Smoking is a tough habit to break, and if you’re addicted, it can become nearly impossible for you to go a day without it. However, most oral procedures and surgeries require you to avoid smoking and vaping before as well as after the procedure, as it could cause serious oral health complications. But does that mean you can’t smoke at all? What about when you’re getting dental implants? Is lightly smoking after a dental implant surgery okay? — To find out the answers to all these questions and more, continue reading this blog.
Is Lightly Smoking After Dental Implants Allowed?
Whether you’re smoking lightly or heavily, it doesn’t matter. Smoking after getting a dental implant is strictly prohibited. Tobacco use, in general, is considered harmful as it can negatively affect the healing process and instead cause a myriad of complications.
While you might think that lightly smoking won’t do any harm, or perhaps switching out a cigarette for a vape would be better, you’d be very wrong. The damage they both cause is the same and irreparable. In some cases, it can even give way to implant failure, which would render the entire surgery useless. This is because smoking is known to directly affect your blood flow and oxygen. It slows down your tissues from repairing at a normal rate, preventing the implant from settling into the jawbone.
When Can You Smoke After Dental Implants?
The best practice is to quit smoking altogether. However, if you have trouble quitting an addiction, you might want to start taking it slow. Consult your dental implant specialist for more information on how to tackle the issue.
In most cases, you can only resume once the implant has settled in its place, with the jawbone growing over the titanium root. This process is known as osseointegration. Moreover, after a month or two has passed, your gums will also have healed from the intrusive surgery, which means you can slowly take up smoking again or try alternatives to curb the cravings. Ultimately, though, you have to give it 2 to 7 months of wait time after the implant placement to be able to pick up your habit again.
Dangers of Smoking After Dental Implant Procedure
Not only is smoking harmful to your oral health, but it takes a toll on your whole body. Here are some of the prime reasons why dentists consider smoking after getting dental implants extremely dangerous:
- Oral Infection
Since smoking halts your immune system from acting the way it should, the chances of getting an oral infection and not recovering from it are much higher.
- Delayed Healing Process
Nicotine is known to constrict your blood vessels, which further stops your body from sending enough oxygen to the wound, effectively delaying the healing process.
- Implant Inflammation
Peri-implantitis is the inflammation of a dental implant. It occurs when bacteria gather around the implant, eating away at its surroundings. It needs to be treated immediately, or it might cause bone loss. - Risk of Implant Failure
A common consequence of smoking and drinking right after oral surgery is implant failure. It’s when your body refuses to accept and fuse with the implant at all.
Long Story Short
Lightly smoking after a dental implant procedure may not seem like a big deal, but it can have detrimental effects on your oral health and the healing procedure. For more details, contact AK Dental at (512) 653-3008 or visit 7010 State Hwy 71, Austin, TX 78735, United States.