Healing is an important part of dental treatment. Biological dentistry considers not only the procedure itself, but also the conditions that can support the body’s normal repair and recovery processes.
IAOMT specifically recognizes nutritional status as an important factor in a patient’s ability to heal.
Preparing the Body to Heal
Good healing begins before treatment. Nutritional status, inflammation, existing infection, overall health, and other individual factors may influence recovery.
Supporting Surgical Healing
Careful surgical technique, management of infection and inflammation, preservation of healthy tissue, and appropriate postoperative care can help create favorable conditions for healing.
Nutrition & Recovery
Proper nutrition provides the building blocks the body needs for tissue repair, immune function, and bone healing. Depending on the individual patient, nutritional support may include:
- Vitamin D3 — supports normal immune function and bone health.
- Vitamin K2 — involved in normal calcium metabolism and bone health. IAOMT educational material specifically addresses vitamins D and K2 in its clinical-nutrition curriculum.
- Vitamin A / Retinol — IAOMT identifies inadequate retinol, along with copper and magnesium, as a factor that can interfere with normal iron metabolism.
- Magnesium — an essential mineral involved in numerous metabolic processes; IAOMT specifically identifies inadequate bioavailable magnesium in its discussion of iron dysregulation and oxidative stress.
- Copper — IAOMT specifically discusses bioavailable copper and notes that copper deficiency should be considered because of its relationship to coagulation and iron metabolism.
- Vitamin C — commonly used as nutritional support; in IAOMT’s survey of biological dentists treating jawbone cavitations, 48% of respondents reported using IV vitamin C. That survey describes practitioner usage, not proof of efficacy or a universal IAOMT protocol.
- Adequate protein — supplies amino acids needed for normal tissue repair and recovery.
Advanced Healing Support
Depending on the procedure and individual patient, additional regenerative or supportive approaches may be considered when clinically appropriate. IAOMT’s jawbone position paper, for example, reports that surveyed biological dentists use several adjunctive approaches to support healing, although practices vary and these survey results do not establish a universal standard of care.
Recovery planning works alongside the rest of our biological approach — SMART certified amalgam removal, BPA-free and metal-free restorations, and detox protocol support.