I have had massive problems with gum disease. It’s caused me to lose quite a few teeth. I’m getting tired of looking like I come from a third world country and have been thinking about dental implants. I asked my dentist about it but he said he won’t do them for smokers. Is that just his policy or a general rule? What’s the problem with being a smoker for new teeth?
Clarke R.
Dear Clarke,
I’m sorry you’re having such a difficult time with your teeth. While I’m sure you can find a dentist who would give you dental implants as a smoker, there are some things you need to understand before you make any decision.
The first thing you need to know is that people who have gum disease aren’t good candidates for dental implants. If you think about it, the reason you’re losing your teeth is the gum disease. That means your dental implants won’t be able to stay in place either.
If you’re serious about getting dental implants to replace your missing teeth, the first thing you’ll have to do is wage war against your gum disease. There are extra cleanings and treatments you can go in for. However, your smoking is a problem. Smoking often leads to gum disease.
Smoking and Dental Implants
When you smoke, it almost always leads to advanced gum disease. The inflammation causes severe problems with your teeth, including infection. Then there’s the lack of blood flow. This inhibits healing.
The leading cause of dental implant failure is infection. Smoking increases that risk and makes it harder to heal from the developed infection.
Can you have a successful dental implant case while you are a heavy smoker with gum disease? Not without a miracle. The implants will fail.
Can you have a successful dental implant case while you are a heavy smoker without gum disease? Possibly. It wouldn’t be easy, but it could be done.
Ask yourself this. Is it worth risking the thousands of dollars you’ll invest in this procedure? Only you can answer that.
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