Existing Patients: (978) 454-9332 | New Patients: (877) 790-5172 |
Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

5 Risks of Getting Dental Implants If You Smoke

Posted on by .

If you’re thinking about getting dental implants to replace missing teeth, they are the most natural-looking and effective solution. People who smoke can still be candidates for dental implants, but you should know the risks involved.

1. Nicotine Narrows Blood Vessels

Nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow and limit the blood flow to organs and tissue. Sufficient blood flow is needed for proper healing around dental implants. If you smoke, the healing process can be delayed.

2. Osseointegration Is Better If You Don’t Smoke

After dental implants are placed, time is allowed for the implants and your jawbone to fuse together. The fusion, called osseointegration, makes the implants very stable—similar to natural tooth roots. Smoking interferes with osseointegration. A 2017 study published in the Journal of International Oral Health provided the following information about dental implant failure and smoking:

  • Failure is more common among smokers than non-smokers
  • Increased smoking frequency also increases the risks of dental implant failure
  • Risk of failure increases with the duration of smoking (> 10 years)

3. Nicotine Promotes Gum Disease

Nicotine binds to tooth roots and affects the health of roots, ligaments, and gum tissue. Compromised tooth roots and ligaments can decrease the stability of teeth and loosen them. Gum disease causes the tissue to pull away from teeth and create pockets where bacteria can leak in. If you develop bacteria in your gums around dental implants, healing will be difficult.

4. Smoking Suppresses Your Immune System

The placement of dental implants requires small incisions in your gum. These surgical sites need to heal properly. Your body naturally fights infection, but if you smoke, your immune system is suppressed. It will be more difficult for your body to fight infection if any bacteria get around your dental implants.

5. E-Cigs and Vaping Can Damage Gum Tissue

e-cigarettes and vaping release a high concentration of very hot aerosols and smoke in your mouth. This exposes your gum tissue to burning, dryness, and chemicals that can inhibit the healing process.

What Are Your Options?

  • Receive dental implants anyway – Many dentists and oral surgeons will still provide surgery if you smoke. They simply inform their patients of the risks. Others will recommend that you stop smoking a few weeks before implant placement.
  • Stop smoking – You can choose to stop smoking several weeks before and after implant placement. Some patients have asked their primary care doctor for help to stop smoking.
  • Temporary alternatives – If you need time to stop smoking, a partial denture or some other form of temporary tooth replacement might be available.
  • Permanent alternatives – Dentures, a dental bridge, or a partial denture are alternate forms of tooth replacement. Although they don’t last as long, a skilled cosmetic dentist can provide natural-looking results.

If you’re interested in dental implants, schedule at least two consultations with different dentists who have advanced training and experience in placing implants. In complex cases, many dentists partner with an oral surgeon for implant placement, and the dentist provides the implant crowns.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA implant dentist and accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD.

The before-and-after photos below show how Dr. Szarek places dental implants and restores them with dental crowns for natural-looking results.

  • Photo of dental implant fixtures in place of two lower right molar teeth of a patient at the Lowell, MA office of Dr. Michael Szarek.
    DENTAL IMPLANTS WERE PLACED
  • Photo of dental crowns placed on dental implant fixtures on two lower right molar teeth of a patient at the Lowell, MA office of Dr. Michael Szarek.
    IMPLANTS WERE RESTORED WITH CROWNS

Dental Implants or Braces First?

Posted on by .

If you have missing teeth that you want to be replaced with dental implants and you also need braces, which should come first?

Diagram of three phases of dental implants, for information on implants and diabetes from the office of Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Dental implants fuse to the bone and won’t move with orthodontic treatment

Here are a few facts about dental implants and orthodontic treatment. They will help you understand the priority for your smile.

Dental Implants

  • Usually made of titanium
  • Surgically implanted in your jawbone
  • Require bone grafting if you don’t have enough jawbone density
  • Require a three to six month healing period so the implants fuse with your jawbone
  • Feel and function like natural teeth
  • Permanently in place and don’t contain ligaments like natural teeth to allow them to be repositioned during orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic Treatment

  • Correctly aligns your teeth
  • Often needed to move teeth that drifted into empty spaces where teeth are missing and to make room for dental implants
  • Will move your natural teeth, but the implants won’t budge

Dental Implants After Braces

Orthodontic treatment

Most often, orthodontic treatment should be completed before you receive dental implants. Otherwise, as your teeth shift, the implants can damage them because braces are unable to move dental implants along with your teeth. The rigid implants can damage your teeth as they move to the correct position.

Schedule an appointment with an orthodontist to discuss your goals for your oral health. He or she will work with your implant dentist to ensure you get quality tooth replacement and alignment.

Implant placement

Find at least two skilled implant dentists to discuss your need for tooth replacement. Before you schedule an appointment for a consultation look for the following:

  • Advanced training
  • Extensive experience
  • Implant credentials

Implant restoration/crown

An experienced cosmetic dentist can provide you with lifelike dental crowns for the implants. And if you’re considering teeth whitening, it should be completed before you receive dental crowns. This ensures the crowns will match your bright smile.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Dental Implants and Diabetes

Posted on by .

