Smoking is a habit that can have serious consequences for your dental health, especially when it comes to dental implants. Research has shown that smoking is a significant risk factor for implant failure, as it can impair the healing process and increase the risk of infection. Failure rate of implants is more in smokers compared to nonsmokers and is directly proportional to tobacco use.
Nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco smoke can reduce blood flow to the gums and bone tissue, which are essential for successful implant integration. This means that smokers may experience more bone loss around their implants, leading to instability and eventual failure. In smokers, marginal bone loss and incidence of peri-implantitis is more after implant placement. In addition, it is significantly greater marginal bone loss around implants in heavy smokers (>14 cigarettes per day) than in those with low cigarette consumption (<14 cigarettes per day).Implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses of smokers fail two times more compared to that in nonsmokers.
However, there is good news. Quitting smoking before undergoing dental implant surgery can improve the chances of success and reduce complications. To increase implant survival in smokers, it is advised to stop the habit 1 week prior to and up to 2 months after implant placement. Patients who continue to smoke after receiving dental implants should be aware of the increased risk of complications and work closely with their dentist to maintain good oral hygiene and monitor their implant health.
In conclusion, if you are considering dental implants or have already received them, it's important to quit smoking or avoid starting altogether. Your dentist can provide you with resources and support to help you quit smoking and improve your chances of successful implant integration. Remember, taking care of your oral health is an investment in your overall well-being!
Source:
J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2012 Jul-Dec; 2(2): 38–41. Smoking and dental implants
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