Smoking & its Affect on Stabilising Dentures & Crowns


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Our mouths are sensitive to a number of different stimuli, and exposure to these can result in long term damage to various parts of the oral cavity. Excessive sugar is a classic example which leads to dental decay and gum disease by feeding bacterial populations, but another prevalent habit which can damage our oral health is smoking. Smoking’s effects can also extend to any prosthetics or treatments provided to a person, and dental implants are no exception to this rule.

Implants are used to provide stability to artificial teeth, and are an extremely effective way of increasing functionality and comfort. They are also an excellent method of preserving the density of our jawbones by mimicking the stimulus normally created by tooth roots. These remarkable effects can be stymied by habits like smoking, which can severely impeded the success of dental implant operations, and therefore their ability to stabilise artificial teeth like dentures, bridges, and crowns.


Smoking exposes the mouth to harmful chemicals and noxious substances which severely impact oral health. Smokers are at particular risk of gum damage and disease, also because of the changes in acidity caused by regular smoking. This damage can affect implants during the delicate recovery stage immediately after they have been inserted into our gums. During this time careful instructions will be given which need to be followed to ensure that gums heal and the dental implant can successfully integrate into the jawbone. It has been shown that smoking vastly reduces the chances of a successful implant procedure, limiting the implant’s ability to integrate with the jawbone and the overall healing process.

Implant surgeries are invasive and expensive, and as such many smokers are advised against the treatment because of how seriously the practice can undermine the implant procedure and its ability to stabilise artificial teeth. The effects of smoking on oral health and the implant surgery are well documented, and if you are a smoker you can expect your dentist to talk to you about the risks this practice can pose for your mouth and a potential implant surgery.

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