Smoking and Oral Health
We all know that tobacco use is harmful to just about every organ in the human body, and your teeth and gums are no exception. Tobacco in any form has an extremely negative affect on your oral health, and the common negative effects of smoking include:
- Increased buildup of plaque and tartar
- Discoloration and staining of teeth
- Accelerated bone and tissue damage
- Higher rates of tooth loss and edentulism (being partially or wholly toothless)
- Inflamed salivary glands and other inflammation in the mouth
- Greater risk of periodontal disease and oral cancer
Smoking and Dental Implants
In addition to these overall effects on your oral health, smoking can also have an especially negative effect on dental implants. Therefore, if you are considering this procedure, there are a number of facts about how smoking can affect dental implants you need to know.
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The implant failure rate for smokers is significantly higher than for non-smokers. Some studies have shown the likelihood of implant failure is as much as double.
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Smokers receiving implants are much more susceptible to bacterial infections around the implant than non-smokers, a condition known clinically as peri-implantitis.
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Bone grafts are sometimes needed for successful dental implant procedures, and smoking decreases the success rate of bone grafts.
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The nicotine in tobacco smoke reduces blood flow to soft tissues, making it much more difficult for the mouth to heal properly.
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Tobacco smoke damages the salivary glands, increasing both the risk of developing gum disease and loss of supporting bone.
Increasing Your Chances of Success
Planning a successful implant procedure begins long before the surgery, and if you’re a smoker, we strongly recommend that you take the following steps to help ensure a successful outcome.
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Avoid smoking for at least two weeks before your procedure to minimize the risk of complications. Nicotine increases the heart rate and blood pressure, making it harder for the heart and lungs to get the oxygen they need.
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Avoid smoking for at least eight weeks after surgery. Following your procedure, success depends on how well the implant fuses with your jawbone, a process called osseo-integration. Smoking while your mouth is healing may prevent the titanium post (the “root” of the implant) from fusing completely with your jawbone.
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Practice meticulous oral hygiene following your dental implant restoration procedure. Many people don’t realize that dental implants require the same type of preventative care as natural teeth.
Dental Implants in Elk Grove Village, IL
If you lose a tooth or teeth, the sooner the dentist performs an implant procedure, the greater the likelihood for a successful outcome. When teeth are lost, the remaining teeth will begin to shift over time, creating gaps and causing other complications. Bone loss can also occur, making it harder for the implant to integrate with your jawbone.
At the office of Brian Homann, DDS, we provide dental implants in Elk Grove Village, IL. We are dedicated to making sure that we work with our patients to help ensure successful outcomes. That is one reason we want to share this information with you on the harmful effects of smoking on implants.
If you’re considering dental implants, we urge you to contact the office of Brian Homann, DDS at 847-558-1222 to schedule your initial consultation. We are happy to answer any questions you may have so you can learn more about the benefits of dental implants.
