Smoking is cited as a cause of implant failure. A condition called peri-implantitis can occur, causing inflammation, bleeding and bacterial infection. However, smoking is not the only cause of the situation. Treatment demands surgical procedure, as both soft and hard tissue becomes affected.
If possible, avoid smoking entirely during the healing process to prevent constriction to the capillaries, giving the bone a chance to grow. Smokers have an 84.2% success rate as compared with a 98.6% success rate among non-smokers, according to authoritydental.org.
Of more significant concern than factors that are in the patient’s control to some extent is the case for unethical dentists or under-qualified practitioners performing implant surgery. The rise in ‘cheap’ botched implant jobs plays out the importance of selecting an implant dentist with great care.