My father is thinking about getting dental implants. My concern is that he is diabetic. Are there any healing issues with the implants for diabetics? – Thanks. Danek

Danek – Diabetes has several effects on overall health that cause many patients to wonder if it’s safe to get dental implants:

  • Affects bone formation
  • Delays wound healing
  • Increases the chances of getting an infection

Dental Implants and Diabetes

Diagram of three phases of dental implants, for information on implants and diabetes from the office of Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Healthy dental implants fuse to the bone

A 2016 study published in the International Journal for Implant Dentistry shows several factors that should be considered for diabetic patients following dental implant surgery:

  • Patients with poorly controlled diabetes have delayed osseointegration (the healing period when implant and bone fuse).
  • Sinus lifts and bone grafting are successful in patients with fairly to well-controlled diabetes.
  •  After one year, the status of the implants is equal in healthy patients and patients with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes.
  • In the long-term, there is an increased risk of periodontal disease in diabetic patients.
  • Within the first six years, the implant survival rate is the same for diabetic patients as it is for healthy patients, but in the long-term (up to 20 years) diabetic patients have a reduced implant survival rate.

Whether implants can be placed for a person with diabetes is determined on a case-by-case basis. In advance of implant surgery, your father’s dentist will review his medical history to determine if he is a candidate for the implants.

The implant dentist will give instructions about how the medication should be taken the day of the surgery.  All patients with diabetes who receive dental implants should be diligent in doing their part to keep diabetes under control. Maintaining well-controlled diabetes is an important factor for the continued success of the dental implants.

Schedule consultations with two to three implant dentists to discuss your father’s medical history and the anticipated outcome for dental implants.

After an oral surgeon places dental implants, a skilled cosmetic dentist restores the implants with lifelike porcelain crowns. No one will be able to distinguish your father’s implants from his natural teeth.

This post is sponsored by accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek of Lowell, MA.

 

Get current information based on recent research on dental implants and diabetes.

Dental implant-supported bridge, partial denture, or dental bridge?

Posted on by .

Are you comparing a dental-implant supported bridge, a partial denture, and a dental bridge? Consider the differences and the pros and cons for each.

Partial denture

A partial denture has a metal or a gum-colored framework. Acrylic teeth are embedded in the base to replace missing teeth.

Pros

  • One or more teeth can be replaced with a partial denture.
  • It’s the least expensive form of tooth replacement.
  • It more appealing than missing teeth.

Cons

  • It’s not as aesthetically pleasing as a dental bridge or implant-supported bridge.
  • It is clasped onto your adjacent teeth, so it’s uncomfortable, and it can weaken the supporting teeth.
  • It doesn’t prevent bone loss in the spaces where teeth are missing.

 

Dental bridge

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. Replacement teeth are suspended in the middle. Each end of the bridge has a dental crown that is placed on the natural teeth either side of the missing ones. The end, or anchor, teeth have to be shaved down to accommodate the dental crowns.

Pros

  • A cosmetic dentist can provide porcelain crowns in a bridge that look completely natural.
  • It’s more comfortable than a partial denture.
  • It lasts longer than a partial denture.

Cons

  • Natural teeth on either side of the missing one(s) serve as an anchor for the bridge. They have to be shaved down to accommodate the crowns. This can weaken the anchor teeth.
  • It doesn’t prevent bone loss in the spaces where teeth are missing.
  • A bridge with a metal framework darkens replacement teeth and interferes with translucence. The replacement teeth won’t match your natural teeth, unless a cosmetic dentist adjusts the tooth color and translucence to accommodate the darkening caused by the metal.

Dental implant-supported bridge

A dental implant-supported bridge replaces multiple missing teeth. Instead of using your natural teeth as anchors, dental implants are used.

Pros

  • No work needs to be done on adjacent teeth, because they don’t serve as anchors.
  • A cosmetic dentist can provide dental crowns for the bridge that look completely natural.
  • The implants that anchor the bridge stimulate jawbone growth.

Cons

  • It’s more expensive than a partial denture and other types of non-implant bridges.
  • There is usually a healing period of at least several weeks before a permanent bridge is secured to the dental implants.
  • If you’ve already experienced jawbone shrinking in the spaces where teeth are missing, you might need bone grafting before implants can be placed.

 

Before you make a decision or request a specific form of tooth replacement, consult with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

How can I get my dental implants to match my teeth whitening?

Posted on by .

In 2011 I received 3 dental implants. They feel natural and they are very durable. I haven’t had any problems with them at all. Although it took 2 years to pay for them on the payment plan, it was worth it. I would do it all over again if I needed to. My concern is the color of my natural teeth. I smile a lot, but my smile looks dull and I want whiter teeth. My 3 implants are on the left, upper front side and they are very visible when I smile. If I understand it correctly, if I get my teeth whitened, they will be darker than the implants because the implant crowns won’t change color. I am wondering what my options are to get my natural teeth whitened and to have the implants match them. Is there some kind of overlay that can be placed on the crowns? Thanks. Camelia

Camelia – Your understanding is correct. Dental implant crowns are made of porcelain, and they are stain resistant and colorfast. Layers of porcelain are used to create natural tooth color and translucence. The color is baked into the porcelain at a dental laboratory. Although porcelain veneers can be placed over natural teeth, it would be difficult to place them over dental crowns. It would make your implant crowns look bulky, and your crowns would still be noticeably different from your natural teeth.

Since your implant crowns are clearly visible when you smile, if you get your teeth whitened, you would need to replace your crowns if you want them to match. Only the top, or crown, of each dental implant needs to be replaced. It will only take two to three weeks to receive crowns that match your natural teeth.

Your teeth can be whitened, but if you have dental implants, you should work with a cosmetic dentist to ensure you have crowns that seamlessly blend with them. Schedule a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.