Confessions of being scared

Now that things have quietened down, I have time to wonder if I made a rash decision.  Some basic research on dental implants tells me that there is a  95% success rate.  Implants themselves have truly advanced in the past decade, and we know that bone will integrate with titanium although no one really knows why.  Success depends on the quality and quantity of bone, the health of the tissue and teeth surrounding the bone, the patient's oral hygiene, the surgeon's skill and the willingness of the patient to follow the surgeon's post-operative instructions.  Well, at least I'm confident about the surgeon's skill.  I am almost as confident that he thought my bone and tissue were good enough to proceed although, from past experience, I will always be a little skeptical when large sums of my money are going to be passed over.  As for my oral hygiene?  I brush 2 to 3 times a day but floss less often.  Quite a bit less often.  More like when I remember.  However, I'm trying to remember more often now so I'm almost there once a day.  But not quite.

Now there are two Major concerns.  One, I have just learned that I am borderline on the osteoporosis scale.  At the age of 55, there's only one slope and I'm pretty sure I'm headed downhill.   Will my bones be able to sustain?  I'm doubling up on the calcium and vitamin D and I do exercise.  I can only hope it will be enough.

Secondly, I'm a smoker.  The dreaded "S" word!  Yes, I am a smoker.  Society now associates smokers as being evil people but I can't start a rant because that's discourse for another whole blog.   I've been a smoker for 40 years, give or take about 10 intermittant years when I've been able to stop for periods.  Smoking is the singular most important cause of failure of dental implants.  Have I just thrown away 6 years worth of house mortgage payments?  Wouldn't my surgeon have told me not to proceed?  He knew I was a smoker.  He advised not to smoke for 24 hours after surgery, which was almost impossible.  But he must have thought it was worth it, wouldn't he?   Now I'm worried.

I'll be back again, with more research on the effects of smoking and implant success or failure.