April to September are the months where your skin can take in vitamin D from sunlight in the UK,[i] meaning for much of the year, many patients don’t have the necessary nutrients in everyday life. So far, 2025 has been kinder, as by late May we had more sunshine than the entirety of last year’s summer.[ii]
More sunlight, and certainly more vitamin D from other sources, is needed by many individuals. 50% of UK adults have low vitamin D levels.[iii] Clinicians need to understand the link vitamin D has to dental care, including the management and long-term success of dental implants. As well as this, they should know who is at the greatest risk of low vitamin D levels, and realise the opportunities to support affected individuals.
Shining a light
Vitamin D comes from a variety of sources. Alongside sunlight, the nutrient can be consumed through a diet rich in foods such as oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks, and even some breakfast cereals.[iv] Supplements are also used by some individuals.
A deficiency in the nutrient is linked with both caries and periodontal disease development, as well as compromised odontogenesis, which results in a hypomineralised dentition that is subject to fracture.[v] There is also evidence that a deficiency in vitamin D can contribute to an increased risk of osteoporosis and broken bones.i In dental implant management, this translates to concern over the role of vitamin D in osseointegration and treatment success.[vi] The literature cites the nutrient as an important factor in the predictability of implant survival through its modulation of the immune system and healing process.vi
Vitamin D is vital to the development of osseus tissue due to its ability to stimulate the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate. It also activates osteoclasts and osteoblasts, regulating bone metabolism and mineralisation.[vii]
The literature has varying findings on the relationship between vitamin D, osseointegration and other conventional requirements for implant success. For example, it is reported that whilst a CBCT scan may show the presence of good bone density, a patient many not always have optimal vitamin D3 serum levels – where these are severely deficient, failure is more likely, which suggests that the nutrient is linked to implant success.[viii]
Other studies have found no significant association between vitamin D levels and the osseointegration of dental implants.[ix] There is a call for further research into the topic to ensure we completely understand the extent of the connection.ix
Most at risk
Vitamin D deficiency, as mentioned, is common. Clinicians must be aware of patients at risk, and identify opportunities to further tailor treatment plans.
One group that may require support is peri- and post-menopausal women. The menopause significantly speeds up bone loss, leaving individuals at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.[x] Vitamin D deficiency is a known but neglected health problem for menopausal women, and supplements are used to better support bone health.[xi] If these patients seek a permanent restoration, clinicians need to be confident in the potential for osseointegration. They must also consider other treatments that the peri- and post-menopausal patient may be undergoing, such as hormone replacement therapy, which modifies the regenerative rate of osseus tissue – patients must be informed about any potential increased risk of osseointegration failure.[xii]
Other patients at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency include those with darker skin tones. Melanin pigment protects underlying skin against damage against ultraviolet radiation, but this also reduces vitamin D synthesis.[xiii] For an adequate intake of vitamin D year-round, many patients with darker skin tones need alternative solutions such as supplements.
Vitamin D deficiency is also common in older people aged 65 years and over, and pregnant and breastfeeding women[xiv] – however, any patient can be affected.
Treatment
Implementing safe and effective measures for treating vitamin D deficient individuals is key. Testing for vitamin D serum levels can give expert clinical insight, and identify patients who may benefit from supplements to create a greater opportunity for dental implant success.
Dr Fazeela Khan-Osborne, founder and lead tutor at One to One Implant Education, is beginning to implement the process of vitamin D testing at her London practice, The One to One Dental Clinic. She also explores the importance of holistic approaches to dental care in the PG Diploma in Implant Dentistry, a course that is ideal for dentists looking to take their first steps into implant treatments with confidence. From patient consultations and treatment planning, to the placement and management of dental implants, the course helps clinicians identify the techniques and support that can optimise implant success.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for general health, and many patients with a vitamin D deficiency may experience problems with their oral health care. When placing and managing dental implants, clinicians must be able to provide tailored support for optimal outcomes, every time.
To reserve your place or to find out more, please visit
https://121implanteducation.co.uk or call 020 7486 0000
Dr Fazeela Khan-Osborne is the founding clinician of the FACE dental implant multi-disciplinary team for the One To One Dental Clinic based on Harley Street, London. She has always had a passion and special interest in implant dentistry, particularly in surgical and restorative full arch rehabilitation of the maxilla. She has been involved in developing treatment modalities for peri-implantitis within clinical practice. Dr Khan-Osborne is also the Founding Course Lead for the One To One Education Programme, now in its 20th year. As a former Lead Tutor on the Diploma in Implant Dentistry course at the Royal College of Surgeons (England), she lectures worldwide on implant dentistry and is an active full member of the Association of Dental Implantology, the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
[i] Royal Osteoporosis Society, (March 2022). Vitamin D for bones. (Online) Available at: https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/bone-health/vitamin-d-for-bones/ [Accessed May 2025]
[ii] Wade, J., Lear, J., (2025). Rain and showers for UK bank holiday weekend to mark end of warm spell. BBC Weather. (Online) Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c62nnr101peo [Accessed May 2025]
[iii] Braithwaite, J., Phillips, T., (2025). UK Vitamin D Statistics 2025: 50% of Brits Have Low Vit D Levels, Forth. (Online) Available at: https://www.forthwithlife.co.uk/blog/uk-vitamin-d-statistics/ [Accessed May 2025]
[iv] NHS, (2023). Vitamin D, (Online). Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/ [Accessed May 2025]
[v] Botelho, J., Machado, V., Proença, L., Delgado, A. S., & Mendes, J. J. (2020). Vitamin D deficiency and oral health: a comprehensive review. Nutrients, 12(5), 1471.
[vi] Alsulaimani, L., Alqarni, A., Almarghlani, A., & Hassoubah, M. (2022). The relationship between low serum vitamin D level and early dental implant failure: a systematic review. Cureus, 14(1).
[vii] Werny, J. G., Sagheb, K., Diaz, L., Kämmerer, P. W., Al-Nawas, B., & Schiegnitz, E. (2022). Does vitamin D have an effect on osseointegration of dental implants? A systematic review. International journal of implant dentistry, 8(1), 16.
[viii] Al-Quisi, A. F., A. Jamil, F., M. AL-Anee, A., & Jassim Muhsen, S. (2024). Relationship Between the Level of Vitamin D3 Deficiency and Successful Osseointegration: A Prospective Clinical Study. The Scientific World Journal, 2024(1), 9933646.
[ix] Buzatu, B. L. R., Buzatu, R., & Luca, M. M. (2024). Impact of vitamin D on osseointegration in dental implants: a systematic review of human studies. Nutrients, 16(2), 209.
[x] Endocrine Society, (2022). Menopause and Bone Loss. (Online) Available at: https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause-and-bone-loss [Accessed May 2025]
[xi] Mei, Z., Hu, H., Zou, Y., & Li, D. (2023). The role of vitamin D in menopausal women’s health. Frontiers in Physiology, 14, 1211896.
[xii] Koszuta, P., Grafka, A., Koszuta, A., Łopucki, M., & Szymańska, J. (2015). Effects of selected factors on the osseointegration of dental implants. Menopause Review/Przegląd Menopauzalny, 14(3), 184-187.
[xiii] Webb, A. R., Kazantzidis, A., Kift, R. C., Farrar, M. D., Wilkinson, J., & Rhodes, L. E. (2018). Colour counts: sunlight and skin type as drivers of vitamin D deficiency at UK latitudes. Nutrients, 10(4), 457.
[xiv] Department for Health and Social Care, (2012). Vitamin D – advice on supplements for at risk groups. GOV.UK (Online). Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vitamin-d-advice-on-supplements-for-at-risk-groups [Acessed
