If bone loss is a problem, you may still be able to have dental implants. However, you will probably need to have an additional bone graft procedure, which will take place several months before the implant treatment. Smokers may not be suitable candidates for dental implants. Smoking decreases blood flow which provides essential nutrients to the cells in the body. This is particularly important for newly positioned implants to fight infection and speed the healing process. If the tissues around the tissue fail to heal properly, the dental implant may fail and will have to be removed.