If you’re missing one or more of your teeth, dental implants are often considered the best long-term solution for restoring your smile and quality of life. After all, they look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth! But while dental implants have an excellent success rate of over 95% in most cases, one important factor can greatly reduce your chances of success: smoking. Here’s what you need to know and why, if you’re considering implants, it’s best to kick your smoking habit for good.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into your jawbone in the spaces where teeth were lost, where they take on the role of artificial tooth roots. Once the implant fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration, it can provide a strong foundation for a custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture.
Some of the biggest advantages that dental implants have to offer include:
- Implants look and feel natural, and no one except for you and your dentist will even know you’ve had your teeth restored. They also restore most of your original biting power.
- With proper care, dental implants can last for decades or even a lifetime—and taking care of them is as easy as brushing and flossing every day, in addition to routine preventive dental care.
- Implants are the only form of tooth replacement capable of stimulating the jawbone and preventing the bone loss that often follows tooth loss.
How Will Smoking Affect the Success of Dental Implants?
While implants are highly successful for most patients, smoking significantly increases the risk of complications; in fact, nicotine and other chemicals found in tobacco can interfere with nearly every stage of the healing process. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which limits oxygen and nutrient delivery to the surgical site, thereby slowing down the healing process and increasing the risk of infection.
Also, the success of an implant depends on strong bone integration. Smoking disrupts osseointegration, leading to weaker overall support for the implant. Smokers also have a much higher rate of post-surgical infection and implant failure compared to non-smokers. Plus, smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease, which can further damage the tissues that support both natural teeth and implants.
This all goes to say that smoking and receiving dental implants don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. However, it is still possible for smokers to get dental implants, but with some caution. Many dentists suggest quitting the habit for several months before and after their surgery to allow proper healing. Even cutting back can make a significant difference, but kicking the habit entirely is the only way to eliminate the risks caused by the habit.
If you’re thinking about dental implants but unsure about how smoking will impact your eligibility, speak with your dentist openly about your habits and your goals. They’ll work with you to create a personalized plan in support of your oral health that leaves you smiling proudly!
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Scott Schmidhauser, our team here at Miles of Smiles has proudly served the needs of patients in Londonderry and the surrounding communities for several years, offering a wide range of services, including dental implants placed in-house. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our Londonderry office to schedule an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (603) 437-8204.