Smoking Plays Havoc With Your Oral Health Too
You may wonder why when you enquire about a dental implant in Richmond that one of the first questions asked is do you smoke? The reason is that although most smokers understand only too well that smoking is bad for the heart and lungs, many don’t know that it’s bad for the oral area. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look as some of the risks associated with smoking from a dental perspective.
Oral cancer
Probably the most serious oral health risk associated with smoking is oral cancer. While it is treatable the fact is that around 2,100 people in the UK die of it each year. That’s around 6 people per day! When you do smoke it’s especially important to visit your dentist regularly so that they can alert you to any dental issues quickly and deal with any problems should they arise.
Gum disease
It’s estimated that over 90% of smokers suffer from gingivitis. This is in effect the early stages of gum disease. It’s believed that substances found in tobacco smoke interfere with the normal function of the gum tissue cells, making a smoker more susceptible to infections and gum problems. Although gingivitis can easily be treated, it is and will be an ongoing issue for most smokers.
So how does this affect any smokers looking to undergo treatment for dental implants in Richmond?
Quite simply because implants need to be placed into a healthy mouth in order to be successful. The problem is that gum disease can undermine the implant tooth causing it to become loose and eventually fail.
So where does this leave smokers wishing to undertake dental implant surgery?
Firstly it isn’t necessarily true that those who smoke won’t be allowed to have the treatment. However it’s vital that those who do smoke understand the risks involved. Because gum disease is more likely, smokers should understand that the implant could lose security as the surrounding bone degrades rendering it useless. Also heightened is the risk of infection and in addition smokers should expect a longer recovery period.
For this reason here at Sheen Dental any smoker looking to undergo surgery for dental implants in Richmond is asked to cease smoking at least for a period of time either side of the procedure. This can be anything up to 9 months, but preferably, to stand a greater chance of implant success the smoker should really think about giving up for good.
To find out more about smoking and dental implants visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or alternatively contact us on 020 8876 5277 and book yourself a free, no-obligation consultation. Here you can get all your questions answered allowing you to make a fully informed dental decision, once and for all.