{"id":3451,"date":"2018-02-06T20:19:13","date_gmt":"2018-02-06T20:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/?p=3451"},"modified":"2018-08-10T18:09:25","modified_gmt":"2018-08-10T18:09:25","slug":"what-is-holistic-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myholisticdentist.com\/2018\/02\/06\/what-is-holistic-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Holistic Dentistry and What Makes It Different?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Holistic dentistry and biological dentistry refer to two different aspects of integrative dental care. Generally speaking the term \u2018holistic\u2019 refers to the fact that the body is one whole or holistic system.\u00a0 Common sense dictates that the mouth, the primary pathway to the digestive system, is integral to the health of the entire body.<\/p>\n

Actually, the dentist was once thought to be the first line of defense in patient care. Although dentistry has been put in a separate category from overall health care, increasingly the research shows that there are definite links between dental health and systemic health.<\/p>\n

When I\u2019m speaking at or attending an event, I\u2019m often asked, \u2018What is holistic dentistry?\u2019\u00a0 After 30+ years practicing, I would define it as doing dentistry that supports the overall health of the patient or at least doesn\u2019t damage it.\u00a0 Simple in theory?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 Easy in application?\u00a0 No.<\/p>\n

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Table of Contents<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Evaluating Oral Bacteria and Parasites with a Microscope<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. How to Clean Teeth Naturally<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. \u2018White\u2019 Composite fillings<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Bio-Friendly Materials for Crowns or Caps<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Should Old Amalgam Fillings be Removed<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Removing Amalgam Fillings Correctly<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Air Filters in the Dental Operatory<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Platelet Rich Fibrin<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Zirconia Implants<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Safer Dental Anesthetics<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. Ozone<\/a><\/li>\n
  12. Galvanism<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    The Difference Between Holistic and Biological Dentistry<\/h2>\n

    What’s the difference between holistic dentistry and biological dentistry?\u00a0 On a practical level they can be considered one and the same.\u00a0 If you go to a holistic dentist, you may assume correctly that you are going to a biological dentist and visa versa.<\/p>\n

    Biological dentistry focuses on the biological effects of dentistry on the rest of the body.\u00a0 As an example, ‘How do dental materials in general and specifically from metal restorations affect the organs of the body?’ Another area of concern are infections that are present in the mouth.\u00a0 The two main dental infections are gum disease, called periodontal disease, and root canal infections.\u00a0 More on these subjects below.<\/p>\n

    Why Isn’t Everyone Doing Holistic Dentistry?<\/h2>\n

    Dentistry takes a fair amount of focus to do well.\u00a0 This is what makes dentistry both interesting and fascinating.\u00a0 Also, every patient is unique, and the approach you take to help them may be different to match their special needs and situation.\u00a0 Simply stated, there is not way to cookie cutter dental treatment.\u00a0 In dentistry one approach does not fit all.<\/p>\n

    In holistic dentistry it’s usually the health conscious people that seek you out because they want healthy alternatives and they also want to be in an environment that is non-toxic and supportive.\u00a0 The health conscious person also wants an office that is conscious of stress levels. So how the office is run, how treatment is performed and how empathetic and calm the staff is makes a big difference in everyone’s experience.\u00a0 Holistic offices can provide this as they are focused on the overall experience of their patients, not just the bottom line.<\/p>\n

    Holistic dental offices also seem to attract a lot of patients that are immune compromised.\u00a0 These days who isn’t immune challenged in some way?\u00a0 A lot of my patients are referred to me from other M.D.’s, Naturopaths, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Accupunturists and others.\u00a0 This is because they need a dentist who will do work that will not add to the body burden of of their patient’s toxicity, infection or chemicals.<\/p>\n

    This takes a lot of extra knowledge and experience and most dentists just don’t want to take the time to learn and apply this.\u00a0 It’s a lot of extra work and I have found that you have to really be a believer to do it.\u00a0 Basically, you have to be phylisophically aligned with holistic principles in your own life.<\/p>\n

    The Tooth Body Connection<\/h2>\n

    I am starting an educational series on holistic dentistry.\u00a0 The articles on this blog are the first step, and they will be compiled into a book called ‘Tooth Body Connection, Holistic Dentistry and Health.’\u00a0 The book will come out sometime in 2018.<\/p>\n

    If you want to get an advanced copy of the book or to let me know what questions you have, what experiences you have had about the subjects discussed here feel free to comment below and I will respond.\u00a0 To learn more\u00a0about how holistic dentistry is different than traditional dentistry, read on.<\/p>\n

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    1)\u00a0 Evaluating Oral Bacteria and Parasites with a Microscope<\/h1>\n

