If you’re considering dental implants but also smoke, you might be wondering—is it still worth it? The short answer? Smoking and dental implants just don’t mix
While it’s not impossible for smokers to get implants, there are a few important things to know. Because while implants can replace missing teeth, restore your smile, and improve your confidence, smoking can significantly impact how well they heal—and whether they succeed long term.
In this article, we’ll explain why smoking with dental implants is risky, what can go wrong, and what steps you can take if you’re a smoker thinking about treatment.
Why Smoking Matters for Dental Implants
When you opt for dental implants, your body goes through a healing process called osseointegration. This is when the bone in your jaw fuses with the titanium implant to provide stability and support. During this time, and for years after, a number of factors will influence how well your implant heals and functions.
Smoking interferes with many of these healing processes. Nicotine and other chemicals found in tobacco reduce blood flow, limit oxygen delivery, slow tissue repair and increase the risk of infection.
A systematic review found that implants placed in smokers had a roughly 140 % higher risk of failure compared to non‑smokers. The more you smoke, the greater the risk: heavier smokers show worse outcomes.
In short: yes, you can have dental implants and smoke—but your chances of complications are significantly higher, and good habits become extremely important.
How Smoking Affects Dental Implants
Whether you’re a light or heavy smoker, tobacco can cause problems at every stage of the implant process.
Here’s how smoking and dental implants don’t mix:
1. Delayed healing
Nicotine restricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to your gums and jawbone. That means your body gets less oxygen and fewer nutrients—both of which are crucial for healing. This can lead to slower recovery and higher risk of infection after surgery.
2. Higher risk of implant failure
Dental implants have a high success rate—over 95% in non-smokers. But for smokers, failure rates are significantly higher. That’s because poor healing, reduced bone integration, and increased gum issues can prevent the implant from properly fusing with your bone.
3. Increased risk of infection
Smoking weakens your immune system and dries out your mouth, making it harder for your body to fight off infection. Peri-implantitis—an inflammatory condition that affects the tissues around an implant—is more common in smokers and can lead to implant loss if untreated.
4. Compromised gum and bone health
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease. Even after successful implant placement, ongoing tobacco use can cause the gums to recede or bone levels to drop, exposing the implant and making it unstable.
What About Vaping?
While e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, many still deliver nicotine—and that’s the key problem. Nicotine, whether smoked or vaped, restricts blood vessels and impairs healing.
So while vaping might seem like a “healthier” alternative, it still poses risks to your dental implant success.
What Makes the Risk Higher? The Dose Matters
Here’s something to be aware of: it’s not just whether you smoke—it’s how much and how often. Research shows a dose–response relationship: the more you smoke, the higher your risk of implant complications. PubMed
The location of the implant also matters. Implants in the upper jaw (maxilla) appear particularly vulnerable in smokers compared to the lower jaw (mandible). PMC
What Should You Consider Before You Proceed?
If you’re a smoker and thinking about dental implants, here are some things to talk over with your dentist:
- Have you recently quit or are you prepared to stop? Even cutting back can help, but ideally, you stop completely around the time of implant surgery and during healing.
- What’s the condition of your bone and gum tissue? Smoking often ties in with gum disease or bone loss; these conditions will affect implant success.
- Are you committed to excellent oral hygiene? With smoking and implants, your home care becomes even more important—daily cleaning, no skipped check‑ups.
- Are you aware of the long‑term commitment? Implants need high standards of care and smoking adds risk. It doesn’t mean you can’t have implants—but you’ll need to be realistic and prepared.
Can You Get Dental Implants if You Smoke?
Yes—but it’s not ideal.
Many dentists won’t rule you out entirely just because you smoke. But you may need to meet certain conditions, such as quitting for a period before and after surgery.
If you’re thinking about implants and currently smoke, your dental team will take extra precautions. These may include:
- A thorough assessment of your oral and bone health
- Scans to check if there’s enough bone volume
- Reviewing your smoking habits and history
- Discussing the risks and your willingness to quit or cut back
For best results, most dental professionals recommend quitting smoking at least 1–2 weeks before surgery and staying smoke-free for at least 2–3 months after to give your implant the best chance of success.
Tips for Smokers Who Want Dental Implants
If you’re not quite ready to quit for good but still want to go ahead with implants, here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Be upfront with your dentist
Don’t try to downplay your smoking habits. The more your dental team knows, the better they can plan your treatment and reduce risks.
2. Commit to quitting (even temporarily)
Giving up smoking before and after implant surgery can drastically improve your outcomes. Even a short break gives your body time to heal and reduces the chance of complications.
3. Maintain excellent oral hygiene
Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and using an antimicrobial mouthwash can help keep your mouth clean and reduce your risk of infection—especially important if you’re a smoker.
4. Don’t skip your check-ups
Smokers should attend all follow-up appointments. Your dentist will check the healing process, clean around the implant, and address any early signs of inflammation or infection before they become serious.
What Happens If You Smoke After Getting Implants?
Even if your implant heals well, smoking long-term can still lead to trouble.
- Your gums may recede, exposing the implant post
- You could develop peri-implantitis or bone loss
- Your implant may become loose or even fail years later
It’s not just the implant at risk. Smoking also increases your chance of oral cancer, gum disease, and general health issues.
So even if things feel fine at first, the damage can build up over time.
Final Thoughts
So, can you smoke and still get dental implants? Technically, yes. But will your results be as successful or long-lasting as they could be if you didn’t smoke? Probably not.
Thinking about getting dental implants but worried about smoking? We’re here to help you make informed, confident decisions about your treatment. Call 1800 467 526 to book a consultation and chat with our friendly team today.