When you look after your oral health and take good care of your dental implants, these hardy replacements can last for decades (or even a lifetime!). If you smoke, though, the effects of nicotine can cut that lifespan drastically short and cause harmful complications. Multiple studies trace how tobacco products impact dental implants, and just on average, smokers are more than twice as likely as non-smokers to experience treatment failure.
There are three main reasons why this is the case, and if you’re thinking about getting dental implants as a smoker, you should consider the risks and talk to a prosthodontist about your options.
#1. Nicotine Interferes with Recovery
Nicotine narrows blood vessels and impairs the immune system, making it difficult for your mouth to heal properly after implant surgery. When blood flow is poor, your oral tissue and bone will struggle to get the nutrients they need to repair themselves. An impaired immune system, meanwhile, increases your risk of infection.
#2. Cigarettes, E-Cigs, & Vape Harm Gum Tissue
Your gums are a very important part of your mouth’s structure. They basically help make sure your pearly whites stay in place. Unfortunately, tobacco products directly damage oral tissue like your gums due to the hot aerosols being smoked. This can cause your dental implants to come loose and makes your gums more vulnerable to bacteria that can cause further harm.
#3. Smoking Jeopardizes Osseointegration
Osseointegration is a natural process where bone material fuses with biocompatible substances. In the case of dental implants, for example, the jawbone is supposed to fuse with titanium implant posts that are surgically placed below the gumline. This mimics natural dental roots and is the main reason why dental implants are so secure and powerful.
Smoking jeopardizes this process by weakening the jawbone and slowing down the healing process. Without a solid foundation, a dental implant restoration will fail and can cause serious damage to surrounding bone and tissue.
The Good News
Now, it’s not impossible for smokers to successfully receive dental implants. Your prosthodontist may be able to compensate for any existing gum or bone damage with a graft treatment and will be able to provide tips for taking care of your smile. Quitting smoking is strongly recommended. Don’t worry, though – your prosthodontist will understand how difficult it is to break this habit. They can help you put together a realistic plan so you don’t have to stop all at once.
All that is to say, if you smoke, you do have a higher risk of implant failure, making it important to talk to your prosthodontist. With some personalized treatment planning, though, you could still replace your missing teeth with dental implants!
About the Practice
Dr. Hasan Yap is our highly experienced prosthodontist at Island City Dental, and works closely with Dr. Lorenz Corzo, our dedicated periodontist. Together, they will do everything they can to help promote the success of your dental implant treatment, including personalizing your plan to account for things like tobacco usage. To contact our office and schedule your consultation, call 954-564-7121.