A dental implant is a standout among the most well-known treatments for supplanting missing teeth. A dental implant is a lasting answer for restoring your teeth to their normal look and feel. Since dental implants treatment requires oral surgery, unique consideration must be taken to guarantee implant achievement. Smoking is known to be a noteworthy contributor to implant failure.
Smoking and Increased Risk
Dental implants are screw-like titanium posts, surgically placed within in the jawbone. As the bone heals around the implant, a permanent bond is created. After the bone completely heals, a dental restoration can be attached to the implant. Like all surgeries, Implants carry some risks. Smoking can increase the likelihood of complications.
- Slow recovery
Smoking inhibits the body’s ability to heal by reducing the oxygen supply in the blood. Smoking can make it difficult for the jaw bone to heal around the implant, putting the smoker at risk for implant failure. - Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis is a common complication seen among smokers who have undergone implants. Peri-implantitis is a condition in which the area around the implant becomes inflamed and a deep mucosal pocket develops. The mucosal pocket prevents the bone from healing and bonding around the implant, leading to implant failure. - Infection
Smoking can increase the risk of developing an infection around the dental implants following surgery and can make it difficult for the body to fight infection. - Interferes With Medication
Smoking may interfere with medications, like antibiotics, further increasing the risk for infection and implant failure.
What Should Smokers Do?
Because smoking greatly increases the risk for dental implants failure, it is important to stop smoking prior to surgery and during recovery. Dental implants can take more than six weeks to heal, during which time smoking must be avoided. Smoking should also be avoided one to four weeks prior to surgery.
If you would like to learn more about dental implants and find out if you are a candidate, we invite you to contact Prestige Oral Surgery for a consultation at 732- 297-7000.