Potential Effects Of Dietary Supplements On Implant Surgery

Posted on: 1 February 2019

If you are unhappy about the condition of your teeth, a dental implant provider can create a beautiful smile for you. While your dentist will provide you with a pre-procedure form to complete regarding your medical history and the medications you take, you may not think to list the dietary supplements you use, as these are not characterized as medications.

Dietary supplements can affect your dental implants procedure and recovery period, so your dentist will need to know which ones you are taking. Here are some of the most common effects dietary supplements can have on your implant procedure and what you can do about them to help ensure that you do not experience any adverse effects:

Bleeding 

Dietary supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, garlic, and magnesium can heighten your risk for bleeding both during your dental implants procedure and during the recovery period. While these supplements do not actually thin your blood, they can have an effect on the way your blood clots by decreasing platelet aggregation.

When this happens, your blood may take longer to clot during surgical procedures or after cutting yourself. If you take any of these dietary supplements, tell your oral surgeon before undergoing your implant procedure. He or she may recommend that you stop taking them a week or so before your surgery and not resume them until the surgical sites in your mouth have fully healed. 

Improved Gum Condition

While some supplements can have negative effects on your dental implant procedure, vitamin C can have a beneficial effect. Vitamin C plays an important role in wound healing and collagen formation, both of which are crucial for optimal healing after your oral surgery. Taking vitamin C supplements prior to your procedure may also help decrease your risk of abnormal bleeding during and after your surgery.

Vitamin C also helps lower your risk for infection and post-operative gingivitis. While vitamin C supplements can help you heal faster after getting dental implants, taking large doses may cause problems with the natural teeth you have left in your mouth.

Taking large doses of vitamin C can cause acid erosion of your dental enamel, which can cause sensitivity, pain, and a heightened risk for developing cavities. During your pre-procedure visit with your dentist, talk about your vitamin C intake so that he or she can determine if your dose is too high. 

Dry Mouth

If you take dietary supplements to help keep you awake or restore your energy levels, you may experience an extremely dry mouth, or xerostomia. Many of these supplements contain caffeine, which is a stimulate and has diuretic properties.

Caffeine causes an increase in urinary frequency, and when too much fluid is lost through urination, you may become dehydrated and develop a dry mouth. When you do not have enough saliva in your mouth to wash away oral microorganisms, they can accumulate inside your oral cavity, leading to infection after your implant surgery.

If you take caffeine supplements, be sure to drink plenty of water to help relieve oral dryness. Also, because caffeine is a stimulant, your dentist may recommend that you stop taking them before your surgery, as they may interact with the anesthesia. Caffeine supplements may also post a cardiac arrhythmia risk if you go under general anesthesia for your surgery.

If you take dietary supplements, make sure your oral surgeon knows before undergoing your dental implant procedure. When your dental specialist knows about your lifestyle habits such as supplement history, he or she can better monitor your condition during and after your dental procedure. It is important to note that if your family physician has recommended that you take certain dietary supplements to manage a medical condition, you should not stop taking them prior to your implant surgery without first getting medical clearance. 

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