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Smoking and Dental Implants: The Effects Smokers should Know

Dental implants and smoking don’t go hand in hand. Indeed, people who smoke and who prefer to get dental implants are likely to be at a higher risk of infection after oral surgery. They can have a delayed healing process or experience impossible healing.

Smoking has a lot of negative effects on health. Because of this, oral surgeon and dental experts will share crucial information on the risks associated with smoking and dental implants. This is something you should learn alongside implant dentaire prix if you are considering getting an implant. Keep reading to learn more about the impact of smoking on dental implant surgery:

How Smoking Affects Dental Implants

  • Smoking makes a person a poor candidate for implants. People who smoke are not good candidates for dental implants. Cigarettes have nicotine and other by-products that can limit the flow of blood to other areas of the mouth. This results in the mouth healing slowly and the immune system weakening, impacting the success rate of a dental implant. Moreover, smoking damages salivary glands in the mouth which results in dry mouth. As a result, the person will more at risk of periodontal disease which can also affect the success of the implant.
  • Increases the chances of implant failure. Some studies show that smokers have more than 10% dental implant failure while non-smokers have 1.4% failure rate. This might be because of greater bone loss in patients who smoke or because the patient fails to maintain osseointegration which is the process in which the implant and bone fuse together. These reasons can both result in implant failure.

Should you Get Implants when you Smoke?

This is a personal decision but quitting smoking is necessary for the health of the entire body including the teeth, jaws, and gums. If you are a smoker and you decide to have dental implants, you must ensure you follow care recommendations closely. These include learning proper brushing and flossing techniques and visiting a dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups.

Moreover, you must not smoke for two weeks before the implant surgery. This will prepare your body for anaesthesia and reduce the risk of complications. Nicotine tends to increase the heart rate and blood pressure as well as makes it harder for the heart and lungs to get the oxygen they need. Because of this, it is best to avoid smoking before dental surgery. Keep in mind that the success of your surgery depends on how well the implant fuses with the jawbone. Although your mouth is healing, you need to avoid smoking to ensure the success of this process.

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