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Smoking Can Cause Dental Implants To Fail

 

[ Submitted by Dr Andreas Siebold on 1 May, 2007 ]

 

Smokers with dental implants saw implants fail at higher rate than non-smokers

 

CHICAGO- Smoking can harm the integrity of dental implants and cause them to fail more so than in a non-smoker, according to a new study that appeared in the February issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP).

Researchers from University of Murcia in Spain investigated if smoking impacts 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 infection following surgery, and may heal more slowly," said Dr. Arturo Sanchez Perez, Department of Periodontology at the University of Murcia. "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."

Smoking negatively affects blood flow to the bone and tissues surrounding the gums and teeth, which impairs bone healing. Implants fail because of a failure to integrate with the surrounding bone tissues. The study followed 66 patients over 5 years, who received 165 implants. They found that 15.8% of implants failed in smokers, versus 1.4% of implants in non-smokers.

"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, DDS, President of the American Academy of Periodontology, "This research shows that if you want your dental implant to last, you should not smoke. Also, the treating dentist should make sure their patients are aware of this before placing an implant, and emphasize the importance of quitting smoking."

To asses your periodontal health visit www.perio.org and click on "Assess your gum disease risk". Visit the AAP website, www.perio.org , for a referral to a periodontist and free brochure titled Tobacco and Periodontal Diseases: Targeting Tobacco Use. Or call 800/FLOSS-EM (800.356-7736) toll-free.

The American Academy of Periodontology is an 8,000-member association of dental professionals specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and in the placement and maintenance of dental implants. Periodontics is one of nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kerry Gutshall
The American Academy of Periodontology
Phone: 312.573.3243
Fax: 312.573.3234
http://www.perio.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the JOP article titled "Tobacco as a risk factor for survival of dental implants" is available to the media by contacting the AAP Public Affairs Department at 312/573-3243. The public and/or non-AAP members can view a study abstract online, and the full-text of the study may be accessed online for $20.00 at http://www.joponline.org/.

 

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