Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth-replacement options. They are a strong, long-lasting, and natural solution to rebuilding your smile. By using biocompatible titanium steel posts, they replace your pearly whites from root to crown and integrate easily into your jawbone. However, your oral health needs to be stable in order to get dental implants as a tooth loss solution. Your daily habits, such as smoking, can affect the state of your oral health. Here’s what to know about dental implants and being a smoker.
How Smoking Can Interfere with Dental Implants
Years of research have revealed how smoking is not only detrimental to your overall well-being but your oral health too. These are some common ways it can negatively impact your mouth:
- Smoking affects the saliva glands and dries out the mouth, which makes it easier for bacteria to grow and cause gum disease. Eventually, this can even cause the actual loss of gum tissue.
- Smoking restricts the flow of blood in the gums, which reduces their ability to heal after being injured or undergoing surgery.
These oral health issues caused by using cigarettes on a regular basis can become serious obstacles to dental implant placement. Implants rely on a natural process called osseointegration, which allows them to seamlessly fuse with the jawbone. This holds them securely in place so that a restoration can be attached later. However, if the mouth’s healing processes are compromised, your dental implants may not be able to integrate properly, resulting in implant failure. Additionally, if gum disease occurs, then the tissues holding the implants in place could weaken and break down. This can cause the posts to come loose, causing them to have to be removed.
Can You Smoke After Recovering from Dental Implant Surgery?
While dental implants are very long-lasting, they can still fail even after you’ve fully healed from the procedure in certain circumstances. Using tobacco products increases the rate of bone loss and wreaks havoc on your soft oral tissues. For this reason, people who smoke are twice as likely to experience dental implant failure compared to non-smokers.
Lastly, as stated above, these products contain toxins that can interrupt the healing process. This can be incredibly problematic after undergoing dental implant surgery. Studies have also found that patients who are stressed about not being able to smoke are also left more susceptible to infection. To avoid any complications with your restored smile, it is best to take the steps to bid farewell to this habit.
Dental implants are an amazing option to return to a full set of pearly whites. If you’re interested in dental implants, it’s important to consider your oral health habits so they can be successful. With the support of your loved ones and help from your dentist, you can find the resources and guidance you need to kick smoking to the curb for good!
About the Practice
918 Dentist of Glenpool is eager to keep your smile whole and healthy through every season of your life. Through the expertise of its two dentists, they offer a full range of comprehensive services, including dental implants. With the entire implant process conducted under one roof, they can assist you every step of the way to your complete smile. To schedule an appointment, contact them through their website or call (918) 216-1000.