More practitioners are using IV vitamin drips to complement dental procedures

While most people don’t associate IV nutrition with a trip to the dentist, this practice is 

beginning to see more widespread adoption in the field, says Dr. Linda Golden, owner of Golden Dental Wellness Center, in Manhasset.

“IVs are an amazing way to make sure patients have an adequate amount of the nutrients they need before, during, and after a dental procedure,” she says.

Vitamins C, B12, and D3 are the most common IV therapies administered alongside dental procedures, each with its own benefits, she says. For example, vitamin C can help break mercury bonds during the removal of old amalgam fillings; prevent dry sockets; decrease chronic or acute inflammation, and decrease bleeding during procedures and redness and swelling of the gums during and after procedures.

“While most of these benefits can be derived from a single IV administered during a larger procedure or surgery, you can also request a standalone IV and get rewarded with great benefits to your dental and total-body health,” Golden says. “In fact, after two rounds of treatment, many patients had no inflammatory cells at all and healthier immune systems overall.”

Recovery ‘Cocktails’

The second-most common IV vitamin is a vitamin B cocktail, she says. Usually found in meat, eggs, fish, and dairy, vitamin B helps the body process food into energy, regulate enzymes and increase blood flow to damaged areas.

“After a procedure, your body has essentially been damaged and needs to recover,” she explains. “A B-vitamin IV gives it easy access to the energy it needs to heal. During surgery, B2 also helps it manage the biotransformation of agents used during the procedure, ensuring they don’t stick around longer than they need to. If you’re worried about getting back on your feet after a tough dental visit, the B IV is the one you want.”

Made naturally in the skin, but also typically found in raw fish and fortified milk, vitamin D3 works with calcium to build muscles and bone. That makes D3 therapy perfect for a dental application, Golden says.

“If you’ve had problems with a tooth, chances are you’re looking for greater bone density and quick building of new bone tissue. In addition, D3 helps limit inflammation, which is really helpful if the IV is administered during surgery.”

A vitamin A cocktail, like a B-vitamin infusion, helps the body recover from a procedure or surgery—in this case by helping it build new tissue around the procedure site, Golden says. Vitamins B, C, and A work in tandem to ensure that new tissue grows properly and quickly, minimizing the risk of infection or complications from damage. Vitamin A also boosts immunity, further reducing infection risk.

“If you don’t know what you need, don’t worry,” Golden says. “We will do bloodwork for you and carefully examine if you could benefit from IV therapy as well as which vitamins will be best for your dental and total-body health.”

Location: 444 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY. For appointments or more information, call 516-627-8400 or visit GoldenSmile.com.