Smoking can harm the success of dental implants, compromise your immune system, and make you vulnerable to infections. Weeks before dental implant installation, ensure you avoid smoking. During the healing process, you should also refrain from smoking practices. Here are some ways in which smoking can affect dental implant success:
Delayed healing
Smoking can delay the healing process after dental implant surgery. Cigarette nicotine reduces blood flow and oxygen to the gums, slowing recovery and increasing the risk of infection. Quitting smoking before and after the surgery increases the success rate and ensures you have a better chance of implant fusing with your bone.
Increased risk of implant failure
Smoking can also increase the risk of implant failure. Studies have shown that smokers have a higher implant failure rate than non-smokers. This is because smoking can affect bone density and compromise the integration of the implant with the jawbone. The implant will refuse to fuse with your bone and cause other issues such as pain and discomfort.
Gum disease
Smoking can also increase the risk of gum disease, affecting dental implants' long-term success. Gum disease can cause the gums to recede and the bone to deteriorate, leading to implant failure.
Compromised immune system
Smoking can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infection after implant surgery. The toxins in cigarettes puts you at risk. You will have a weaker immune system which means a delayed healing process. Chronic smokers may experience too much bleeding during the procedure.
Smoking can significantly increase the risk of complications and implant failure in dental implant surgery. Therefore, it is important for individuals who smoke to quit smoking before dental implant surgery to maximize their chances of success. Additionally, dental professionals may recommend postponing implant surgery until the patient has quit smoking.
Smoking can harm the success of dental implants, compromise your immune system, and make you vulnerable to infections. Weeks before dental implant installation, ensure you avoid smoking. During the healing process, you should also refrain from smoking practices. Here are some ways in which smoking can affect dental implant success: