Hi, it's Mia Armonde here to talk to you about family dentistry. As my small family grew into a large one, I found myself at the dental office on a regular basis. Every six months, the kids would go into the dentist for a cleaning or repairs to their teeth. During that time, I took an interest in the various ways the dental tools were evolving. Tools used in the dental industry have grown in leaps and bounds in the last few decades. For example, my kids went from hearing the dental drill to wearing headphones that completely canceled out the sound. Each time we go back into the dentist, I take a close look at the improvements that have arisen since the last visit. The results are astounding. I will cover my findings on this site, so you can also enjoy the improvements to dental tools and techniques.
When asking yourself how tooth implants stay in place, you may as well ask how a tooth stays in place. It's because both implants and natural teeth are directly connected to the jawbone. Teeth erupt outwards from the jaw, whereas an implant is surgically placed within a jaw and relies on various natural functions to stay in place. Unfortunately, smoking can disrupt these functions. How will smoking affect your upcoming tooth implant procedure?
The Bone's Healing Process
Immediately after implantation, the implant's primary component (a small titanium post that will eventually anchor a prosthetic tooth) begins to integrate with your jawbone. This is the bone's healing process and is the previously mentioned natural function that keeps the implant in place. The integration process is called osseointegration and involves natural bone ingrowth to lock the implant into place. The process requires your bone mass to produce new cells.
An Implant's Strength
These bone cells are called osteoblasts. New bone tissue forms around the implant and this ultimately gives it the strength to support a prosthetic tooth. With an implant, the bite power of a prosthetic tooth comes from the jaw muscles, which is why an implant remains the most natural-feeling (and looking) permanent tooth replacement. But this process is completely dependent on the production of osteoblasts. Your smoking habit affects this production.
Bone Cell Formation
The nicotine you consume binds to specific receptors in your osteoblasts, namely nicotinic receptors. Higher levels of consumption lead to reduced osteoblast formation and even the death of newly-formed bone cells. Your jawbone will be unable to integrate with your implant, and as such, your implant will not be able to support the bite pressure experienced by its prosthetic tooth. This means it cannot function as an implant and may need to be removed.
Gum Tissues
There's also the soft tissue damage in your mouth to consider. Your dentist made access incisions in your gum tissues as part of your implant surgery. Your gums must heal to form a healthy band of tissues at the base of the implant's prosthetic tooth. This supports the tooth and helps it to achieve a natural look. Smoking prevents your circulatory system from delivering essential nutrients to the site of your surgery site. This delays the healing process.
There's no safe amount of smoking after dental implant surgery, and it's likely that you'll be directed to completely abstain from smoking following your procedure. This is non-negotiable for the ultimate success of your surgery. If possible, you could even use your implant surgery as an excuse to permanently quit smoking. For more information on dental implants, contact a professional near you.
Share22 August 2023