    \"Holistic<\/a>An obvious connection between holistic dentistry and systemic health that research supports is that microbes in the mouth are also found in the gut. Gram negative bacteria are those bacteria that live in oxygen poor environments, like the areas under the gums and between teeth. These bacteria have access to the digestive tract and can cause inflammation in the gut just as they do in the mouth.This is called the microbiome, ‘the combined genetic material of the microorganisms in a particular environment’, in this instance this mouth and gut.<\/p>\n

    Do your gums bleed? Are they red and inflamed? Now imagine these same things going on within your gut. If the bacteria in your mouth are causing inflammation in your gums, you may assume that the same thing is going on along your intestinal lining. This is because the same bacteria or microbiome is present in both places.<\/p>\n

    The vast majority of people in today\u2019s global economy have the most advanced and aggressive forms of microbes in their mouths. These bacteria cause the most inflammation and breakdown of healthy tissue, including the gums and bone around your teeth. This is what causes gum disease.\u00a0 These microbes also contribute to bowel disease.<\/p>\n

    Microbes Found with Gum Disease:<\/h2>\n

    \"Parasites<\/a>One particular amoeba, E. gingivalis, is known to be prevalent in cases of gingivitis and advancing stages of gum disease. It is a highly adaptive and aggressive parasite that causes a lot of the inflammation and tissue damage.<\/p>\n

    They survive and flourish by engulfing and removing the contents of white and red blood cells. They are a major cause of bleeding gums because they actually feed on them.<\/p>\n

    Amoeba can be easily transmitted through kissing, as droplets from sneezing or coughing, or indirectly from contaminated articles. Pets are also common carriers and transmitters of amoeba. Some dentists have estimated that about one third of their patients have some form of amoeba in their mouths. It may be more, but finding them is not easy as they live in the base of the pocket between the gums and teeth.<\/p>\n

    According to the Kansas State University web site, \u201cMultiple samplings reveal the parasite to colonize the oral cavity of nearly all adult humans.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Spirochetes<\/h2>\n

    \"Spirochetes<\/a>This type of spirally undulating bacteria has the ability to change shape in order to survive. This super bug is so good at adaptation that it can even withstand antibiotics.<\/p>\n

    Spirochetes are aggressive enough to attack even amoeba, as well as attacking red blood cells, white blood cells and fibrin, a protein found in the blood. Spirochetes play a role in suppressing the immune system, and once you have them, you can never fully get rid of them. The good news is that you can control them if you know how.<\/p>\n

    These are just 2 of the many types of microbes found in the mouth.<\/p>\n

    The Dental Microscope<\/h2>\n

    \"Microscope<\/a>This picture shows the microscope some biological dentists use for discovering hidden microbes.\u00a0 It just so happens that amoeba and spirochetes are two of the most aggressive forms, causing gum disease and loss of supporting bone and gums around teeth. Although they are aggressive and hard to get rid of, it is possible to knock them back effectively.<\/p>\n

    This is the good news. The bad news is that you must do 3 things at home on a daily basis. But know that these 3 things take only 3-5 minutes out of your day.\u00a0 That\u2019s all.<\/p>\n

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    2) How to Clean Teeth Naturally<\/h1>\n

    Brushing is of course the first thing. However, \u2018brushing your teeth\u2019 is the wrong phrase to use, because you don\u2019t want to actually \u2018brush\u2019 anything. If you are brushing your teeth you are probably using too much pressure and could be wearing your teeth and gums away.\u00a0\u00a0 This is a very annoying and sometimes serious problem called gum recession and tooth erosion, which is wearing of your roots right above your gum line.<\/p>\n

    \"Rubber<\/a>You can brush the tops of your teeth but when it comes to running your brush along the gum line you want to do it at a 45 degree angle and use short back and forth motions or small circles to tease the bristles between your teeth and gums. And this is the important part, you don\u2019t want to use hard pressure at all. You want to use light or soft pressure. Picture yourself massaging your gums rather than brushing you gums, and you\u2019ll have the right idea.<\/p>\n

    OK, enough about brushing.\u00a0 The second thing you should be doing at home is using a rubber tip or dental stimulator to wipe the plaque away from your gum line where it can sit and cause inflammation and gum disease. The rubber tip takes the place of any aggressive brushing you are doing along your gums and prevents gum recession and tooth erosion.<\/p>\n

    The third thing is of course flossing. Before you say, \u2018I don\u2019t floss\u2019 keep in mind that research has shown that flossing prolongs your life by as much as 6 years, depending on when you start. What else can you do that takes about a minute a day that can increase your life by that much? There are some new types of floss on the market today that might make it easier and more pleasant to make flossing a habit.<\/p>\n

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    3) \u2018White\u2019 composite fillings<\/h1>\n
    \"Non

    Bio-Friendly Filling with No BPA Chemicals<\/p><\/div>\n

    Another area of concern with dental materials is the resin composites or white filling that are done to replace the metal ones. While composites are generally a more bio friendly material than amalgams, they also have chemicals in them that are hormone disruptors called Bis-Phenols, particularly Bis-Phenol A (BPA).<\/p>\n

