Dental implants are an important investment in your oral health, but they’re also a significant financial investment, too. Naturally, you want to do everything you can to make sure that your procedure is a success. This means that to ensure that your implants properly integrate with your jaw and heal correctly, there are certain lifestyle changes you may want to consider. For example, if you smoke, you should quit before getting them, and if you don’t already, you should ensure that you have adequate levels of vitamin D.
Here’s why this is so important, and what you can do to boost your levels of this important vitamin.
Why is Vitamin D So Important?
To understand why vitamin D is so important in healing from dental implant surgery, you first need to understand the role it plays in the body. Vitamin D helps your body absorb both calcium and phosphorous, both of which are vital for bone health. Because your dental implants are implanted into your jawbone, the more vitamin D you have, the easier it will be for your bones to heal and for your implants to successfully complete the osseointegration process (when the implant fuses with the bone).
Vitamin D is also important for reducing inflammation, which can help reduce the risk of periodontal disease.
How Do I Get More Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is naturally absorbed by our bodies when we go out into the sun. In fact, it takes just 30 minutes of sunlight each day to generate enough to keep our bodies healthy. Unfortunately, however, sometimes things like sunblock, clothing, and shade can make absorption take a bit longer, though these are all still very important (so don’t ditch the SPF!).
If you cannot spend that much time outdoors or are still vitamin D deficient despite being outside frequently, you can boost your vitamin D levels by doing the following:
- Eating a diet of vitamin D-rich foods, like dark leafy greens and seafood.
- Taking a vitamin D supplement
If you do decide to take a vitamin D supplement, speak to your doctor about an appropriate dosage, as there are a variety of options available over the counter.
Remember, healing from dental implant surgery will look different for everyone, however you can help ensure that the process goes smoothly by giving yourself every benefit for a successful outcome. This includes quitting smoking and ensuring that your vitamin D levels are high enough to protect your bones.
About Dr. Pham
Dr. Christian Pham isn’t just a skilled dentist, but a caring, compassionate one at that! He has studied with the prestigious Progressive Orthodontics and Dentistry Group in dental implantology and orthodontics with advanced level dentofacial orthodontics and has even been recognized as one of America’s Top Dentists by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.
To schedule an appointment for dental implants with Crownridge Dental & Orthodontics, please visit our website or call us today at 210-538-7500.