### Why Patients Should Avoid Certain Herbal Medicines Before Dental Implants in Mainland China
In recent years, many people in Hong Kong have opted to travel to Mainland China for dental procedures, especially dental implants, due to the extensive service options, advanced technology, and convenient processes available there. However, before undergoing surgery, dentists often advise patients to stop consuming certain herbal medicines for a period of time. This advice might seem puzzling at first—why should herbal medicines be avoided? The reasons lie in scientific and safety considerations.
Dental implants are a type of minor surgical procedure that involves creating an incision and inserting a metal root. Although it is not a major surgery, it does involve treating gums, alveolar bones, and blood vessels. Certain components in herbal medicines can affect blood coagulation speeds, particularly those with functions to promote circulation and dissolve stasis like Danshen, Chuanxiong, and Honghua. Consuming these herbs right before surgery might lead to increased bleeding or difficulty in blood clotting, thereby heightening surgical risks.
Moreover, some ingredients in herbal medicines can interact with anesthetics, antibiotics, or painkillers. For instance, certain warming tonics can increase heart rate or alter blood pressure, potentially causing instability during the surgery. Some cooling herbs may contain substances that affect liver metabolism, leading to either exaggerated or diminished drug effects. To ensure patient safety during the procedure, dentists recommend discontinuing these potentially impactful herbal medicines in advance.
Another reason involves the influence of herbal medicines on the immune system response. After a dental implant procedure, the alveolar bone needs to effectively integrate with the artificial root, requiring a stable immune response to facilitate tissue healing. If herbal medicines contain immune-modulating ingredients, they may slow down the healing process or cause allergic reactions, negatively impacting long-term outcomes. While not everyone will experience adverse effects from herbal medicine consumption, dentists prefer to adopt the safest approach by advising a temporary discontinuation.
Pre-surgery cessation of herbal medicines is typically recommended based on a dentist’s assessment of the patients physical condition, and it does not imply that herbal medicines are not beneficial; rather, it is intended to reduce
uncertainties during and after the surgery. Some individuals in Hong Kong might consider their consumption of herbal health supplements to be benign, but doctors in Mainland China may not be familiar with the particular brands and ingredients used. Even herbal tea bags or medicinal wines could contain components that affect coagulation or metabolism, so it’s best to inform the dentist thoroughly.
If you are planning to go to Mainland China for dental implants, here are a few tips:
1. **Communicate Early with Your Dentist**: Do not wait until the day of the surgery; inform your dentist at least one to two weeks in advance if you are taking herbal medicines or supplements.
2. **Bring Ingredient Lists**: For ready-to-use herbal formulas or health supplements, its best to bring photos of ingredient lists on packaging for your dentist to review.
3. **Adhere to Discontinuation Timing**: Follow your dentist’s instructions regarding the number of days to stop consumption, and don’t decide on your own to shorten or extend this period.
4. **Resume Post-Surgery**: Wait until your dentist confirms that the wound is stable before starting herbal medicines again for safer use.
Modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine can indeed coexist, but because surgery involves immediate physiological reactions and drug interactions, temporarily stopping herbal medicines serves as a protective measure. Some patients opt to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner after surgery to expedite gum and bone recovery with good results. However, all steps should be taken under the joint advice of both medical and traditional Chinese medicine professionals to ensure the best outcome.
In summary, discontinuing certain herbal medicines before traveling to Mainland China for dental implants is crucial to minimizing the three significant risks: increased bleeding, drug interactions, and delayed healing. Although many patients believe herbal remedies are natural and safe, individual responses to them vary, and surgical procedures require exceptionally stable physiological conditions. By cooperating early with your dentist’s recommendations, you can pave the way for a successful surgery and a bright smile.
So, if you plan to go for dental implants abroad, remember not everything can be consumed as usual. Pay attention to the ingredients in herbal medicines and supplements, heed professional advice, and you’ll be able to complete the surgery peacefully, smiling happily.
