slows healing and limits oxygen delivery to tissues. Cigarette smoke also increases bacteria in the mouth, which raises the risk of infection.
Because of such factors, smokers are more likely to have their implants fail, take longer to recover, get gum inflammation, get infections around the implant, and lose bone. Research indicates that smokers exhibit a greater rate of implant failure than non-smokers.
However, many smokers still achieve long-term success with proper care and planning.
Are Smokers Good Candidates for Dental Implants?
Smokers can qualify for dental implants. Before suggesting treatment, dentists look at a number of things:
- Health in general
- Health of the gums
- Density of bone
- How often do you smoke
- Dedication to aftercare
If you smoke a little and take care of your teeth, you might still be an excellent candidate. Heavy smokers, such as those who smoke a pack a day, are at higher risk for complications.
Your dentist may propose more imaging or periodontal treatment before putting in dental implants. In some cases, they may tell you to cut back on or stop smoking before surgery to make it more likely that the procedure will work.
How Can Smokers Make Their Implants Work Better?
You can do things to make your implant work better if you smoke.
Before the Procedure, Stop Smoking
Stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery to assist the healing process. If you don't smoke for a few months after placement, the odds of osseointegration working go up.
Reduce Smoking Habits
Although it might be challenging to quit smoking altogether, smoking less cigarettes daily can still help your blood circulation and recovery.
Take Care of Your Mouth and Keep It Clean
Floss around the implant site carefully, and brush your teeth twice a day if your dentist tells you to, and use mouthwash that kills bacteria.
Make Sure To Go To Your Follow-Up Visits on Time
Your dentist will be able to monitor your progress of healing and any issues that are evident on the regular check-ups.
Considering Alternatives to Smoking
Using smokeless tobacco or vaping could harm your gums. You need to be open with your dentist regarding these options because they will be ready to assist you to make a correct decision.
What Will Happen If You Keep Smoking After Getting Implants?
Smoking complicates the situation in the long term after having a dental implant. Even after the implant heals, smoking may still lead to problems in a few years.
You could acquire peri-implantitis, which hurts the bone and gum tissue around the implant. You might lose your implant if you don't fix this problem. When you smoke, plaque builds up, and your gums pull back, which can hurt both natural teeth and implants.
You must consider implant therapy as a long-term method of enhancing your general dental health.
Summing Up
In short, can smokers receive dental implants? Yes, however, smoking increases the chances of complications and implant failure. Nicotine slows down healing, stops blood flow, and makes it more likely that you may get an infection. But with the correct planning and care, many smokers nevertheless get good results.
If you smoke and want dental implants, be honest with your dentist. Think about quitting or cutting back on smoking before your operation. Follow the advice you get after surgery very carefully and keep your mouth clean.
Contact Get Implant if you want implants that will last. They give you a long-term solution. Call us right away to learn more.