Social Smoker: Will This Effect My Implants?

Question

I had a bone graft placed for dental implants about two years ago and my implants were finally finished this past may. I have began smoking less than five cigarettes a few days a week this past October. By no means am I an addicted, heavy smoker, I just like the taste and feeling. Will this minimal smoking have any effect on my implants? I do not plan on being a lifetime smoker, I only smoke in social situations. I never smoked before or after the surgical processes. My mouth is fully healed.

Answer 1

You can smoke and have implants and be successful at keeping them and your mouth healthy, but the odds are against you.

The literature shows that implant patients that smoke have a higher incidence of implant failure than those that do not.

My advice, if you are not addicted or a heavy smoker, why not quit?

Good luck!

Dr. Carlos Boudet
West Palm Beach , FL
(561) 968 6022
boudetdds.com

Answer 2

Smoking will definitely increase the chance of implant failure,but it does not mean if you smoke, you can not get implants or your implants will definitely fail.

Since smoking is a risk factor , we rather our patients not smoke at least during implant healing phase. I hope this helps.

Angela F. Ganjoor, DDS
Celina, Texas
http://celinafamilydentistry.com/
214-851-0130