How Does Vitamin D Make Dental Implant Treatment More Successful?

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there. Since they replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for a wide range of benefits that you can’t achieve with dentures or dental bridges. One of the most notable ones is their astonishing success rate of over 95%! To achieve this, it’s important that you closely follow your aftercare instructions and get all of the vitamins and minerals you need. Vitamin D plays an important role in the success of dental implants. Continue reading to learn why it is so important.

Why Is Vitamin D Needed for Dental Implants?

Vitamin D is necessary to maintain healthy bones and teeth. This vitamin helps your body to regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium it has. These two minerals are required for excellent oral health. Without vitamin D, you would develop a severe calcium deficiency, leading you to experience various problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. When you have these issues, it is much less likely that you will support health dental implants. Calcium deficiency doesn’t just affect your smile. It also has been associated with other serious problems, like depression, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, and cancer.

How Do You Get Vitamin D?

The most effective way to get vitamin D is by absorbing it from the sun. By spending enough time outside, you can see huge changes in the amount of vitamin D and calcium your body has. The amount of time required for a sufficient amount of vitamin D absorption varies from person to person. This is due to the wide range of skin tones that absorb the sun’s rays at different paces. People who have darker skin tones have bone melanin, which protects the body from overexposure. Because of this, people with darker complexions need anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours more than Caucasians, who only need about 10 to 30 minutes a few times a week.

How Else Can You Get Vitamin D?

Sunlight is the best way for your body to absorb vitamin D, there are also some foods that provide it.

• Fatty Fish and seafood
• Fortified cow’s milk
• Egg yolks
• Portabella mushrooms

If you have concerns about your vitamin D levels, you can always get them checked through your primary care provider. If they are low, they may recommend an over-the-counter supplement or give you a prescription.

Getting the nutrients that you need is essential for the health of your dental implants and the rest of your body. By spending some time in the sun and enjoying foods rich in vitamin D, you can set your dental implants up for success.

About the Author

Dr. Jayme Martinez earned his dental doctorate from Baylor College of Dentistry. Since then, he has been committed to continuing education to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and Dallas County Dental Society. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (214) 303-9969.