Can smokers get dental implants? One word: YES.
Now that is what you wanted to hear, wasn’t it?
However, the answer requires some qualifications. To begin with, not all patients – smokers or not – qualify for dental implants for a variety of reasons. The good news is that the vast majority of people are able to have dental implants in San Francisco.
Having said that, you know full well that smoking is bad for you, and the effects are not only on your mouth. Since we are talking about dental implants, however, we will concentrate only on the mouth.
There is a definite link between smoking and periodontal disease. A smoker is 2 –
dental implants for smokers in San Francisco
3 times more likely than a non-smoker to develop periodontal disease, and it is also likely to be more severe.
Smoking is also known to have a direct link on both gum tissue loss and bone loss. In addition, it is known that nicotine will reduce blood flow in the mouth. Pipe smoking is worse than cigarette smoking, owing to the higher temperatures generated in the upper jaw.
Tooth loss is also more common in smokers than in non-smokers.
Dental Implants in San Francisco for Smokers
That is most of the bad news out of the way.
The fact is that – smoker or not – you will probably qualify for dental implants. However, it is best if you give up smoking for three or four weeks before having implants, and during the healing period afterwards. Continuing to smoke immediately beforehand, and during the healing process will mean that healing will take longer, and there is also an increased risk of implant failure. While this is not great, nonetheless the risk is there.
Many smokers use the period before dental implants and during healing to cease smoking for good. They know that it is a bad thing for their health in all sorts of respects, not just concerning dental implants, and this is an opportunity to give up once and for all.
It might be a difficult decision, especially if you have smoked for many years. However, you have to consider whether you want a brilliant smile, and to be able to eat foods that you may not have been able to eat for years (corn on the cob, nuts, that sort of thing), be able to throw your head back and laugh without embarrassment, possibly save yourself an untimely and painful death (you know that it happens), or continue smoking.
San Francisco Dental Implant Center Offers Dental Implants for Smokers
We are not here to criticize, or deliver a lecture. All that we are doing is to point out the obvious benefits of giving up.
So the good news is that, in most cases, smoker or not, you will be able to have dental implants if you wish. Dr Alex Rabinovich is the leading dental implant specialist in San Francisco and offers all patients an initial consultation. He is only too aware how much mental pain is caused when you have missing teeth, not to mention the fact that you may not be able to eat everything that you wish, when dental implants can solve the problem so easily.
Simply give Dr Rabinovich’s office a call on (415) 992-9188 to arrange for your initial consultation.
