Aim and objective:
Using dental implants has become an established and widely used treatment option for fully and partially edentulous patients. Success in implant dentistry relies on the initial osseointegration and long-term implant stability. Smoking is one of the essential factors that may affect the success of implant stability. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of smoking on the success of dental implants in generalized aggressive periodontitis patients.

Methods:
Totally, 32 implants were inserted in 13 generalized aggressive periodontitis patients, 7 were smoker and 6 were non-smoker. Demographic data was collected. Peri-implant plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were recorded. Marginal bone loss (MBL) was measured using standardized digital radiographs at baseline, 1 and 6-months. Data were tested statistically using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results:
In initial osseointegation period, totally 2 implants were failed in the smoker group. 17 implants in non-smoker and the 13 implants in smoker group were evaluated. MBL was higher in the smoker group than nonsmoker both follow up periods, but the differences were not statistically significant at 1 and 6- months (p=0.784 and p=0.996, respectively).

Conclusions:
Our short term findings emphasize that there is a relation in smoking and peri-implant marginal bone loss in periodontally compromised patients. Smoking is not a contraindication for dental implant therapy, however, dentists should provide detailed information on the addiction-related risk of implant failure. Especially, patients should be informed that implant success is very much related to their compliance about smoking habits and a strict recall protocol.

Funding:
This study was supported by Oral Reconstruction Foundation.