Holistic Dentistry

Holistic medicine is rapidly growing in popularity and holistic dentistry is available for patients who prefer a more natural and reserved approach at Capital Dental Design.

Holistic dentistry takes into account a patient’s mental and emotional well-being as well as their physical health as natural therapies are used to detect, treat and prevent diseases of the mouth. Dentistry can have long-term effects on the entire body but most dentists are not trained to consider the body as a whole. There is conclusive evidence that gum disease can have adverse effects on the heart so it is important that your doctor knows how treating gum disease will affect the rest of your body.

Connecting Oral Health to Overall Health

Many people don’t realize how important world health is to overall health. Periodontal disease can be a symptom of something bigger such as heart disease and diabetes, people with periodontal disease may have trouble controlling blood sugar levels. After all, our mouth is the starting point for nutrition and disease alike! Holistic dentists use their training to help patients understand how the health of their mouth affects the whole body.

Is traditional dentistry unsafe?

There are a few differences in the approach taken by traditional dentists and holistic dentists. For example, holistic dentists consider the biocompatibility of the materials they use and your individual body. Traditional dentists do not usually give their patients an option on what types of materials they use in your mouth but holistic dentists make sure that the materials they use will be successful in your body.

While it is rarely used anymore, amalgam is still around and used by some traditional dentists. Amalgam is easier for a dentist to place than tooth colored composite materials and insurance companies typically cover most of the cost of an amalgam filling which is why they are still used. Amalgams are safe when removed/treated in appropriate settings. We just elect not to place them in our practice.

Fluoride is another substance that holistic dentists are sometimes adverse to. Fluoride is very common in traditional dental offices and is often found in public water sources. We strongly feel fluoride is safe when used in appropriate ways and doses.

How Holistic Dentistry and Traditional Dentistry Differ

One of the bigger differences between holistic dentistry and traditional dentistry is prevention and treatment. Holistic dentistry focuses on treating underlying problems that cause issues in the mouth with the intent of illuminating those underlying problems so that they do not have any recurring oral problems, all the while making sure that the treatment they provide does not impact your overall health in a negative way.

While traditional dentistry does work to prevent recurring issues in your mouth, underlying problems are not addressed and the symptoms in your mouth are what get treated.

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