    Most composites and plastics used in dentistry have this chemical in them. However, there are some composites that do not. There are also non-BPA materials that are available for night guards and appliances, but you have to know which ones to use. There will be examples of these materials in other articles, but in the meantime, you may ask your dentist to use BPA free materials.<\/p>\n

    True Story About\u00a0 Composite Poisoning<\/h3>\n

    A mother came into a holistic dental office with her 15 year old daughter reporting a myriad of symptoms and problems after having her braces removed by her orthodontist. The daughter proceeded to tell me that the orthodontist removed all the brackets and resin cement with a high speed bur without any suction or protection whatsoever. She said that her daughter was breathing dust and \u2018plastic\u2019 smell for the entire appointment, which lasted around 30-40 minutes.<\/p>\n

    The mom said that when she entered the room her daughter\u2019s face was covered with dust, including her nose where she had been breathing it in. Keep in mind that your lungs are good at what they do and much of the chemical fumes you breathe in end up in your blood along with the oxygen that you need to live. Her mother said her daughter\u2019s health problems started soon after this visit, including fatigue and an auto immune condition.<\/p>\n

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    4) Bio-Friendly Materials for Crowns or Caps<\/h1>\n

    \"Biocompatible<\/a>The next area of focus for holistic dentists is the materials used for crowns and bridges.\u00a0 Most holistic or biological dental practices don\u2019t use metal except for certain situations where the purest alloy of gold might used because of the bite. This means no full metal crowns or metal placed under the porcelain as the core over which porcelain is placed.<\/p>\n

    The age old crown that has been used for decades is the porcelain fused to metal crown or PFM as it is called.\u00a0 This type of crown has been used and popular since the 70″s at least.\u00a0 Up till about 2014\u00a0the tried and true porcelain fused to gold crown was better than a all porcelain crown because they rarely broke or chipped.<\/p>\n

    Then in 2014 the predictability of all porcelain crowns improved and they no longer broke.\u00a0 This is because the process of making all porcelain crowns has vastly improved over the last 5 years.\u00a0 These days there are very few situations that call for the use of metal crowns and bridges.\u00a0 In the majority of cases non metal crowns like Emax and Lava\/Zirconia crowns are superior to their metallic counterparts.\u00a0 Here is a link to another post<\/a> on Emax crowns and why they are better.<\/p>\n

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    5) Should Old Amalgam Fillings be Removed<\/h1>\n
    \n

    \"Metal<\/a><\/p>\n

    Amalgams Before Replacement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    The biggest difference between holistic dentistry and traditional dentistry is in the use of metals.\u00a0 Holistic dentists don’t want to use them in most cases.\u00a0 Traditional dentists see no problem using them.\u00a0 Most dentists believe what the ADA, short for the American Dental Association, tells them to believe,and the ADA says that amalgams had been used for over 100 years with good results and there was not a shred of proof that the mercury in these fillings cause any health concerns whatsoever.<\/p>\n

    Back in the 80’s, it seems like ages ago, the ADA maintained in fact that mercury was not released from silver amalgam fillings as it was bound in a stable alloy of metals that was stable.\u00a0 Since then they have adjusted their position as more and more research was released showing that this was not the case at all and that mercury was released during chewing.\u00a0 The ADA’s position currently is that mercury is released but in such small amounts that there is still no health threat from mercury’s release from dental fillings.<\/p>\n

    \n

    \"White<\/a><\/p>\n

    Amalgams Replaced with Cosmetic Materials<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    However, since the 80’s more and more research and papers have come out showing that mercury is found in the body after silver amalgam filings are placed and that body burden of mercury increases with the number of amalgams.\u00a0 Research also shows the effects of mercury on delicate neuronal tissues, i.e. the brain.\u00a0 Here is an interesting video done by the University of Calgary<\/a> on the effects of low level mercury concentrations on nerve tissue breakdown and degeneration.<\/p>\n

    The World Health Organization or WHO for short talks about mercury in their policy paper<\/a>:\u00a0 ‘Dental amalgam is the most commonly used dental filling material. It is a mixture of mercury and a metal alloy.\u00a0 The normal composition is 45-55% mercury; approximately 30% silver and other metals such as copper, tin and zinc. In 1991, the World Health Organization confirmed that mercury contained in dental amalgam is the greatest source of mercury vapour in non-industrialized settings, exposing the concerned population to mercury levels significantly exceeding those set for food and for air.’<\/em><\/p>\n

