What Smokers Need to Know About Getting Dental Implants

Did you know that 120 million people in the United States alone are missing at least one tooth? If you are one of these people and are looking to fill in the space, you may want to consider dental implants. This popular tooth replacement treatment has a 98% success rate and allows you to maintain a realistic look as well as the functionality of your smile. Those who smoke and have missing teeth may wonder if this treatment is a good option for them. Though it’s possible for smokers to get dental implants, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the risks.

The Ways Smoking Impacts How Dental Implants Heal

One risk associated with smoking cigarettes is that it slows down how quickly bone heals by impacting blood flow in the body. This may impede osseointegration, which is the process by which dental implants fuse with the jawbone. This process takes four to six months on average, and during it, new bone will grow on and around the implants.

Since the jawbone will likely not be as healthy in smokers, this will make it difficult for your dentist or oral surgeon to place dental implants. They will also be more likely to fail.

Inhaling smoke, whether it’s from cigarettes or other sources, can also cause damage to your salivary glands. This can lead to dry mouth, which allows the bacteria that can cause gum disease to flourish. Since severe gum disease damages the jawbone, this can lead to implant failure.

Smoking & Peri-implantitis

Peri-implantitis is a gum infection that can occur around the implant site. It is similar to gum disease, and causes deterioration of the tissue as well as the bone that supports the dental implant. Smoking can increase your risk of developing this infection, and therefore implant failure. Some of the symptoms associated with peri-implantitis include.

• Bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth
• Pus or bleeding at the implant site
• Difficulty biting or chewing
• Pain at the implant site
• A loose implant
• Swollen gums
• Fever

Can You Smoke After Your Implants Have Healed?

Once your dental implants have healed, the state of your mouth may be somewhat unstable. Implant failure occurs in smokers and non-smokers at roughly the same rate. Even so, twice as many dental implants fail in the mouths of smokers versus non-smokers.

Returning to smoking cigarettes too soon after undergoing dental implant surgery raises your chances of experiencing implant failure. Dentists recommend not smoking for at least 90 days post-surgery. This will allow your mouth to heal, therefore minimizing the risk of complications.

About the Practice

Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry provides the patients living in Grand Island with the high-quality, effective treatments they need to keep their oral health in check. This includes tooth replacement options like dental implants. They can give you advice on how to make your implants last as long as possible and whether you’re a good fit for the procedure. Call Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry’s office at (308) 382-4440 or visit their website if you want to make an appointment or to learn more about their services.