How long should I refrain from smoking after getting dental implants?

Doctor's Answers 1

Smoking is a risk factor for dental implant displacement. That means it basically reduces the success rate of dental implants. We do highly advise patients not to smoke, otherwise, it lowers the success rate. We know that smoking is not good.

We highly recommend that you refrain from smoking for at least a week because the implant does not stick very well to the bone when you smoke.

The gums that you want to seal the implant on also cannot stick to one another.

Smoking decreases the blood supply and it’s a vasoconstrictor, which means that it closes off the blood vessels. And it prevents your blood, which is like the glue, from congealing.

So if you smoke, you’re basically preventing your wound from healing very well. If you want to put yourself in that situation and spend that kind of money, I suggest that you do not smoke for as long as possible. Minimum one week.

Similar Questions

Which treatment, a root canal or a dental implant, is more time-flexible and will result in less bone loss after tooth extraction?

Tooth extraction will always cause bone loss in the extraction site. When a tooth is removed, functional forces cannot be transmitted to the bone supporting that tooth. Bone loss occurs to conserve resources (to build and maintain bone at the same volume). This is a physiological (natural) phenomenon that keeps our bodies functioning efficiently. There are techniques to reduce (but not prevent) bone loss (bone grafting) at the time of extraction. Bone grafting using artificial bone does not produce the same volume of native (a continuation of the patient's own jawbone) bone.

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Answered By

Dr Jaclyn Toh

Dentist

What are the alternatives to dental implants that I can consider if my jawbone and gums are not suitable for implants?

Here are some alternatives to implants: Fixed bridges The adjacent tooth/teeth are prepared for crowns. The false tooth is fused to the crowns and suspended over the gap. Bridges are suitable for tooth-bounded spaces (there is at least one suitable tooth at the back end of the space). The tooth/teeth chosen to act as supports (abutments) should be stable. Bridges can be more difficult to clean, especially if a fixed-fixed design is chosen instead of a cantilever.

Photo of Dr Jaclyn Toh

Answered By

Dr Jaclyn Toh

Dentist

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