If you are missing one or more teeth, you may wish to get dental implants to fill the gaps in your smile and restore your oral function. Indeed, dental implants are a worthy goal! However, your care team will first need to make sure you are a good candidate for them. They will ask for details about your medical history, and they should know if you smoke. Will smoking bar you from getting dental implants, or can you still move forward with tooth replacement despite this habit? Continue reading below to find out.
How Smoking Affects Dental Implants
Oral surgeons strongly encourage patients to quit smoking before they receive dental implants. That is because the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products can significantly increase the risk of dental implant failure and other complications.
When you smoke, the blood flow in your mouth is restricted, which slows down your body’s ability to heal the tissues surrounding your dental implants after the placement surgery. This reduced circulation makes it more difficult for your jawbone to fuse with the implants.
Even if your implants are able to bond successfully with your bone, smoking is still a danger. It can greatly increase the risk of dry mouth, gum disease, and oral infections, all of which could eventually lead to dental implant failure.
Practical Steps to Take if You Want Dental Implants
If you are ready to quit smoking, talk to your primary care physician or another qualified medical professional to learn about resources that could help. Cessation support groups and certain medications have already helped many patients, and they may help you as well!
If you choose not to quit, that does not automatically mean you cannot receive dental implants. However, you will still need to make some changes to your routine.
For example, you may need to abstain from cigarettes during the weeks before and after your surgery; some patients use nicotine patches to help them get through this time. After your surgery, you should be extra-diligent about monitoring your oral health and looking for signs that something is amiss with your implants. Any indications of infection, such as redness, pus, or swelling, should be addressed by a dental professional as soon as possible.
Smoking is not good for dental implants, but even if you engage in this habit, it is still worth your time to talk to an oral surgeon about your tooth replacement options.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Steve Koo is a board-certified oral surgeon with nearly 20 years of experience in his field. Along with Drs. William Shepard and Talal Beidas, he and our team provide top-quality dental implant care to the Cypress community. We often handle complex cases. To learn more about us or to request a consultation, contact our office at 713-364-9903.