How Marijuana Can Affect Your Dental Implant
Not everyone smokes marijuana, but a lot of Americans have the option. There are 15 states where recreational marijuana use is legal. Additionally, 35 states allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana. Using marijuana can have certain adverse effects on your health, but this can also be said about other controlled substances, such as alcohol and tobacco. Have you ever thought about the effect that marijuana can have on your dental health? Does your marijuana usage mean you can't receive a dental implant?
Bone Loss
Although the research is not yet conclusive, a number of studies have indicated that marijuana usage can have an adverse effect on dental implants. This is largely related to the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana, which is the primary psychoactive component of the plant (as in, the part that actually results in that marijuana high). It was found that increased THC in a person's body can lead to an acceleration of bone loss around their teeth, including natural teeth with their own root system, and dental implants, with an artificial root system.
Anchor Bone
This is hardly good news for a marijuana smoker who is considering a dental implant. The loss of bone associated with the THC in marijuana doesn't indicate the absence of bone but more a reduction in the density of the alveolar bone, which anchors your teeth. When this bone loses density, your existing teeth can destabilize, but more urgently, your dental implant might fail to integrate into the site of implantation. So what can you do?
An Honest Conversation
Obviously, quitting marijuana is your best option when you need a dental implant. For many people, it's not quite so simple. Even when your marijuana usage is contributing to bone loss, the severity of the problem can vary considerably from one person to another. The important thing is to have an open and honest conversation about your marijuana usage with your dentist so they can be fully aware of the amount of marijuana you consume on a regular basis and the subsequent potential effects of your habit on your dental implant.
Modify Your Habit
When straightforward quitting isn't an easy option for you, you should at least modify your habit. Talk to your dentist about your other options for consuming THC. Although THC in any form has the potential to be harmful to your dental implant, some ways of consumption that don't involve actually smoking marijuana can perhaps be a substitute for you. Reduced sugar (or sugar-free) edibles can be an option (as long as you thoroughly brush your teeth afterward). Alternatively, capsules, pills, and patches are also available to receive a dose of THC. These options are not ideal in terms of your dental health but can be an acceptable compromise if they form part of a strategy that will end with you no longer consuming THC.
Reach out to a dentist to discuss if dental implants are right for you.
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