The Effect of Smoking on Dental Implant

Tobacco smoke has more than just nicotine hidden within its vapors. It contains carbon monoxide, tar, carcinogens like catechol, phenol and cresol. Dental implants are surgically grafted into the upper or lower jaw. The healing process involves the need to grow new bone and gum tissue to integrate with the false teeth.

• Smoking and dental implants shouldn't mix.

Effects

• Smoking causes the blood vessels in the mouth to constrict. When blood vessels constrict, they do not deliver nutrients to the gums and bone very quickly, which slows the healing process after dental implant surgery.

Dangers

• Dental implants may fail if the bones and gums do not receive enough nutrients to bond with the false teeth. Continued smoking during the healing process may cause additional bone loss.

Expert Insight

• According to Dr. Preston D. Miller, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, smoking is the leading cause of periodontal disease, which is the main instigator for tooth and bone loss. The same effects that can lead to disease development can interfere with healing after implant surgery.

Prevention/Solution

• Those who quit smoking have a brighter outlook for healthy teeth and gums, having a much lower risk of developing periodontal disease, which may require false teeth or dental implant surgery.

Considerations

• Consider all of the risks to oral health that smoking causes, like shifting teeth, oral cancer, mouth bores (holes in the mouth), tooth decay and increased plaque build-up.