When dental implants came on the market about 30 years ago, it was a game changer for people who have lost their teeth. At last, there was a way to replace missing or failing teeth with something as good as the originals. Titanium dental implants are small posts that are root shaped. They go into the jawbone where they integrate with the bone tissue to become strong and resilient. It’s hard to imagine that people would choose anything else if they had to replace lost teeth. But having Southampton dental implants requires a good jaw and an ability to heal well. Many people get turned down for implants if they smoke.
Why can’t smokers have dental implants?
The reason people get turned down for Southampton dental implants if they smoke is because smoking makes it more likely you will get gum disease. Gum disease when you have dental implants is known as peri-implantitis, and cause real problems with your Southampton dental implants. Gum disease may stop your implants integrating with your bone tissue.
Complications and implant failure from smoking
There’s been quite a bit of research into smoking and dental implants. Smoking has been found to be the most common culprit behind implant failure. It’s not that smoking stops the implants integrating with your bone tissue. The problems seem to start after people have had their crowns put on. One thing that seems to happen is that smoking causes bone loss after the implants have been put in, as well as making gum disease more likely and it also seems to hinder the success of bone grafts.
Can you smoke and have dental implants?
No dentist is ever going to do anything except recommend that you stop smoking altogether. But, if you can’t, you must at least quit for as long as possible before and after surgery. Smoking stops oxygen getting to your gums and bone tissue and you need oxygen to promote healing. One thing you must do if you smoke is come back for regular check-ups and cleanings.
Here at Smilemakers Dental Implant Clinic, we can’t say whether or not you can have Southampton dental implants until we have taken a good look at your gums and teeth.
