Vitamin D, in substantial doses, has been shown to have positive cell growth action, wound
healing, have antimicrobial and immunomodulator benefits, and has positive benefits in
Surgical Site Infections. In dentistry vitamin D is used to treat and prevent caries, and to
accelerate new bone formation around the ‘foreign’ materials used in dental implants.
Scientific research in recent years has shown that a high majority of the population is
deficient in Vitamin D. When it was once considered sufficient for a person to have 15
minutes of direct exposure to the sun’s rays on their skin, the feeling now is that this is
vastly inadequate. Our early forebears would spend the whole day exposing the majority of
their skin to the sun to achieve the correct level of Vitamin D, and it is with this knowledge
that research into Vitamin D have taken place. As a result, Vitamin D in considerable doses
has been found to be antimicrobial, have a dramatic effect on the immune system, on
wound healing and cell growth.
In dentistry, studies revel patients that consume significant doses of Vitamin D prior to
dental implant surgery have a greatly reduced susceptibility to Surgical Site Infections, and
have accelerated bone formation around the inserted implant, thus contributing to the
patient’s wellbeing post-surgery. Similar studies have also reveled that the regular
supplementation of Vitamin D can reduce the risk of caries by nearly 50%.
References
Hujoel P. P. (2013). Vitamin D and dental caries in controlled clinical trials: systematic review
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Paz, A., Stanley, M., Mangano, F. G., & Miron, R. J. (2021). Vitamin D Deficiency and Early
Implant Failure: Outcomes from a Pre-surgical Supplementation Program on Vitamin D
Levels and Antioxidant Scores. Oral health & preventive dentistry, 19, 495–502.
https://doi.org/10.3290/j.ohpd.b2082063
Werny, J. G., Sagheb, K., Diaz, L., Kämmerer, P. W., Al-Nawas, B., & Schiegnitz, E. (2022).
Does vitamin D have an effect on osseointegration of dental implants? A systematic
review. International journal of implant dentistry, 8(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40729-
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Trybek G, Aniko-Wlodarczyk M, Kwiatek J, Preuss O, Brodkiewicz A, Sinicyn A, et al. The
effect of vitamin D3 on the osteointegration of dental implants. Balt J Health Phys Act.
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Makke A. (2022). Vitamin D Supplementation for Prevention of Dental Implant Failure: A
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https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2845902
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