Oral manifestations of vitamin D deficiency and potential treatment – Literature Review

Introduction andObjective.Vitamin D is essential for overall health, and particularly of the musculoskeletal system, including teeth.Its deficiency is linked to many oral health issues, such as caries susceptibility, impaired odontogenesis, delayed teeth eruption, implant failure and periodontitis.This review aims to examine the current knowledge of these effects and provide potential preventive and therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation.Review Methods.The review is based on a search of recent literature from PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov,and Google Scholar, consisting solely of English-language papers addressing the topic.All cited articles are less than eight years old.Brief description of the state of knowledge.Vitamin D deficiency is associated with caries development due to its role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, leading to teeth hypomineralization.The vitamin regulates odontoblast-like cells differentiation and OPG/RANKL activity.By influencing bone re-modelling, it determines the rate of teeth eruption.Some studies link its deficiency to teeth impaction.Additionally, vitamin D modulates the immune system, affecting osseointegration in implants and the progression of bone resorption in periodontitis.Nevertheless, more research is needed to understand the complex and often multifaceted mechanisms behind its impact on oral health.Summary.Vitamin D plays a crucial role in oral health, though it is not a standalone remedy.It may serve as a safe, affordable adjunct to standard therapies.Further research could lead to more targeted interventions, especially for patients unresponsive to treatment.Early detection of vitamin D deficiency by healthcare providers can lead to improved diagnosis and better patient management.