You need dental implants and you smoke. Maybe you’ve been smoking for years, or maybe it’s just something you do to deal with stress. Either way, you’re probably wondering if smoking will mess up your chances of getting good dental implant results.
The short answer is, yes, smoking does affect dental implants. It’s not going to make them impossible, but it does make things harder. If you want to restore dental implants in Houston, you need to know what you’re facing.
The Numbers Don’t Lie About Smoking and Implants
Research shows that implants placed in smokers have a 140.2% higher risk of failure than implants placed in non-smokers. That’s not a small difference. It means that if you smoke, your implants are more than twice as likely to fail.
The study looked at hundreds of research papers on this topic. They tracked over 35,511 implants in smokers and more than 114,597 implants in non-smokers. The results were clear. Smoking puts your implants at serious risk.
This doesn’t mean you can’t get implants if you smoke. Plenty of smokers in Houston get implants. With the right care, their implants last more than they do in case of patients who smoke. But you need to go into this with your eyes open.
Why Smoking Hurts Your Implant Success
When you get dental implants, the metal post needs to bond with your jawbone. Doctors call this osseointegration. Your bone has to grow around the implant and hold it tight. This process takes several months.
Smoking messes with this process in multiple ways.
1. Your Bones Get Weaker
Cigarette smoke changes how your bones work. It makes your bones thinner and more fragile. The smoke affects how your body absorbs calcium, which your bones need to stay strong.
When you smoke, your body produces more stress hormones. These hormones tell your bones to break down faster than they rebuild. That’s the opposite of what you need when you’re trying to get an implant to stick.
2. Your Blood Flow Gets Cut Off
Implants need good blood flow to heal properly. Your blood brings oxygen and nutrients to the area where the implant sits. It also carries away waste and helps fight infection.
Smoking restricts your blood vessels. Less blood gets to your gums and jawbone. Without enough blood flow, your implant can’t heal the way it should. The bone won’t grow around the implant as well, and you’re more likely to get an infection.
3. Your Body Can’t Heal Right
Healing after implant surgery takes time. Your body needs to repair the surgical site and build new bone around the implant.
Smoking slows down all of this. It interferes with the cells that build new bone. It reduces the chemicals your body uses to grow new blood vessels. Everything just works slower and less effectively.
What Smoking Means When You Restore Dental Implants in Houston
If you’re looking to restore dental implants, your dentist in Houston will probably talk to you about smoking. They’re not trying to lecture you or make you feel bad. They just want you to understand the risks.
Some dentists won’t place implants in heavy smokers at all. Others will do it but want you to quit smoking first, at least for a few weeks before and after surgery.
Even if you don’t quit completely, cutting back helps. The fewer cigarettes you smoke, the better your chances. Every cigarette you don’t smoke gives your body a better shot at healing.
The Failure Rates Are Higher in Both Jaws
You might wonder if smoking affects implants more in your upper jaw or lower jaw. The same research we mentioned above shows it affects both jaws about the same.
Your upper jaw naturally has softer bone than your lower jaw. But smoking is so bad for implants that it overpowers any advantage your lower jaw might have. The failure rate goes up significantly in both places when you smoke.
Bone Loss Happens Faster When You Smoke
Even if your implant doesn’t fail completely, smoking can cause problems over time. Smokers tend to lose more bone around their implants than non-smokers do.
On average, smokers lose about 0.58 millimeters more bone around their implants than non-smokers. That might not sound like much, but it adds up over the years.
When you lose bone around an implant, the implant becomes less stable. Your gums might pull back, exposing parts of the implant. You’re more likely to get infections around the implant.
This kind of problem is called peri-implantitis. It’s like gum disease, but it happens around implants instead of natural teeth. Smokers get peri-implantitis more often than non-smokers.
Your Gums Won’t Look as Healthy
Smoking affects how your gums look and feel around implants. Smokers usually have deeper pockets around their implants. They bleed more when the dentist checks them. Their gums look more inflamed.
The Best Time to Quit Smoking Is Before Dental Implant Surgery
If you’re going to quit smoking, the best time is before you get your implants placed. Ideally, you’d quit at least a few weeks before surgery.
Quitting gives your body time to start healing before the surgery even happens. Your blood flow improves. Your immune system gets stronger. Your bones start getting healthier.
After surgery, try to stay quit for at least a few months. This gives your implant the best chance to bond with your bone. Once the implant has healed and integrated, your risk goes down.
Some people quit just for the surgery and then start smoking again later. That’s better than nothing, but it’s not great. Your implants will still be at higher risk for problems down the road.
The Bottom Line on Smoking and Implants
Smoking makes dental implant failure more likely. It causes more bone loss around implants. It leads to more gum problems and infections. These are facts backed up by lots of research.
If you can quit, quit. If you can’t quit completely, cut back as much as you can. Take excellent care of your implants. See your dentist regularly for checkups.
When you’re ready to restore dental implants in Houston, connect with All Stars Dental to talk to a dentist who understands the risks and will work with you honestly. Don’t hide your smoking from them. Give yourself the best chance at success by being upfront and following their advice.
Your implants can work even if you smoke. They just need extra care and attention to make it happen.
FAQs
Should I quit smoking before getting dental implants?
Yes, quitting at least a few weeks before surgery significantly improves your success rate. If you can’t quit permanently, try to stop for several weeks before and after the procedure.
How long after implant surgery can I start smoking again?
Ideally, you should wait at least 2-3 months after surgery before smoking again. This gives your implant time to bond with your bone. The longer you wait, the better your chances of success.
Will my dentist place implants if I smoke?
Some dentists will place implants in smokers, while others won’t. Policies vary by practice. Be honest about your smoking habits so your dentist can make an informed decision about your treatment.
Can I use e-cigarettes or vaping instead of regular cigarettes?
E-cigarettes and vaping still contain nicotine and other chemicals that can affect healing. While there’s less research on vaping and implants specifically, it’s best to avoid all nicotine products during the healing period.