    Even the State of California, through proposition 65, has weighed in on toxic materials found in the workplace.\u00a0 Prop 65 is meant to inform staffs and the public alike to possible toxic substances they are being exposed to.\u00a0 To quote the Prop 65 website, mercury from \u2018Silver-colored dental amalgam fillings\u2019 has been identified by the State of California as a substance that causes \u2018birth defects or other reproductive harm.\u00a0 Exposure to mercury and mercury compounds during pregnancy can affect brain development and cause learning and behavior problems for the child.\u2019<\/p>\n

    Dr O’s position:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. For new fillings never place amalgams<\/li>\n
    2. If the amalgam fillings are over 20 years old consider removing them as they begin to weaken the tooth supporting them through cracks<\/li>\n
    3. Replace all amalgams before late in life as the body’s ability to heal and detox often become compromised<\/li>\n
    4. If you are immune compromised or have an immune condition, seek the opinion of a health practitioner knowledgeable in such matters to weigh in and give you their opinion on whether mercury may be a problem for you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      When I attend alternative health meetings like A4M<\/a>, ACAM<\/a>, and\u00a0\u00a0Standard Process<\/a>\u00a0almost all the health practitioners that I have met there and at other meetings agree that silver amalgam fillings are not good for you and should be removed.<\/p>\n

      It’s unfortunate to have such a debate about mercury in this day and age, especially that it is common knowledge that mercury is either the 2nd or the 3rd most toxic naturally occurring element in existence on the planet.<\/p>\n

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      6) Removing amalgam fillings correctly<\/h1>\n

      Holistic and biological dentists will typically follow a strict protocol when removing silver amalgams, using guidelines such as those set by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (iaomt.org).<\/p>\n

      \"Amalgam<\/a>Here is a sample picture of the rubber dam in place, one of the protections that should be provided during amalgam removal:<\/p>\n

      A latex or nitrile sheet called a rubber dam isolates the teeth your dentist is working on so that none of the mercury and other materials can be swallowed.\u00a0 It isolates the teeth as you are removing the metal just as a parka or raincoat protects the rest of the body from getting wet when it’s raining.<\/p>\n

      It is also important to use a nose piece that’s connected to a medical grade air\/oxygen tank, so you can breathe clean sterile air. If you breathe any fumes or mercury vapors, they will be absorbed into your blood.\u00a0 The lungs are very efficient.\u00a0 Glasses are also used to protect your eyes.<\/p>\n

      In addition internal and external high speed suction is used to suck the fumes away and to ensure that you don\u2019t breathe them in. The problem with fumes of toxic materials is that if you breathe them they get into your blood stream automatically because the lungs are extremely efficient.<\/p>\n

      Dr O’s position is to not remove amalgam fillings without these precautions in place because if you don’t you will be exposed to the metal and mercury as it is being drilled out of your teeth.\u00a0 Dr O feels that removing amalgams without proper precautions is worse than just leaving them in.\u00a0 So find a holistic or biological dentist to do this work who is very familiar with the protocols of amalgam removal.<\/p>\n

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      7) Air Filters in the Dental Operatory<\/h1>\n

      High speed suction units that suck away dust and fumes from the mouth and filter it will prevent the patient and the dental staff from breathing in toxic chemicals and metals as the dental work is being done.<\/p>\n

      \"Dental<\/a>Here is a picture of some possible filtration options ideally suited for the dental office.\u00a0 Many holistic offices use these particular units.<\/p>\n

      The first picture shows a high speed suction hose that effectively pulls air from where the dental work is being done right in front of the patient\u2019s mouth. Some holistic dentists have nicknamed this the \u2018elephant trunk.\u2019\u00a0 Then the air is \u2018cleaned\u2019 by running it through a pre filter, a HEPA filter, and a treated carbon filter specifically made to remove mercury from the air. If the hose or elephant trunk is placed by the patient\u2019s mouth, whatever toxic material is drilled into the air leaving the patient\u2019s mouth is whisked away from the area and filtered before re-entering the room.<\/p>\n

      The second picture shows a stand-alone filter called a mercury ionizer that sends ions into the room that bind with metals like mercury and some chemicals to help remove them from the air and \u2018take them out of circulation.\u2019<\/p>\n

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      8) Platelet Rich Fibrin<\/h1>\n

      \"Platelet<\/a>Platelet Rich Fibrin, or PRF for short, is a fairly recent advance in bone grafting materials that has applications in extractions, implant dentistry, soft tissue grafting and even jaw bone augmentation.<\/p>\n

      It’s an advanced procedure in biological dentistry that involves taking advantage of the healing potential of your own body to produce the best gum and bone healthy possible during many kinds of surgery.<\/p>\n

      This is a major advantage over non native grafts like cadaver and cow bone.\u00a0 In addition probably the best feature of PRF for patients is that usually there in minimal pain after an extraction for example and it cuts healing time significantly by jump starting recovery.<\/p>\n

      What is PRF?<\/h3>\n

      PRF is a combination of:<\/p>\n