Smoking & dental Implants: What you need to know before having dental implants!

[@briankudalis9572]

You can say the same thing about taking Ibuprofen.ibuprophen restricts the blood flow . Combat soldiers are only allowed to take Tylenol for one week before they go into combat . And what do dentist give you for pain ? Big fat ibuprofen.

[@taragalloway9442]

Thank you for being realistic.

[@isabelladavis1363]

Very honest and thorough thank you for sharing your expertise stay blessed

[@fmt_Guåhan]

*QUESTION:* If given nicotine patch to assist in quitting to smoke - does this patch affect the dental implant like that of actually smoking a cigarette?

[@drhelen]

What a great question. Nicotine patch would be OK, as long as you don't smoke. It's the oral effect of smoking that's most harmful.

[@gavinmarshall6143]

Are you sure. Is it not to do with cutting the blood flow all nicotine products do this.

[@briankudalis9572]

My implant was very painful for weeks . My dentist is afraid to give out narcotics so he gives out fat ibuprofen. Ibuprofen thins the blood and prevents blood from clotting . I think because I was taking all those ibuprofen my implant didn't heal correctly and fell out only after four weeks after installing it.

[@jasperhay]

To stop smoking, go on the 3 month nicotine patch therapy along with the nicorette inhalator to inhale nicotine cartridges when you get the nicotine cravings instead of smoking a cigarette. 3 months and you are cigarette free. I've been cigarette free for the last 10 years with this method and I was a smoker from the age of 16 for 24 years. Im now approaching my 51st birthday.

[@JamieReneeVonTeez]

How critical is it if as a social smoker and I smoked just every so often and rarely. Something like a pack or two a year? So very occasionally.

[@drhelen]

Perhaps not as critical as when you are a regular smoker. Whilst we don't have sufficient research to quantify the frequency of smoking on the outcomes, any amount matters. For instance, we do know that even past smokers have a higher risk of complications with dental implants. However, the longer the smoke-free period, the lower the risk! In other words, even infrequent smoking matters, but a lot less than regular. I hope this helps. 🙂

[@ArturasDzeikas]

Great, informative video. It seems all studies were made about cigarette smoking. What about shisha/hookah smoking?

[@drhelen]

Good question, the answer to which is yet to be discovered. As you correctly pointed out, most of the studies were done on tobacco. The effect of other substances on dental implants is yet to be investigated.

[@gina62474]

No it doesn't cause it not smoke and it's pure nicotine

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

Can you chew nicotene gum with implants?

[@drhelen]

Nicotine is known for restricting blood supply, which in turn causes problems with dental implants. Considering that little research has been done specifically on nicotine chewing gum and its effect on implants, we can only assume that it would have similar effects as the actual smoking. However, other harmful substances are absent in nicotine gum, so it might be better than smoking. Until we have specific research, it's best to assume that no nicotine exposure is the safest, and perhaps moderate nicotine exposure from patches and chewing gum might offer a reduced risk.

[@Itsgettingcrazy.]

Ok thank you. I was thinking that chewing nicotine gum might be as bad or WORSE than smoking since you are actually chewing and the nicotine is going directly into your teeth, gums and implants. Thanks for your reply! 😊