BACKGROUND: Immediate implant placement (IIP), where implants are inserted directly into extraction sockets, offers reduced treatment time, enhances aesthetics and patient related outcomes. Smoking is believed to negatively affect wound healing and osseointegration, making immediate implants a less preferable therapy in this cohort with contradicting evidence of literature. This study aimed to evaluate and compare secondary stability and early healing outcomes of IIP among smokers and non-smokers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two edentulous sites were categorized into 2 groups: Group 1 (non-smokers, n=11) and Group 2 (smokers, n=11). Implants were placed using a flapless technique. Resonance Frequency Analysis (RFA) assessed implant stability at baseline and at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Marginal bone loss (MBL), buccal bone thickness, Pink Esthetic Score (PES), Wound Healing Index (WHI), Visual Analogue Scale for Pain (VAS-P) were assessed.
RESULTS: Group 1 showed significantly higher implant stability (ISQ: 77.00 ± 1.12) than Group 2 (72.09 ± 1.13). Group 2 demonstrated greater MBL (mesial: 0.40 mm, distal: 0.38 mm) versus Group 1 (mesial: 0.18 mm, distal: 0.11 mm). PES and WHI were higher in non-smokers (PES: 10.50 vs. 9.27; WHI: 5.00 vs. 4.72). Pain scores were lower in Group 1 (2.50 vs. 3.36).
CONCLUSION: Based on the study findings, it can be ascertained that secondary stability substantially increased in both groups. However, smokers experienced a notable dip in stability at 8 weeks, with greater bone loss, pain, and compromised healing outcomes. Nevertheless, efforts on smoking cessation should be encouraged prior to implant placement and caution on prosthetic loading may further improve implant success among smokers.
Keywords: immediate implants, implant stability, osseointegration, pink esthetics, smoking, wound healing.
How to cite this article: Elango P, Parthasarathy H, Ramachandran L, Tadepalli A, Cholan P, Kamalakannan H, Assessment Of Impact Of Smoking On Early Healing Outcomes After Immediate Implant Placement, A Case Control Study. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(4s): 126-138; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.126-138