Holistic Dentistry Articles
The Mouth as a Barrier System
At Integrative Dentistry one of the first things we do is look for infections in the mouth so that your body and barrier systems remain healthy. What is a barrier system? A barrier system keeps what’s bad for you on the outside rather than getting into your body, or...
3 Truths in ‘Root Cause’ Movie on Root Canals
The Netflix movie “Root Cause” caused quite a stir and not a day goes by that someone comes into my practice and says, ‘I watched that movie on root canals and I want to know if my teeth are ‘infected.’ I have to tell them root canal infections are a real thing and can be very serious but not all root canals are infected as the movie states.
Is The “Root Cause” Movie Right About Root Canals?
A lot of my patients have seen The Root Cause movie on Netflix about the perils of root canals. Does the movie have it right when it comes to root canals being bad for you and causing diseases like cancer, arthritis, heart disease and strokes? My answer is 'yes' and...
What’s the Most Important Vitamin for Dental Health?
What's the most important vitamin for dental health? Many nutrients play a role in a healthy 'ecosystem' in the mouth. However, there is one vitamin that rules them in the oral microbiome, especially when it comes to connective tissue and gums. From the picture I...
How To Heal Root Canals and Infected Teeth with Photon Induced Photoacoustic Streaming
There has been a lot of controversy over the last decade or two about root canals. The disagreement is usually between dentists and root canal specialists (endodontists) on one side and alternative practitioners, like naturapaths, Integrative M.D.’s and chiropractors on the other. Dentists and endodontists almost always recommend saving the tooth. Alternative doctors usually land on the side of extracting the tooth.
Inflammation May Cause Failure in Extractions, Root Canals and Implants: A Case Study
Have you put off doing the dental work you need because you are afraid it might fail? You may have had the right idea! Have you heard that all root canals are bad for you? Or that a titanium implant blocks the meridian flow, or can corrode because of the acids in your mouth? Or that extractions are bad for you because they might lead to cavitations or dry sockets? In fact, all the above are possible. If you are immune compromised in any way, pay attention, because what you are going to learn here can make a difference between success and failure when it comes to dental surgery of any kind, whether it be root canals, implants, extractions or even gum procedures like deep cleanings.
Root Canal vs Extraction: Are Root Canals Toxic to My Body? A Review of Weston Price’s Research 100 years later
Did Dr. Price have it right when he put out his research on infected root canals and the focal infection theory nearly 100 years ago? Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing the seminal work on root canals and how they affect systemic health. I’m often asked by my patients whether it’s better to get a root canal vs an extraction. I will be attempting to answer this question by taking a deep dive into the research. However, I will not just be looking at one side of the issue. I will be looking at it from all angles and summarizing what opposing sides have to say about this hotly contested subject within dentistry vs alternative health world. Needless to say, opinions vary wildly from one extreme to the other.
How to Resolve a Root Canal Infection – A Pardigm Shift
A lot of patients come to me seeking help in trying to resolve root canal infections. The problem is that the basic protocol for treating root canals hasn’t changed in the last 30 years, ever since I got out of dental school. There have been improvements and tweaks, but we are still using the same basic approach, strategies and tools.
What’s the problem in doing root canals?
How I Became a Holistic and Biological Dentist
Sitting in a hospital for an hour squirming while waiting for a doctor to see you can be a humbling experience. What began to sink in was the realization that if I didn’t change something and do it quickly, I was most likely not going to see my 50th birthday. I knew instinctively that a heart attack was in my future.
How to Avoid Root Canal Infections
Do all teeth that need crowns automatically need root canals?
Absolutely not. Truth be told, in my experience very few teeth that need crowns (or caps) also need root canals. In fact I can count on one hand the times that I remember this happening. The reason for this are two fold.
What is Holistic Dentistry and What Makes It Different?
Holistic dentistry and biological dentistry refer to two different aspects of integrative dental care. Generally speaking the term ‘holistic’ refers to the fact that the body is one whole or holistic system. Common sense dictates that the mouth, the primary pathway...
Work Life Balance – Even a Holistic Dentist Needs a Vacation
After a very busy and productive 2017, we were ready to apply more balance to our working life. For those who wanted to see some pictures of our vacation in Kauai, here goes. We had such an outpouring of good will when we announced our plans, we just had to share...
First Do No Harm – Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment in Dentistry
As a holistic dentist in practice for more than 30 years, I still find myself referring back to the first thing I learned at USC Dental School, first do no harm. The Hippocratic Oath remains the Golden Rule of health care: First do no harm. This is the timeless...
Seasonal Stress, Dental Health and Jaw Pain – Part 2
In our last blog we discussed the importance of pH and how stress, especially at this time of year, can impact a healthy mouth. Another area where stress can affect the mouth is with clenching and grinding, also known as bruxism that can cause pain in your jaws and...
What You Need to Know About Ceramic vs Titanium Dental Implants
When I lecture on holistic dentistry, I'm often asked, 'What are ceramic dental implants?' As you can see in the picture to the right, ceramic implants are white and titanium implants are black and metallic looking. In the future I feel that ceramic implants are...