Smoking Can Affect Your Candidacy for Dental Implants
As smoking can have an adverse effect on the dental implants healing process, patients are advised to quit smoking prior to and during the treatment period. Ideally, patients should continue to abstain permanently to avoid more serious oral health complications. With years of training and experience, Dr. Art Carpenter can help you understand why dental implants and smoking are largely incompatible. He will take the time to explain the treatment process during your initial consultation and provide you with detailed pre- and post-operative instructions to help ensure a successful procedure at our Kenilworth, IL, practice.
How Smoking Affects Your Oral and Physical Health
Studies have shown that smoking can have a severe impact on your overall health. Medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and various types of cancers have been directly linked to prolonged nicotine in the body. However, smoking and tobacco products can also negatively influence oral health. Not only will tobacco stain your teeth, but it can also increase your risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. In addition, individuals who smoke or use tobacco products of any kind have a greater risk of infection after surgery, as the body cannot heal as quickly as it should.
As a result, we recommend patients refrain from smoking for at least two weeks prior to a dental implants procedure and throughout the entire healing process. Having a solid foundation for your implant-supported restoration is key to preventing overloading and dental implant failure.
Risks Involved with Smoking
If you smoke, you are at risk of developing:
- Reduced blood flow to the mouth and slower healing
- Periodontal disease
- Bone and tissue loss
- Tooth loss
- Peri-implantitis (soft and hard tissue loss around the implant)
- Dental implant failure
During your consultation, we can review your medical history in its entirety to ensure you are healthy enough to undergo treatment.
Why Smoking Hinders Dental Implants
The technology and medications involved with dental implants have continued to improve over the years, making it a viable option for many patients, even those with diabetes. However, research has proven that smoking still places patients at great risk of dental implant failure. It has been demonstrated that implants placed in the upper jaw fail twice as often in those who smoke as compared to those who do not. Because of this, many dentists will not perform the procedure on smokers.
Individuals who smoke or use tobacco products of any kind have a greater risk of infection after surgery, as the body cannot heal as quickly as it should.
If you already quit smoking but suffer from the long-term consequences, including bone degeneration or unhealthy gums, Dr. Carpenter may recommend bone grafting or periodontal treatment prior to your dental implant placement to help improve your outcome.
Schedule Your Consultation
Dental implants can restore the form and function of your smile and greatly improve your oral health. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of dental implants and are committed to avoiding smoking throughout the duration of treatment, contact our office online today or call (847) 251-5004 to schedule your consultation with our doctors.
