Complications Associated With Drinking Alcohol After Dental Implantation

If you like to have a few drinks after dinner and plan on having a dental implant secured, then you should know that it is wise not to drink after implantation. Your dental professional will inform you about how long you should abstain from alcohol. And there are several reasons why this is best. Keep reading to understand a few of the complications that alcohol can cause.

Avascular Necrosis

Your body goes through an extensive healing process after an implant is placed in your jaw. And since the bone is involved, this tissue will need to rebuild. When it rebuilds around the implant root and bonds with it, this is called osseointegration. 

When new bone develops, blood vessels also form within the tissue. The vessels ensure that the bone can receive the oxygen and nutrients that it needs. However, if you drink, then this can impair the formation of the vessels. Specifically, it is understood that alcohol consumption causes more fat to remain within the bloodstream, and the fat can destroy newly forming blood vessels by clogging them up.

If the new bone cannot form vessels, then it will die. This condition is called avascular necrosis, and it cannot be treated conservatively with medication. In many cases, the implant root will need to be removed, and you may not be able to receive a new one. So make sure not to drink after the implant is secured, especially in the initial healing period that lasts about 72 hours after the surgery.

Poor Healing Soft Tissue Infections

Alcohol consumption can affect the soft tissues of the mouth as well. In particular, it can reduce your body's ability to heal by depriving it of essential nutrients that it needs to develop new tissues. The poor absorption of vitamin C is one example of this. 

Also, alcohol can increase the amount of sugar in your blood, and this can cause inflammation and tissue damage. When tissues are inflamed for long periods of time, the body is unable to repair and rebuild tissues. This means the incision area can remain injured for some time. And when the tissue does not heal, this leaves it exposed and more likely to develop an infection.

Infections are more likely when you drink alcohol, too, since it prevents the immune system from functioning properly. This is due to general stress on the body and nutritional deficiencies. 

If you want to know more about dental implants and what you can and cannot do during the healing process, speak with a dentist.  

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