Dental implants can be a great way to enjoy a complete smile after losing one or more teeth, and they can prevent a host of oral health problems that come with tooth loss such as alignment issues, TMJ disorders, and bone loss in the jaw. They also boast an impressive 95% success rate and can last for thirty-five years or even a lifetime with excellent care. Here’s how getting plenty of vitamin D after dental implant surgery can set you up for a successful treatment with long-lasting results.
What Is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a compound essential to the body’s process of absorbing minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in the intestines. These minerals are crucial to the health of the skeletal system and play a key role in its healing process. Insufficient levels of vitamin D are associated with issues like multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and rheumatoid arthritis as well as mental impairment and cognitive decline.
How Does Vitamin D Help My Dental Implants?
Dental implants function just like real teeth because they are surgically placed directly into the jawbone where they fuse with the surrounding structure through the natural process of osseointegration, creating a sturdy hold that allows them to bite and chew any sort of food. The presence of vitamin D or lack thereof determines to a great extent how effectively dental implants fuse with the bone tissue. A dental implant that has not thoroughly integrated with the jawbone is much more likely to fail sooner.
How Can I Get More Vitamin D?
Luckily, there are many safe and effective ways to get more of this nutrient. The human body makes its own Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, so hanging out in the sun for twenty minutes a day can be a great way to stimulate the production of this nutrient. Dairy products like milk and cheese are also rich in Vitamin D. You can also find many dietary supplements that can boost your vitamin D intake.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is even more important if you have received or are going to receive dental implants. By making the appropriate lifestyle changes regarding your dietary choices and the time you spend outdoors, you can help maximize the benefits that come with these wonderful artificial teeth.
About the Practice
South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery offers top-notch advanced dental services to the communities of Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, and Loxahatchee Groves, FL. Led by Drs. Paul Weinstein, Travis Thompson, Jeronimo Guzman, Christopher Chafin, and David Holland, the staff ensures that each patient receives effective treatments in a friendly and calming environment. Areas of expertise include wisdom teeth extractions, corrective jaw surgery, general oral surgery, and dental implants. To learn more about proper dental implant care, contact the practice online.