Smoking Hurts Long-Term Effects of Oral Surgery

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People Who Smoke Damage Periodontal Plastic Surgery Procedures
Studies have shown that smoking can impair the body’s ability to heal itself immediately after oral surgery, but a recent issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP) found that smokers had less desirable long-term results following periodontal plastic surgery than non-smokers. The study followed 10 smokers and 10 non-smokers for two years to evaluate the effects of cigarette smoke on the long-term outcomes of a treatment to help soft tissue reattach to the root surface of the teeth.

This study showed that when a patient has periodontal him plastic surgery, smoking can damage the ability of that procedure to stay intact over a long period of timer as after two years, residual gum recession around the area which received the surgery was greater in smokers as compared to non-smokers.

“People who smoke and have had some sort of periodontal plastic surgery should be aware of the negative side effects of smoking. It can be costly to have to repeat a surgery because the desirable outcomes might have been undone by smoking,” explained Dr. Preston D. Miller, DDS, and AAP president. “Therefore, it is important patients and doctors agree to a smoking cessation program prior to any periodontal surgery. This will help a patient’s chance of achieving optimal results.”

To learn more about the oral health risks associated with smoking, you can get a referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples including one titled Tobacco & Gum Disease by calling 800-FLOSS-EM.