How Can Vitamin D Affect Dental Implants?
Posted on: 7 January 2021
Dental implants are the favored form of permanent tooth replacement. This is because they're effective and result in a functional artificial tooth, practically indistinguishable from a natural tooth. It's also because implants are fairly predictable, meaning that the implantation and recovery process is generally uncomplicated. There is one important factor that can add an element of potentially dangerous unpredictability to the process. Are you getting enough vitamin D?
The 42%
If you don't regularly get enough vitamin D, you're not alone. It's estimated that 42% of Americans have a vitamin D deficiency. Your primary intake of vitamin D is through your diet, but there are other ways in which your body can get vitamin D, such as through exposure to sunlight. Any nutritional deficiency is bad news, but a vitamin D deficiency doesn't just affect your health, and it can ultimately lead to dental implant failure. Why is this?
Vitamin D and Your Bones
A lack of vitamin D will eventually begin to compromise your bone density, and this is bad news in terms of a dental implant. An implant is extremely dependent on bone density for successful placement and ongoing stability. The implant is installed in your alveolar ridge, which is the bone that hosts your dental sockets and the teeth they contain. The implant acts as an artificial root structure, meaning it's also placed in the alveolar ridge. Any loss of density in this ridge means that the implant may not be appropriately anchored, and can soon loosen, requiring removal.
Bone Grafting
It's common for the alveolar ridge to lose some density when it no longer has to support a tooth. In many patients, this shortcoming can be overcome with bone grafting, which artificially redensifies the bone, permitting implant placement. It's different when the loss of density is primarily due to a vitamin D deficiency, as the issue cannot be so easily reversed with bone grafting. So what can you do if you have a vitamin D deficiency and are due to receive a dental implant?
Reverse Your Deficiency
Inform your dentist about your concerns. Your dentist might check your vitamin D levels, using a simple finger prick test with fast results. If your levels are problematic, you might be advised to delay the process until you've taken the necessary steps to reverse your deficiency. This can be a dietary change, specifically consuming foods high in vitamin D, and your dentist might also advise you to begin taking vitamin supplements.
A vitamin D deficiency might not be a major concern for you on a daily basis, but it should be a concern when you're due to receive dental implants.
For more information about dental implants, talk to a dentist today.
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