Why We're Checking Vitamin D at Cherrybank Dental Spa

You might not immediately associate vitamin D with your dental health – but increasingly, we are learning just how closely the health of our mouth is connected to the health of the rest of our body.

That's why, as part of our Total Health approach at Cherrybank Dental Spa, we are introducing vitamin D testing – initially for all patients undergoing dental implant treatment, and now increasingly as an option for our wider patient community.

Why is vitamin D important?

Vitamin D helps our bodies regulate calcium and phosphate and is important for maintaining healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

Here in Scotland, low vitamin D is particularly relevant. Our bodies make vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, but according to NHS Scotland, we only get enough of the right type of sunlight to produce vitamin D between approximately April and September. During the darker months, we rely much more heavily on our diet and supplements.

What does vitamin D have to do with dental implants?

A dental implant needs to become firmly integrated with the surrounding bone – a biological process known as osseointegration.

Vitamin D has an important role in bone metabolism, and research increasingly suggests that having adequate vitamin D levels may support successful healing around dental implants. Studies have found an association between vitamin D deficiency and poorer implant healing and a greater risk of early implant failure.

The research is still developing, and vitamin D is certainly not the only factor determining whether an implant succeeds. Smoking, gum health, diabetes, oral hygiene and many other factors are important too.

However, because implant treatment relies so heavily on the body's ability to heal and form healthy bone, we believe knowing a patient's vitamin D status gives us another useful piece of information when planning treatment.

For this reason, we are now including vitamin D screening for our implant patients as part of our pre-treatment assessment.

What about gum health?

There is also growing interest in the relationship between vitamin D and periodontal (gum) health.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease, and studies have found that people with periodontitis may have lower vitamin D levels than people with healthy gums. Some research also suggests that correcting a deficiency may support the response to periodontal treatment.

This doesn't mean taking vitamin D will treat gum disease – professional treatment and excellent daily plaque control remain essential – but it is another example of why we believe it makes sense to look at the whole person rather than simply their teeth.

A more personalised approach to health

One of the principles behind our Total Health approach is that healthcare should become increasingly personalised to the individual.

General health advice is useful. For example, because of our limited sunlight in Scotland, national guidance recommends that most of us consider vitamin D supplementation, particularly during the winter months.

But there is a difference between knowing what is recommended for the general population and knowing what is happening in your own body.

A simple vitamin D test gives us an actual measurement of your vitamin D level. Rather than assuming that you may be deficient – or assuming that the supplement you are already taking is enough – you have information specific to you.

We believe that is an important part of personalised healthcare: measure where we can, understand your individual risk factors, and make decisions based on knowledge rather than assumptions.

Should I be taking a vitamin D supplement?

NHS Scotland currently advises that everyone in Scotland should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D, particularly during the winter months. Some people at greater risk of deficiency are advised to take this throughout the year.

Vitamin D3 is available in many forms, including tablets, capsules and oral sprays, and some people find a vitamin D3/K2 spray a particularly convenient way to take it.

However, more isn't necessarily better – and this is another reason why knowing your level can be helpful. If testing identifies a deficiency, the appropriate dose and duration of supplementation may be different from routine maintenance advice.

If your vitamin D level is low, or if you have a medical condition, take regular medication or are considering taking higher doses, we recommend discussing the appropriate supplementation with your GP, pharmacist or another suitably qualified healthcare professional.

Dentistry is about more than teeth

For us, introducing vitamin D testing is another small part of a much bigger change in the way we think about dental care.

Your mouth isn't separate from the rest of your body. Bone health, inflammation, nutrition, cardiovascular health and many other aspects of general health can influence – and be influenced by – what we see in the dental practice.

Our Total Health approach is about recognising those connections and, where appropriate, using the regular contact we have with our patients to help identify potential health risks earlier.

It's about moving towards more preventive, proactive and personalised healthcare – and helping our patients make informed decisions based on what is right for them.

Sometimes, looking after your smile means looking a little further.