If you are considering dental implants in San Francisco, it’s likely that your teeth are a problem for you. You may be searching for dental implants to fix the problem and provide a long-lasting, durable solution. If you were thinking of receiving dental implants, you are headed in the right direction. The only problem is that you are a frequent tobacco smoker, and you may be wondering if implants are still the right choice for you. Smoking is always risky when it comes to your health, regardless of your teeth, but when it comes to dental implants, the risks can be even higher.
Treated properly and maintained with great care, San Francisco patients who receive dental implants can greatly improve their teeth and their smile. Cleanliness and thorough check-ups are vital to ensure the durability and longevity of your implants. When you smoke and have dental implants, you are directly affecting the long-term survival of your implants.
What Will Happen If I Continue to Smoke with Dental Implants?
As smoking causes a lot of health complications, the same is true for dental problems as well. If you receive the procedure for dental implants, you can still smoke, but it can lead to various oral issues. One of the issues is that it will weaken your mouth’s healing and immune mechanisms. Additionally, this can make it easier for pathogens and bacteria to enter and stay inside your mouth. All of this leads to an increase in periodontal disease (gum disease), which is also detrimental to your oral health. This doesn’t mean that all of this will happen if you continue to smoke with dental implants. However, the likelihood of all of these complications is much higher.
Does Smoking Cause Dental Implant Failure?
When you are a smoker with dental implants your risk of failure is much higher than that of non-smokers. Failures occur at a low rate when it comes to dental implants, however, if you continue to smoke you are increasing your risk factors. Implant success is usually based on a couple of things concerning a patients’ health. San Francisco patients who are more at risk for implant failure vary based on their current health status, the oral surgeon they choose, quantity and quality of bone, and smoking habits. There are other factors that contribute to implant failure; this means that smoking isn’t the sole reason for complications. However, ultimately it can increase the odds of your dental implants failing.
At SF Oral Surgery in San Francisco, we can help further identify the reasons why smoking can be bad for your dental health. If you are considering dental implants and would like to know the further hazards of smoking, give us a call, and we can answer any of your questions. To schedule a consultation or talk with a trained oral surgeon, call our San Francisco office at (415) 776-6710.
