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Smoldering Smiles: Can I Smoke with Dental Implants?

December 4, 2024

Filed under: Uncategorized — ridgepointedental @ 6:22 pm
Hands pulling a cigarette out of the packet

Many dentists consider dental implants the ideal way to replace missing teeth because of their unique advantages. They’re the only replacement teeth surgically embedded in your jaw to function as sturdy stand alone structures.

Typically, these prosthetics have an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%, but some patients indulge in certain behaviors that can harm them, like smoking. Continue reading to learn 3 ways this habit can hurt your implants and why you should quit!

Reason #1: It Suppresses Your Immunity

Dental implants are the only restorations placed directly in your jawbone to offer unique advantages over alternatives like dentures or dental bridges. However, they do involve a major procedure that comes with potential risks, like any other surgery. Your mouth must form a blood clot over the site to heal properly.

Unfortunately, tobacco products like cigarettes and vapes contain a chemical called nicotine, which weakens your immune system. It suppresses the creation and activation of cells needed to fight disease and protect your body from infection, including T cells. You might think you can quit long enough to heal after your procedure, but it can take considerable time for your immune system to fully recover. That means there’s no better reason than getting dental implants to consider quitting smoking for good!

Reason #2: It Promotes Gum Disease

Did you know that the number one leading cause of implant failure is a form of gum disease known as peri-implantitis? If germs penetrate your gums around your prosthetic, you can develop an infection that spreads to your jawbone. This erodes the tissues and destabilizes the sturdy foundation needed to anchor your restoration in place.

Smoking increases the likelihood of developing this condition because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that narrows your blood vessels. This reduces their oxygen levels and slows the flow so that your body cannot deliver nutrients to your mouth, which is essential for your recovery. As a result, you cannot fight off unhealthy bacteria and are more likely to experience implant failure.

Reason #3: It Hinders Osseointegration

One of the reasons these prosthetics are so sturdy is because the titanium support rod that’s placed in your jawbone is biocompatible. Once it’s in place, you stimulate new bone growth every time you bite down. This eventually fully encompasses the metal pole, so it becomes a permanent part of your grin in a process called osseointegration.

However, researchers have found that smoking negatively impacts your ability to complete this essential stage of recovery successfully. In a study from 2007, about 15.8% of patients who smoked regularly experienced failed implants, while only 1.4% of non-smokers had problems.

Smoking tobacco products can negatively affect your oral and overall well-being and should be avoided for your dental implants to remain healthy!

Meet the Author

Dr. Austin Amos enjoys helping people of all ages build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston. Now, he maintains an active membership with the American Dental Association and other professional organizations so you can trust that you’re receiving the most up-to-date treatments. He can help with everything from basic preventative care to more complex treatments, including dental implants. He partners with the best local surgeons and provides a lifelike restoration intended to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (972) 625-4746.

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