If you’re a smoker and are considering replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you may be wondering how those cigarettes will affect your treatment. You may have already been told by your dentist that you should quit smoking prior to your procedure. But why is it so important to stop, and will you ever be able to start again? Here’s what you need to know about the dangerous effects of smoking on your new dental implants.
The Dangers of Smoking After Surgery
In order to work, your dental implants must be surgically attached to your jawbone. First, the implant (it kind of resembles a screw) is inserted into the bone. Then, over the next few months it begins to permanently fuse with the bone as the bone heals around the metal. This is known as osseointegration. When you smoke, it can create challenges to this process. For starters, it thins the blood, making it harder for your gums to form an important clot or seal that stops the bleeding. It has also been shown to slow osseointegration, and even to increase your chances of dental implant failure. In fact, the longer you’ve smoked, the higher the odds of your implant failing.
Nicotine and Gum Health
Another reason it’s important to quit smoking is that nicotine (which can be found in cigarettes and even e-cigarettes) can bind to the roots of your teeth and cause them to destabilize. This means that not only can it increase your risk of gum disease, but it can also up your odds of tooth loss and dental implant failure.
Smoking and Your Immune System
Another way smoking is dangerous following dental implant surgery is that it suppresses your immune system. If compromised, this can make it harder for your body to fight infection, including at the site of your implants. If bacteria makes its way into your incisions, this can slow your recovery and also lead to implant failure.
Vaping and Dental Implants
Many people believe that smoking e-cigarettes or “vaping” is a safer alternative to smoking, but unfortunately this is not true. First, because vape fluid is not well regulated, it can often contain even more dangerous chemicals than cigarettes, making it worse for your health than smoking. Furthermore, the heat from the aerosols in the vape can damage your gum tissue, drying it out and making it very difficult to heal properly following surgery.
Can I Ever Smoke Again?
If you are able to successfully quit smoking before your dental implant surgery, it’s important to try not to start again after you’ve healed. That’s because even without dental implants, smoking is bad for your oral and overall health, and as noted earlier, it can also increase your odds of dental implant failure.
Remember, while it is ultimately up to you if you decide to remain nicotine-free following your dental implant procedure, it is highly recommended by your dentist that you do. At a very minimum, it is important that you quit smoking prior to surgery, at least until after the six-month mark, and for as long as possible beyond that point. This will give your new prosthetics the best odds for success for a lifetime of smiles!
About Dr. Burton
Dr. Molly Burton became interested in dentistry because of her love of both science and art. It is that keen eye for aesthetics that helps her create beautiful smiles with the help of dental implants. If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants are a durable, natural-looking solution that can restore your gorgeous grin and allow you to once again eat the foods you love. To learn more about this treatment and to see if you are a good candidate, please schedule a consultation with Magnolia Family Dental today by visiting our website or calling us at 512-441-2098.