A patient with a 30 pack-year smoking history wants an implant. What should you advise?

Correct answer: A. Stop (or significantly reduce) smoking

• A. Correct. Smoking impairs healing/osseointegration and raises implant failure and peri-implantitis risk; smoking cessation should be advised before and after surgery.
• B. Incorrect. Ignoring heavy smoking ignores a major risk factor for failure.
• C. Incorrect. Implant length does not offset the biologic effects of smoking on healing.