Dental implants are the ideal way to replace missing teeth because they look, feel, and function like natural pearly whites. These devices can provide superior stability and chewing power to traditional restorations because they are surgically placed in the jawbone and fused with its structure through the natural process of osseointegration. Here’s how tobacco use can interfere with the crucial healing period that comes after receiving dental implants.
How Are Dental Implants Placed?
The process of receiving a dental implant always begins with a consultation so your dentist can evaluate your oral health and make sure you can receive the device safely. Once you are cleared for the treatment, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort, and you may also receive a sedation treatment if necessary. Then, they will make an incision in your gum tissue and insert a titanium piece in your jawbone. This piece will then fuse with your jaw over the coming weeks, and you will receive a lifelike restoration after you have healed adequately.
How Can Tobacco Interfere with the Dental Implant Placement Process?
Tobacco use in any form is utterly terrible for your oral health in a wide plethora of ways, and it can be especially devastating to your gum tissue. When exposed to the noxious chemicals in tobacco smoke or juice, your gums will harden to protect themselves, and having to do this frequently will exhaust them and cause them to recede. Gum recession is the moral enemy of dental implants, so indulging in a smoking or chewing habit can set your appliances up for early failure.
Nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, also has the unfortunate side effect of causing blood vessels to constrict, which can significantly inhibit your gums’ ability to heal and fight infections. This can prime your mouth for gum disease that can compromise your recovery process and destroy your implants.
Can I Smoke if I’m Getting Dental Implants?
Your dentist will probably recommend that you abstain from smoking or chewing for several weeks before and several months after receiving dental implants so your gums can heal effectively. However, refraining from tobacco use for that long is usually enough to break the habit, which means that getting dental implants can be an excellent opportunity to quit this nasty habit completely.
Don’t let your tobacco habit deprive you of a complete and beautiful smile. Consulting with your dentist or doctor can help you find an effective way to quit.
About the Author
Dr. Jonathan H. Cohen earned his dental degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and completed a General Practice Residency at University Hospital in Syracuse. He is proud to serve as a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. His office in St Johns offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as implant services. To learn more about preparing for dental implants, contact the office online or dial (904) 230-2961.