D
Dave Wickware
Guest
Vitamin C and Diet Speeds Recovery From Oral Surgery Wounds
Getting plenty of vitamin C is one way oral surgery patients
can ensure timely recovery. Patients who neglect nutrition
might be tacking extra days onto their recovery time,
reports the Academy of General Dentistry.
Vitamin C is particularly important to the healing process
since deficiencies of the vitamin have been shown to
significantly slow the healing process. Ludi Leibson, DDS,
Academy of General Dentistry spokesman, says he sometimes
gives oral surgery patients high doses of vitamin C and multi-
vitamin supplements before surgery.
A patient's diet is crucial since adequate and appropriate
vitamins, minerals, fats and protein are essential for the
growth and regeneration of normal tissues.
"You're going to delay the healing process and increase the
possibility of infection if you're not getting the proper
nutrients," says Dr. Leibson.
Nutrients function individually as well as cooperatively
in the healing process. The energy needed for tissue
maintenance and repair is supplied by carbohydrates, fat,
and protein. Adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fat
must be available for the energy to preserve protein for
the cellular growth and for the protein development needed
for optimal healing. Along with vitamin C, vitamins A, E,
B, K and D are all integral to the healing process and
recovery time. For example, vitamin A significantly
contributes to healing by reducing the inflammatory period
of tissue repair.
Low nutritional status is commonly caused by poor diet,
digestive problems, illness, and drug/nutrient
interactions. Patients considered to be a nutritional risk
could have any of the following symptoms: severely
underweight (less than 80 percent of standard for height)
or overweight (more than 120 percent of standard for
height); recent loss of 10 percent or more of body weight;
substance abuse, especially alcohol; presence of an acute
or chronic disease; and taking drugs such as steroids,
immunosuppressants and anti-tumor agents.
Dr. Leibson says he rarely sees patients who are
malnourished, but that if someone is nutritionally
compromised they should consider delaying oral surgery
until they are no longer at risk.
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The Academy of General Dentistry is a non-profit
organization of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated
to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing
education. A general dentist is the primary care provider
for patients of all ages and is responsible for the
diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of
services related to patient's oral health needs.
Getting plenty of vitamin C is one way oral surgery patients
can ensure timely recovery. Patients who neglect nutrition
might be tacking extra days onto their recovery time,
reports the Academy of General Dentistry.
Vitamin C is particularly important to the healing process
since deficiencies of the vitamin have been shown to
significantly slow the healing process. Ludi Leibson, DDS,
Academy of General Dentistry spokesman, says he sometimes
gives oral surgery patients high doses of vitamin C and multi-
vitamin supplements before surgery.
A patient's diet is crucial since adequate and appropriate
vitamins, minerals, fats and protein are essential for the
growth and regeneration of normal tissues.
"You're going to delay the healing process and increase the
possibility of infection if you're not getting the proper
nutrients," says Dr. Leibson.
Nutrients function individually as well as cooperatively
in the healing process. The energy needed for tissue
maintenance and repair is supplied by carbohydrates, fat,
and protein. Adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fat
must be available for the energy to preserve protein for
the cellular growth and for the protein development needed
for optimal healing. Along with vitamin C, vitamins A, E,
B, K and D are all integral to the healing process and
recovery time. For example, vitamin A significantly
contributes to healing by reducing the inflammatory period
of tissue repair.
Low nutritional status is commonly caused by poor diet,
digestive problems, illness, and drug/nutrient
interactions. Patients considered to be a nutritional risk
could have any of the following symptoms: severely
underweight (less than 80 percent of standard for height)
or overweight (more than 120 percent of standard for
height); recent loss of 10 percent or more of body weight;
substance abuse, especially alcohol; presence of an acute
or chronic disease; and taking drugs such as steroids,
immunosuppressants and anti-tumor agents.
Dr. Leibson says he rarely sees patients who are
malnourished, but that if someone is nutritionally
compromised they should consider delaying oral surgery
until they are no longer at risk.
------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
----
The Academy of General Dentistry is a non-profit
organization of more than 37,000 general dentists dedicated
to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing
education. A general dentist is the primary care provider
for patients of all ages and is responsible for the
diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of
services related to patient's oral health needs.