Tooth loss is devastating whether you lose one or several teeth. Replacement solutions like dental implants are fast becoming reliable options to restore smiles permanently and effectively. Unfortunately, getting dental implant placement is not the optimal treatment for everyone, including habitual smokers.
If missing one or several teeth and seeking replacements from the dental office in Livingston, NJ, the professional warns about the impact of smoking after dental implant placement. You might express surprise learning about the correlation between successful implant placement and smoking. However, if you want a replacement station that remains with you for life to improve mouth functionality and aesthetics, you help yourself by learning how dental implants work.
Over the decades, cosmetic dentistry has made significant advances to make procedures like dental veneers easy to complete in a couple of appointments with the dentist treating you. However, some techniques remain relatively complex, especially when several steps are involved and a significant amount of time is needed for recovery between them. Dental implant placement is one such procedure that requires approximately six months or more before you can have your natural-looking artificial tooth in your mouth.
After the initial consultation, if the Livingston dental office considers you suitable for implant placement, the surgical dentist in Livingston, NJ, starts your process by surgically embedding titanium posts deep into your jawbone. The titanium post functioning as your artificial tooth root integrates with your body during your recovery in the osseointegration process.
A healing period follows dental implant placement when your jawbone builds around the titanium post to integrate around it. The time required for osseointegration completion is six months and is essential to create a stable base for your artificial teeth. You can have a temporary crown over the healing implant until it has recovered from the surgical process.
After the Livingston surgical dentist confirms that the implants have successfully integrated with your body, they attach an abutment and later a permanent porcelain dental crown over the titanium post.
When determining your eligibility for dental implants in Livingston, NJ, the dentist inquires whether you smoke and whether you can quit the habit. You might wonder why your smoking is a hindrance to getting dental implants in your mouth. Let us give some fundamental reasons why quitting smoking after dental implants are essential.
You deprive yourself of your blood oxygen when inhaling cigarette smoke. When you don’t have sufficient oxygen in your bloodstream, it severely hinders your body’s healing ability. The hindrance in your recovery disrupts the osseointegration process resulting in implant rejection.
Your gums can become inflamed from cigarette smoke because it works as an irritant to your healing gums around the newly embedded titanium implant. Sometimes the irritation also results in infections which cause rejection of dental implants.
In addition, smoking after dental implant placement can quickly turn your investment into a waste of time and money because if the implants fail to integrate with your body, you return to where you started without teeth in your mouth. Therefore if you find it challenging to quit smoking, you must consider alternatives like dental bridges recommended by your dentist as a replacement solution for your missing teeth.
Dental implants are a functional and aesthetic remedy for lost or broken teeth and many other dental and orthodontic problems. However, they are not appropriate for many people who might have conditions like diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and habits such as chewing or smoking tobacco.
During your initial evaluation, your dentist thoroughly assesses your oral and physical health besides inquiring into your lifestyle habits. Implant specialists can comfortably overcome challenges like insufficient jawbone and diabetes by suggesting remedial methods or bone grafts to augment insufficient jawbone and techniques to control blood sugar. However, if you are accustomed to smoking, they reject your eligibility to receive this effective, natural-looking replacement solution restoring your smile and mouth functionality with dental implants. Therefore if you want a long-lasting replacement solution for your missing teeth and are prepared to invest considerable money, you help yourself by planning a savings account by quitting smoking to ensure your implants don’t fail but give you access to beautiful and natural-looking artificial teeth for life.
Livingston Dental Group can help you have dental implants in your jawbone for missing teeth replacements. However, they insist you quit smoking before getting a dental implant placement. If you prepare to adhere to their recommendations, we suggest scheduling a consultation with them today to start your implant placement process.
