title: Vitamin C and dental healing: testing and placebo effect.
abstract: The present study augments a growing body of evidence that indicates supplemental vitamin C may be beneficial in speeding healing following tooth extraction and in reducing the likelihood of alveolalgia and other complications. No adverse side effects were encountered from administration of vitamin C in our studies or in a recent investigation involving intake of 10 g/day; thus, carefully tested higher dosages ("megadose therapy") might be applied successfully to patients with alveolalgia or orthognathic conditions. Hanck comments on the relative safety of ascorbic acid in medicine: "The few literature references suggesting adverse effects of ascorbic acid are outnumbered by a large number of clinical studies in which no adverse effects have been observed. Up to 5 g of ascorbic acid daily may be administered safely even over a long-term". Further research is recommended to determine whether vitamin C is of similar value in hastening proper recovery from other oral surgical procedures. Vitamin C is a relatively safe, inexpensive, over-the-counter product that may be more effective in dental healing than previously known.
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Nutrition and Stress, Dental Connection, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Abrahmsohn
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Halberstein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fregeolle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000209:etiology; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D020390:Tooth Socket / Q000187:drug effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010919:Placebos; D001205:Ascorbic Acid