Smoking and dental implants: What are the risks?
Explore how smoking can negatively impact the success of dental implant treatment and tips for a successful outcome.
If you want a healthy smile, you have to help keep it healthy. Dental implant restorations are a long-term solution for missing teeth, designed to look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. But while dental implant treatment has a very high success rate, behaviors like smoking may increase the risk of complications. Smoking affects healing, increases the chance of infection, and may even lead to implant failure. Learn about the impact of smoking on dental implants, and how you can protect your implant restoration for a healthy smile.
Take your first step towards investing in a healthy and happy smile and schedule a free consultation at a ClearChoice Dental Implant Center today.
How smoking affects oral health
Smoking can have a significant impact on your teeth, gums, and oral health. Here are some ways smoking impacts your oral condition:
Increases the risk of gum disease: Smokers have a higher risk of gum disease compared to non-smokers. Smoking supports plaque build-up on the teeth, which can cause gum disease. Smoking also weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off gum infections.
Slows healing: Smoking can delay recovery after dental procedures.
Causes tooth discoloration: The nicotine and tar in cigarettes can stain both prosthetic and natural teeth, leading to yellowing and stubborn discoloration over time.
Contributes to bad breath: Smoking can cause dry mouth and create the right environment for bacteria to thrive. This may lead to persistent bad breath.
Increases the risk of oral cancer: Long-term tobacco use is one of the biggest risk factors for oral cancer.
Risks of smoking with dental implants
Smoking can impact your dental implants in more ways than one. From slowing down recovery to increasing the risk of infection, here's what to know about the risks of smoking after dental implant surgery:
Slower recovery
Smoking can delay the healing process after dental implant surgery. Research shows that nicotine constricts the blood vessels and restricts blood circulation to healing gum and bone tissues. Reduced blood flow slows down your body's natural repair and regeneration process required for optimal healing around the implant. This makes it harder for your gums and jawbone to recover properly.
Increased risk of infection
Smoking weakens the immune system, which can make it harder for your body to fight off infections. As a result, smokers face an increased risk of developing infections around the implant site during the healing phase.
Accelerates bone loss
According to a study¹, smoking has been found to accelerate the rate of bone loss around dental implants by 0.16mm per year. While this may seem to be a small amount, over time, it can lead to the gradual loosening or failure of implants.
¹Sources: The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants
Increased risk of dental implant failure
Smoking can cause both early and long-term implant failure:
Early-stage failure: Smoking can cause or worsen the infection and slow down the healing process of implants. Both these factors can result in implant failure.
Long-term implant failure: Even when implants heal successfully, smoking is linked to bone loss. Gradual loss of jawbone density over time may cause implants to become unstable many years after surgery.
Increased risk of peri-implantitis
Peri-implantitis is a serious condition where the gum and bone tissues around the implant become inflamed and infected, often leading to bone loss and implant instability. The signs of peri-implantitis are red and tender gums, bleeding, pain, or even a loose implant. Smoking can increase the risk of peri-implantitis, which may lead to implant failure.
Tips to increase the chances of successful dental implant procedure
Proper post-surgical care and good oral hygiene are key. If you are a smoker, you can increase the success of your dental implant procedure with these steps:
Avoid smoking
Quitting smoking before and after your procedure can improve healing and reduce the risk of complications after dental implant surgery. Giving up cigarettes, tobacco, and vapes can benefit your oral and general health.
Maintain good oral hygiene
Excellent oral hygiene is the best way to keep your dental implant restoration (and natural teeth) looking their best. Make sure to follow all your dentist's oral hygiene instructions. Brush twice daily, floss regularly, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your implants and gums in top shape. Use water flossers daily to remove food debris and plaque from the junction of the implant and the teeth.
Visit the dentist regularly
Routine check-ups and professional cleanings allow your dentist to monitor your implants, catch potential issues early, and help your new smile stay strong for years to come.
Tips to quit smoking
Quitting smoking can help promote good overall health and also help improve the chances of a successful dental implant procedure. Here are some tips that may be helpful to quit smoking:
Join a support group: Connecting with others on the same journey can help you stay motivated and learn from others who have successfully quit.
Use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Options like nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges can help ease cravings.
Try prescription medications: Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. They may recommend medications to help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Stay active: Exercise can help manage weight gain after smoking and distract you from cravings.
Are you a smoker looking to get dental implants?
If you are a smoker, it’s important that you stop smoking before dental implant surgery and throughout recovery to reduce the risks and help increase the chances of success of your dental implant surgery. That said, being a smoker doesn't mean you can't get dental implants; but be advised that if you continue to smoke, you might jeopardize your treatment outcomes. Choosing dental implants is a significant decision, Visit your nearest ClearChoice Dental Implant Center to learn more about your dental implant treatment options.
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Smoking and dental implants FAQS
Is there a higher failure rate of dental implants for smokers?
Yes, smokers have a higher risk of implant failure compared to non-smokers. Research suggests that the odds of having a failed implant as a smoker is 2.4 times greater than for a non-smoker. A statistical analysis of 257 implant failure studies revealed 6.4 % implant failures in smokers and 3.4% of non-smokers². Smoking causes restricted blood flow, slow healing and disrupts long-term bone remodeling, and increases the risk of peri-implantitis. All of which can lead to potential implant failure.
²National Institutes of Health - Smoking and Dental Implants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
How long do I need to quit smoking before getting dental implants?
Stopping smoking for a time prior to surgery can minimize the restriction of blood vessels from nicotine that will improve wound healing. In addition, other chemical substances are created during smoking that impair wound healing. Besides immediate wound healing, the timeline for the bone to repair, reproduce and mineralize to normal density around the implants should also be considered. This bone healing occurs in about 2 months and is called osseointegration of the implants. Compromising optimal bone formation during osseointegration compromises smokers’ implants on day one. Due to wound healing and osseointegration timelines, it has been recommended to quit smoking at least one week prior to implant surgery and for 2 months after implant placement³. Consult a ClearChoice doctor for a personalized timeframe.
³National Institutes of Health – Smoking and dental implants
Is light smoking after a dental implant procedure safe?
There's no proven safe amount of smoking; any amount will likely harm your general health, oral health and dental implants. Even light smoking can increase your risk of peri-implantitis and put you at risk for implant failure. It's best to discuss and understand the impact and risks of smoking with your ClearChoice doctor who can offer tips and advice based on your oral health and medical history.