Smoking Cessation: Should I Quit for Dental Implants?

You probably already have heard that smoking is bad for your health, and your mouth is no exception. Tobacco products like chewing dip, cigarettes, and vapes contain nicotine, which is a vasoconstrictor. It hinders your blood oxygen levels and flow so that your body is unable to deliver essential nutrients and infection-fighting cells to your teeth and gums. This increases the risk of dental problems like cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer.

However, many patients want to know whether they can still smoke with dental implants. Continue reading to learn why quitting this toxic habit is a better idea!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the only replacement teeth that include a titanium rod surgically placed in your jawbone for added strength and security. Once placed, your jaw produces new bone growth every time you bite down or chew. Eventually, enough new material is created to fully envelop and fuse with the metal pole in a process called osseointegration.

When you’ve healed sufficiently, your dentist can then place an appropriate prosthetic, like a dental crown, over the implant to fill in the gap in your grin. These are typically made from resilient, tooth-colored materials like porcelain, which can be customized to match the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth for seamless results.

How Does Smoking Affect Dental Health?

Did you know that according to the CDC, roughly 16 million people in the United States develop some form of disease caused by smoking? This pastime is scientifically proven to contribute to various health conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, and a low birth rate.

It’s also known to speed up the process of bone degeneration that happens with tooth loss, increasing the likelihood of more falling out. Your roots stimulate new cell growth every time you bite down or chew, which keeps your jawbone active and healthy. Unfortunately, you can lose up to 25% of the surrounding material within the first year after a tooth goes missing. Dental implants are the only restorations that prevent this process.

How Does Smoking Impact Dental Implants?

Smoking can affect your prosthetics in multiple ways. For instance, it suppresses your immune system, making recovery more difficult. You’re more likely to develop a form of gum disease called peri-implantitis, which erodes the tissues surrounding your implant and is the leading cause of failure. Also, your mouth must form a blood clot over the surgical site for your new tooth to heal correctly. Inhaling on a cigarette or vape can damage or dislodge it, elongating your recovery period.

Some patients think they can quit smoking long enough to heal and then resume their habit, but this behavior is known to hurt your restoration even 10 years after its initial placement.

If you’re a regular smoker who has struggled to quit, getting dental implants might just be the motivation you need!

Meet the Author

Dr. Jeremy Rudd is passionate about helping you and your family build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry and continues to hone his skills by participating in several prestigious organizations, including the American Dental Association. He has the training and technology required to perform your implant procedure and provide your restoration in the office, so there’s no need to worry about finding an additional oral surgeon. If you need to replace missing teeth, you can request an appointment on the website or call (817) 473-6857.