Dental implants are the best way to replace one, a few, many, or all of your lost teeth because they can support lifelike restorations that look, work, and feel just like the real thing and can last a lifetime if they receive excellent care. When you receive your implants, you’ll need to stick to your dentist’s postoperative instructions to ensure that your gums and jawbones heal properly so your prosthetic device can last for as long as possible. Here’s a brief guide to how vitamin D can set your implants up for many years of success.
Why Is Vitamin D So Important for My Dental Implants?
Dental implants must thoroughly bond with the jawbones through the natural process of osseointegration to be successful, and vitamin D plays a crucial role in how bones heal and maintain their structure. This nutrient allows the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus from food passing through the large intestine, and these minerals are crucial for the proper growth and healing of bone tissue and the integration of implants into the jaw.
Failing to get enough vitamin D after receiving dental implants can deprive the bones of the nutrients they need to fuse properly with the titanium piece. Without the sturdy foundation this process creates, the implant may fail early due to the pressure of chewing or may be more easily compromised by infection.
How Can I Get More Vitamin D?
Luckily, there are a few easy ways to help your body get more vitamin D. These include:
- Enjoying fifteen minutes of unprotected sun exposure a day. This will allow your body to manufacture some vitamin D on its own.
- Taking a vitamin D supplement.
- Enjoying foods and beverages like:
- Fatty fish like salmon, halibut, and mackerel
- Herring, tuna, and sardines
- Eggs
- Mushrooms
- Fortified foods like milk, milk substitutes, and orange juice
Don’t let a vitamin D deficiency set your dental implants up for early failure. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best ways to keep your natural and artificial teeth happy and healthy for life.
About the Practice
A New Smile Dental Canyon Country provides expert oral healthcare to the community of Santa Clarita. Led by Drs. Lisa Vallesteros and Payman Kakoli, the staff ensures each patient receives exemplary courtesy and compassionate service in a friendly and clean office. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as implant services. To learn more about caring for your implants, contact the office online or dial (661) 251-0480.