In short: Smoking slows healing and raises implant failure risk. Learn how long to wait after surgery and how to care for implants if you smoke.
- Smokers have a considerably greater implant failure rate than nonsmokers, with some studies indicating that it is twice as high.
- Smokers who get implants are considerably more likely to get a bacterial infection.
- Smoking reduces the success rate of bone grafts, which are occasionally necessary for a patient to obtain dental implants.
- Smokers have a substantially higher incidence of peri-implantitis after implant placement.
- Nicotine (found in cigarette smoke) inhibits blood flow to soft tissues, making it more difficult for the mouth to recover correctly.
- Smoke in the mouth harms the salivary glands, raises the risk of gum disease (which leads to tooth loss), and accelerates bone loss in the jaw.
What is the effect of smoking on dental implants?
Smoking is one of the leading causes of tooth loss and may have led to your need for dental implants. Unfortunately, it also severely limits healing. Nicotine in cigarette smoke constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow and oxygen to soft tissues and impairing the immune response. This inhibits the healing process and affects the long-term health of the gums and bones. In addition, smoking inhibits osseointegration and increases the likelihood that implants will not heal properly after placement, making them more likely to fail over time.
The smoke you inhale has the potential to burn the tissues in your mouth. This thickens skin cells over time, resulting in keratoses (scaly patches of skin) that can injure or clog salivary glands. Saliva is required to wash away plaque and acid, both of which can harm the gums and bone that support your implants. A lack of saliva can also cause a dry mouth, which can encourage the growth of microbes.
How long should I wait to smoke after getting dental implants?
Your dentist will offer you information on how to care for your mouth immediately following treatment. It is critical to avoid smoking for as long as possible. It is best not to smoke for at least three months after the implants have been placed to allow for healing and early osseointegration. Waiting this long before smoking will be challenging for some individuals, so you should discuss and agree on timeframes with your dentist.
You must avoid cleaning your mouth vigorously and touching the surgical site with your tongue or fingers in the days following implant placement. This may result in bleeding if the blood clot is dislodged. In addition, avoid spitting, sucking on straws, or smoking. These can disrupt the blood clot and slow the healing process.
How to Care for Your Dental Implants If You Smoke?
If you have dental implants and continue smoking, you will need to be more careful about your oral health and implant maintenance. Smoking has been shown to hasten the progression of gum disease. Smokers may also be more prone to tooth plaque.
Neglected implants accumulate plaque and tartar and are susceptible to bacterial infection, leading to gum disease. If left untreated, this can progress to peri-implantitis, similar to periodontal disease around natural teeth. Soreness, bleeding, widespread pain, and eventual bone loss around the implants are all possible consequences of this condition. However, healthy surrounding tissues support both natural teeth and dental implants.
It would help if you cleaned around each implant at least twice a day. First, brush all implant tooth or teeth surfaces that you can reach with a standard toothbrush, either manual or electric. Next, you can use floss, an interproximal brush, and/or an oral irrigator device to clean places that are difficult to reach.
The nicotine and tar in tobacco cause tooth discoloration, which is one of the side effects of smoking. Patients who smoke and have dental implants should avoid highly abrasive toothpastes. Baking soda, stain removers, and abrasive toothpastes can cause the acrylic to wear and remove the glaze on porcelain.
Regular check-ups and visits to the hygienist are critical to the long-term health of your dental implants. Therefore, your dentist may want to see you more frequently in the first few months after your implants have been placed. After that, you may be referred to a dental hygienist for additional treatment, thorough cleaning, and keeping a closer eye on the health of your mouth.
Never let the price keep you from getting the same day dental implants in Memphis, TN!
Request an initial consultation with Dr. Adatrow to learn more about what you need and how much it will cost. Our doctors and staff will collaborate to create a personalized treatment plan for you and will provide all financing options to help you obtain the smile you deserve. In addition, we will ensure that we offer you top-notch treatment, making dental implants low cost compared with the long-term benefits.
Moreover, Dr. Adatrow has more than 30 years of experience in placing dental implants, with a success rate of over 97%, and can provide you with the best possible dental treatment. He is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and Periodontist in Hernando, MS region. Please get in touch with our office for your consultation now!
Smoking: talk to a specialist
Every mouth is different, so the right answer on smoking depends on your teeth, gums and health history. Our board-certified specialists in Southaven, MS, near Memphis, can examine you, explain your options and give you a clear written plan. Call (662) 655-4868 or book a consultation.