Why You Should Quit Smoking if You Want Dental Implants

For replacing lost or extracted teeth, dental implants are typically the most comprehensive option. Dental implant posts replace your lost teeth roots, and therefore have a profoundly positive impact on your long-term jawbone, periodontal, and oral health. However, if you indulge in smoking, then your eligibility for dental implant placement can be at risk. In fact, your periodontist may recommend quitting the habit before recommending implant placement; otherwise, your implants may not succeed in restoring your smile.

What Implants Need to Succeed

Dental implants are made from biocompatible titanium. When the posts are inserted into your jawbone, the bone will fuse to their titanium surfaces, holding them as securely as your healthy teeth roots. Then, the posts can be used to support a replacement crown, bridge, or denture with the same comfort and stability as our teeth roots. However, implants need a strong, healthy jawbone to receive them. If you exhibit periodontal disease or jawbone erosion, or if you smoke (even occasionally) and are at a high risk of such conditions, then dental implants will not have the support they need to succeed.

What Smoking Does to Your Smile

There are thousands of harmful chemicals, including dozens of carcinogens, contained in a single cigarette, cigar, or bowl of tobacco. When the tobacco is burned, the released chemicals are often even more dangerous. Smoking is a leading contributor to progressive oral and periodontal health complications, including periodontitis and tooth loss, as well as all forms of oral cancer. As part of helping you recover from tooth loss, Dr. Kania can help you stop smoking through personalized smoking cessation programs, and will be there to help you with your struggle to quit.

Learn About Smoking Cessation, Dental Implants, and More

From periodontal treatment and dental implant placement to smoking and tobacco cessation, Dr. Kania can help you ensure the health and integrity of your smile through personalized, high-quality care. To learn more, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.