Any medical or dental surgical procedure carries an element of risk for complication and/or failure. Risk factors can greatly vary from patient to patient. Smoking and nicotine use of ANY KIND, including cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana, dipping (smokeless and chewing tobacco) has been documented in scientific literature to delay wound healing and therefore increases the risks of complications and failure.

Complications can include post-operative complications such as pain, swelling and infection. Literature also shows increased risk of implant and bone graft failure and long-term failure of periodontal surgery. We don’t recommend any smoking or vaping two months prior to treatment and recommend not to continue to smoke after treatment because it will hamper healing, may cause failure of the procedure and necessitate retreatment if even possible.

Smoking after extraction can cause a dry socket. Dry socket is a painful dental condition that sometimes happens after you have a tooth removed.  When you smoke, the sucking sensation that comes from inhaling cigarettes can pull the blood clot from the socket. This leaves the nerves exposed and vulnerable to infection. If an infection develops, that leads to a dry socket and severe pain that can last as long as a week.