Dental Implants and Smoking: How does it affect Healing?
Thinking about getting dental implants? They can dramatically improve your smile and boost your confidence. However, if you are a smoker, there’s a critical aspect you should understand: smoking can significantly interfere with the healing process of your dental implants, as well as their longevity.
The Significance of Healing for Dental Implants
When you smoke, your blood vessels constrict. That may not sound like much, but it is especially when your body is working to recover from surgery. Good blood flow is essential for dental implant healing, helping the flow of nutrients and oxygen. Without it, the healing process slows. In the worst case, it can completely stop, and that means that the implant can also fail.
Furthermore, smoking adversely affects the immune system. That makes it more difficult for your body to fight off infections, a major concern after any kind of dental surgery.
What Smoking Does to the Mouth
Your mouth is in contact with more than 7,000 chemicals when you smoke. These substances can:
- Make blood vessels small that supply blood to the gums and bone become narrow
- Slow down healing process, particularly after an operation
- Elevate the risk of infection, which includes gum disease
- Damages bone health, which interferes with the implant’s ability to take hold
Even smoking just a cigarette or two a day can slow the body’s ability to heal. And when it comes to something as delicate as dental implants, that matters.
Dangers of Smoking Following Implants.
Reducing smoking frequency after implant surgery can still lead to complications. Among the greatest risks are:
- Implant failure – the bone may not attach/dissolve to the implant correctly
- Infection near the site of the implant
- Peri-implantitis, a form of gum disease that can eat away at both bone and implant
- More time to heal, which also means more pain and more follow-up visits
What If I Quit Smoking?
Great question. Quitting, even temporarily, can help. Dentists usually advise quitting at least a week prior to surgery and remaining smoke-free over a period of two to three months post-surgery. That window is key for healing.
And honestly, if you were looking for a reason to quit anyway, getting implants could be just the incentive you need.
Can You Still Get Implants if You Smoke?
Yes, but with caution. Smokers are a special group, and we’ve treated a large number of them at Guildford Dental. We’ll complete a comprehensive exam of your gum and bone health before we proceed. Sometimes we may recommend other treatments first, like bone grafting or deep cleaning, to give your implant the optimal conditions for success.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants are no small investment, not just in terms of money, but in terms of your long-term health and happiness. Smoking itself is not an automatic disqualifier, but it does make the road tougher. The good news? With proper care and help, you can still have the smile you desire.
So, if you’re ready to learn more about dental implants or if you have questions regarding smoking and dental implants, then our friendly staff at Guildford Dental Centre is here to help you. Let’s discuss it and figure out the ideal way forward for your smile.
