Smoking and Dental Failure
Dental implants are small posts implanted into the mouth to act as the root of a tooth. An abutment connects the tooth, and the root is placed on top or into the dental implant to connect everything to the new replacement tooth. Those who need dental implants and smoke in conjunction may not be setting their new implants up for success. Smoking with dental implants can cause dental failure, gum disease, oral health issues…oh my!
How Smoking Affects Dental Implants
Everyone knows that smoking is terrible for an individual’s overall health. Smoking can affect every aspect of the body, including the mouth. When a patient’s oral health is compromised by smoking, dental implants inside the mouth can be affected. Dental implants can be most affected by smoking during the beginning stages of the implant’s life once inside the mouth. Oral surgeons, including Dr. Pollock at Rockwall Oral Surgery, will discuss the effects and complications of smoking with dental implants. We recommend that the patient not smoke during the entire process of having dental implants.
In general, there are a few reasons that a patient’s dental implants may fail. These reasons include patients’ health, oral habits, as well as smoking habits. In a study done by the Journal of International Society of Preventative and Community Dentistry, smoking causes a failure rate of 6.5% to 20% compared to those with dental implants which do not smoke. The cause of this failure may be due to tobacco and nicotine, which constrict the blood vessels in a patient’s gums. If the blood isn’t getting to the gums, the tissues are harder to be kept alive.
Inquire About Keeping Dental Implants Healthy
Are you an avid smoker who wants to maintain the health of your mouth and dental implants? Look no further than our team of professionals at Rockwall Oral Surgery. We are ready to assist all dental needs. For more information about dental implants and oral health, we suggest individuals contact us. To book an appointment with Dr. Pollock, please give our office a call at (469) 264-8921 or via email at info@dentalimplantsurgery.com. We look forward to consulting your needs and helping patients maintain beautiful and healthy smiles.
