Smoking can harm the integrity of dental implants and cause them to fail more often than they do in a non-smoker, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
Researchers from the University of Murcia, Spain, investigated whether smoking affects the ability of a dental implant to succeed. They found that smoking is a risk factor with regard to tooth loss and dental implant failure.
"People who smoke are at a greater risk of [developing] infection following surgery, and may heal more slowly," said Dr. Arturo Sanchez Perez, Department of Periodontology.
"When an implant is placed in a smoker, it is more likely to fail. This means a patient’s smile may be negatively affected, and the potential for more bone loss in the areas surrounding the gums and teeth," said Dr. Sanchez Perez.
Smoking has a negative effect on blood flow to the bone and tissues surrounding the gingivae and teeth, which impairs bone healing. Implants fail because of a failure to integrate with the surrounding bone tissues.
The study followed up 66 patients, who received 165 implants, over five years. The researchers found that 15.8 percent of implants failed in smokers, versus 1.4 percent of implants in nonsmokers.
"Tobacco use has been shown to be a risk factor for periodontal diseases, which is the main cause of tooth loss in adults," said Dr. Preston D. Miller, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "This research shows that if you want your dental implant to last, you should not smoke."
