Nutritional Effects on Hard and Soft Tissue Regeneration and Dental Implant Integration

Abstract

Bone grafting and soft tissue grafting has become more and more sophisticated over time due to the innovative development and use of biomaterials.  These regenerative procedures allow for dental rehabilitation utilizing dental implants.  Careful patient selection, surgical technique and selection of appropriate biomaterials and sound functional design are the foundational principles of predictable outcomes.  But sometimes, even when all of these guiding principles are followed, we still see failure of the regenerative procedure or failure of the dental implant.  Increasing evidence suggests that a lack of certain micronutrients may contribute to these failures.  We will review the effects of micronutrients on bone health, bone grafting, periodontal health, soft tissue healing, implant osseointegration and immune regulation and discuss strategies to optimize serum levels of micronutrients to prepare for regenerative procedures.  As our society continues to rely more and more on processed foods and fast foods that are less nutrient dense, we are seeing an increase in micronutrient deficiencies, especially in our patients who are more advanced in age.  These patients who are advanced in age also tend to be the ones most commonly seeking dental rehabilitation with dental implants.

Learning Objectives

•  Understand how certain micronutrients can influence wound healing
•  Understand the role of nutrition and immune function on bone and soft tissue regeneration and dental implant osseointegration
•  Understand how certain micronutrient deficiencies can be corrected