So, how do you know if you are a good bone healer? There’s no good single test, but there are a few things you can consider to get an idea what healing will be like for your dental implants.
Have You Ever Broken a Bone?
If you have good, strong bones, you’re less likely to break bones, so it could be a good sign that you’ve never broken a bone. But what’s an even better sign is if you have broken a bone, and it healed well.
Good bone healing means that the bone healed fairly quickly, either right on schedule or earlier than your doctor expected. It also means that it healed without complications. If you experienced a nonhealing fracture, it is potentially a bad sign for your ability to heal bone. It may also be problematic if your bone healed weak and is susceptible to future damage.
Do You Have a Good Diet?
Another key indicator of how well your bone might heal is how well your bones are supplied with the nutrients they need to heal properly. Some of these important nutrients include all the ones you’ve probably heard about regularly, such as vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin C.
But there are also some less common nutrients you should try to add to your diet. These include vitamin K and silicon.
Vitamin K is one of the least-recognized vitamins, but it’s an extremely important one for bone healing. It works with vitamin D to help your body utilize calcium. Vitamin K is common in liver, dark green leafy vegetables, and green tea.
Silicon is also a small but vital contributor to healthy bone and proper bone healing. It can be found in mineral waters, whole grains, beans, spinach, and root vegetables. Beer is also a good source of silicon.
If you are getting a good diet, you’re probably going to heal well.
Are Your Bones Healthy?
Another factor to consider is whether your bones are healthy. If you have specific bone conditions, it may impact your body’s ability to heal around the dental implant. Probably the most common bone condition we face is osteoporosis. This is caused by the loss of density in your bones, and it could be related to many other health conditions. It’s also important to note that osteoporosis medication may be as much a problem as the condition itself.
Anemia can also impact your bones’ ability to heal. As can a number of other less common conditions. Ask your doctor about your health and whether your bones are likely to heal well after surgery.
Remember that smoking can dramatically reduce the blood supply to your bones as well as your body’s ability to make new bone.
None of These Will Keep You from Getting Implants
It’s important to remember that these are only factors to consider that can give you a good idea about how your recovery will go. None of them actually represent barriers to getting dental implants. They also don’t mean that you won’t have good results with your dental implants. Even smokers and people with osteoporosis have high levels of success with dental implants, and nearly everyone is a good candidate for dental implants.
If you would like to talk to a Savannah implant dentist about your personal risk with dental implants, please call (912) 234-8282 today for an appointment at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry.
