Are your missing teeth getting in the way of your daily activities? You may feel self-conscious about showing off your smile or have trouble eating certain foods, but finding the right tooth replacement option for you can change that! Dental implants are a gold standard that restore both function and appearance, but it’s important to break bad habits, such as smoking. Continue reading to learn why being a smoker may affect your eligibility for implants.
How Does Smoking Affect Dental Implant Success?
Osseointegration is required after placement of the post. This is when your jawbone fuses to the tooth replacement and gets the reliability that many people choose it for. Smoking can affect this process in two main ways:
- Dry Mouth: When you inhale smoke, it burns your oral tissues and thickens the top layer of skin cells. This then damages your salivary glands, which can cause mouth dryness. Without proper saliva production, it’s harder to wash away harmful bacteria, leaving you at risk of gum disease.
- Narrowed Blood Vessels: Nicotine in tobacco and other by-products affects the blood flow in your mouth. They cause the peripheral blood vessels to narrow, making it harder to get adequate flow. This prevents the delivery of essential oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells. As healing slows down, you are at risk of oral health issues that can lead to an unstable implant.
Can You Still Get Dental Implants as a Smoker?
The good news is that you can still get this tooth replacement option if you are a smoker. Many have had successful treatments, but they came from committing to quitting smoking temporarily or permanently.
To increase your odds, break this habit for at least a week before your implant surgery and two to three months afterward. Keeping up with your oral hygiene and your dentist’s post-op instructions will help the osseointegration process.
Quitting the habit entirely can also prove to be fruitful, as even smoking after fully healing can affect the treatment. You may experience bone loss at a faster rate or have trouble maintaining fusion of the implant to your jawbone after it’s been established.
In short, smoking can affect the success of this tooth replacement option, but it may not completely prevent you from getting it. You may still be able to enjoy having a reliable smile. By scheduling a consultation with your dentist, you can learn more about how this habit affects your chances.
About the Author
Dr. James Kirby earned his dental degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He is proud to help those in the Nashville community get the full smiles they once had and enjoy the results for decades to come. By partnering with the best local dental implant specialists, you can trust that you get expert care every step of the way. If you are wondering how smoking can affect your eligibility for dental implants, schedule an appointment or call us at (615) 327-2123.