Patients who smoke can still opt for dental implants; however, they are more likely to fail due to the effects of smoking. If you currently smoke and you would like to restore your missing teeth with dental implants, then there are some considerations to be aware of. Dental implants do not agree with nicotine and they are likely to have a reduced lifecycle or even be more vulnerable to failure. These possibilities are a risk for smokers and as such, it is highly recommended that patients stop smoking completely in advance of their implant surgery.
At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we have been installing dental implants in Harley Street for many years and our main concern is the comfort and wellbeing of our patients. While we aim to try and find a solution to implant-related problems, we urge our patients who smoke and want to have dental implants, to quit. Smoking is not only bad for our overall health, but also causes reduced blood flow that can affect the healing times of the dental implants.
A closer look at the effects of smoking on dental implants
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically fixed into the jawbone, where they replace missing tooth roots. Titanium is compatible with the human body and that’s why dental implants fuse with the jawbone, in a process known as ‘osseointegration’. Smoking during this time can greatly increase the likelihood of infection and lead to implant failure.
The first few weeks following implant surgery are arguably the most important, because they signal the beginning of this process and the bone starts to fuse with the implant. Following on from this, the dental implants are still at an increased risk of smoking.
Next steps
If you are a smoker that requires dental implants in Harley Street, give us a call and we will schedule an appointment with one of our dentists. We would recommend giving up smoking altogether at least three months before the surgery; however if this is not possible, we recommend to stop smoking at least a week before surgery and at least two weeks after.