Smoking could compromise implant health
Researchers have examined the effects of smoking on the survival of dental implants.
In a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, the researchers recruited 29 patients with pocket depths of five millimeters or less and one or more missing teeth. The participants were divided on the basis of their smoking status: 11 of them used more than 20 cigarettes daily, while 18 of them used no cigarettes. The researchers then assessed clinical factors such as marginal bone height, peri-implant pocket depth, implant stability, bleeding on probing and plaque index at dental implant placement and after a period of 15, 24 and 67 weeks.
Compared with those who didn’t smoke, the patients who did smoke had a lower rate of implant survival and about twice the level of marginal bone loss. Further, the researchers observed slightly lower rates of implant stability in the smoking group compared with the nonsmoking group.
The researchers hypothesized that smoking heavily could impede bone healing and immune function — highlighting the critical need to recommend smoking cessation strategies prior to dental implant placement.
Read more: Journal of Periodontology
The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.