Why Is Smoking Risky For Dental Implants?
If you’re missing a tooth or teeth then dental implants in Richmond are the best way to fill the gap and restore your smile. However, if you’re a smoker then you may have been turned down point blank for a dental implant, or at worse asked to quit for at least six weeks before the procedure, and until after the procedure has been completed. So why is this? Why is smoking harmful to dental implants?
Dental implants serve as artificial tooth roots which are placed into your jaw to anchor your replacement teeth and stop them from falling out. They look extremely natural and feel almost like the real thing. In fact, once you get used to them, you’ll probably forget that you have any false teeth at all. Dental implants restore functionality and are also good for your oral health. However, they do represent a significant investment, and if you want to protect this investment and keep your implants in good working order, then one of the ways to do this is by stopping smoking.
Dental implants on the whole have a very high success rate but one of the problems that can occur with implants is caused by smoking. The key to a successful implant is for the bone which surrounds the implant to fuse with the implant itself, in a natural procedure known as osseointegration. This gives it the strength and durability to support replacement teeth. However, sometimes the bone doesn’t integrate properly with the implant and often this is because the patient is a smoker. Smoking causes problems with a person’s blood flow and denies the implant the oxygen which it requires in order to fuse with the bone within a healthy environment.
Smokers also tend to have poor oral health and are more at risk of developing oral cancers and other serious conditions which will have a negative impact on a dental implant. All of the data available shows that smoking significantly lowers the success rate of dental implants and elsewhere in the country.
If you currently smoke and you’re looking to have a dental implant in Richmond then we strongly advise that you quit smoking for several weeks leading up to your surgery, and until your gum is fully healed after the procedure, if you’re unable to quit altogether. Many dentists will turn you down for a dental implant if you’re a smoker because the risk of complications is greatly increased.
If you’re considering dental implants in Richmond and you’re a smoker we recommend that you attend a free implant consultation with us, where we can discuss your situation. Every case is different, and we access all our patients on an individual basis. To book your consultation visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or give us a call direct on 020 8876 5277. We look forward to meeting you.