Dental implant surgery almost always turns out well, with the final posts working properly for 15 years or more. Still, you can take steps to make your own implant treatment more effective. Vitamin D improves dental implant success, so getting enough of it would help your restorations stay strong. Your Calimesa dentist will even explain how that’s possible with proper reasoning. To that end, here’s a primer on dental implant fusion and the ways vitamin D enhances it.
Remember, Dental Implants Fuse
If you want to know how vitamin D helps dental implants, you must grasp how posts work first. You won’t understand the final answer well otherwise.
Dental implants don’t just sit on your gums like dentures or bridges. Instead, dentists slowly and carefully place these posts in your jaw’s empty sockets. Each implant will then fuse with your jawbone until they become a permanent part of your mouth. This process (i.e., osseointegration) ensures your posts remain secure, with little to no risk of slipping or falling out.
How Does Vitamin D Help?
Vitamin D does two things to make dental implants more successful. The first is that it makes the implant fusion process smoother, while the second is that it reduces your risk of oral infections.
Note that vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. The latter mineral promotes bone growth in your jaw, ensuring your body has enough tissue for implant fusion. To that extent, getting enough vitamin D makes your implants more likely to remain stable.
On the other hand, vitamin D also strengthens your immune system. That means it helps your body fight off infections, making gum disease much less likely. This crucial effect prevents cases of infected gums that can cause early implant failure.
Tips on Getting More Vitamin D
Dental implants only benefit from vitamin D when you get enough of it. With that said, try upping your intake by using the following tips:
- Eat Vitamin-Rich Meals – Foods like beef liver, fatty fish, and fortified dairy have loads of vitamin D. Therefore, eating more of them can help your implants.
- Take Supplements – You can get vitamin D from supplements when foods aren’t available. In fact, the best brands offer 600-800 international units (IU) per vitamin capsule.
- Tan Your Body – When exposed to sunlight, your body naturally produces more vitamin D. That means you should try outdoor tanning to ensure implant success. For example, start doing so for twenty minutes daily.
Since vitamin D improves dental implant success, it’s worth adding to your post-surgery regimen. Consult your dental provider about ways to do so.
About the Author
Dr. Scot Parker is a dentist based in Calimesa, CA, having earned his DDS from Loma Linda University’s School of Dentistry. Thanks to his 10+ years in the field, he’s skilled in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental care. Young and old patients can trust him to make their smiles healthier and prettier than ever! Today, Dr. Parker practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (909)-795-6019.