These days, most people are aware of the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use on the body. We know that smoking increases a person’s risk of stroke, heart disease, cancer, and other health conditions. But smoking can also take a toll on your oral health.
If your teeth and gums have been impacted by smoking, dental implants may be the ideal solution. Heralded as the gold standard in restorative dental treatments, implants can improve the health, functioning, and aesthetics of your smile. Keep reading to find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.
The impact of smoking
How smoking impacts your oral health
Smoking wreaks havoc on your gums, teeth, and other oral tissues over time. In fact, both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco use increase your risk of developing just about every oral health problem, including:
- Gum disease
- Oral cancers
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Jawbone loss
- Chronic bad breath
- Tooth discoloration
- Smoker’s keratosis (white patches on the gums, cheeks, and tongue)
- Poor bite function
Smoking also impairs the mouth’s natural healing process by reducing oxygen in the bloodstream. This means that a smoker will be far more susceptible to oral infection and experience a longer and more painful recovery after any dental treatment.
How smoking impacts your overall health
Among other concerns, smoking increases your risk of the following:
- Infertility in both men and women
- Abnormal prenatal development
- Poor bone health
- Vision issues
- Immune dysfunction
- Heart disease
- Lung cancer
- Other cancers
- Cardiovascular disease
- Respiratory disease
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
You can learn more about the health benefits of quitting on the official CDC website.
Are smokers candidates for dental implants?
Smokers can be candidates for dental implants. In fact, a dental implant procedure is one of the best ways to restore oral health and appearance after a lifetime of smoking-related dental problems. As mentioned previously, smoking can contribute to issues such as gum disease and bone loss. Healthy gums and strong bones are necessary to be a good candidate for dental implants.
Fortunately, these issues can be addressed prior to your treatment. Smart Arches can use bone grafting technology to restore your bone density before placing dental implants.
It’s important to understand that continuing to smoke after your treatment can increase the risk of dental implant failure. So, working toward quitting is essential to protecting your long-term oral health.
How dental implants restore oral health after smoking
Modern dental implant treatment can transform a smile that has been destroyed by smoking over many years. Getting implants can improve your life in a variety of ways. Here are just a few of the benefits:
- Better oral health
- Reduced risk of systemic diseases
- Improved confidence
- Lower risk of bruxism and jaw disorders like TMJ
- Long-lasting results
- Improved speech issues
- A beautiful, radiant smile
Our Smart Arches implant specialists are skilled oral surgeons with a passion for improving patients’ lives, one smile at a time! Whether you need just one or two implants or want to replace an entire row of teeth, we can restore your oral health.
How smoking impacts dental implant success
Continuing to smoke after your treatment can increase your risk of implant failure by over 140% compared to non-smokers. But why?
During a dental implant procedure, a small post is placed in the gums and jawbone to set the stage for a tooth replacement. Once the implant is secure, it goes through a process called osseointegration, in which the implant actually fuses with the jawbone. Because smoking reduces oxygen flow to the gums, the osseointegration process is severely damaged.
Smoking also damages the immune system, making the oral tissues more vulnerable to harmful bacteria, which can lead to a severe infection surrounding the implant known as peri-implantitis.
Rejuvenate your smile and improve your oral health and well-being!
At Smart Arches, we’re on a mission to ensure every patient has access to compassionate, high-quality restorative dental treatment. If your smile has been damaged over time by smoking and tobacco use or another cause such as natural aging or injury, we’re here to help. Our incredible oral surgeons can restore even the most damaged smile.
See patient transformations in our smile gallery and book your FREE dental implant consultation today!
