BIOLOGICAL DENTISTRYBiological Dentistry believes in treating the "whole" patient's health. The Biological dentist has found that by increasing the patient's overall health, they can get better dental results and see longer lasting benefits from their treatments.What is Biological Dentistry?
Biological dentistry recognizes the connection between dental health and nutrition, body structure, the cranial system, the immune system and the central nervous system. Biological dentistry is concerned with the materials used in dental fillings, the safety of root canals, cavitations and has a holistic approach to treating gum disease. In addition Biological Dentistry is concerned with the nutrition of the patient. When addressing nutrition Biological dentistry recognizes that you are what you eat. The poor dietary habits in the U.S. contribute greatly to poor dental health. Refined and processed foods provide zero nutritional value. Think of the food you eat like a bank account. Your teeth need many minerals. These minerals come from whole foods and grains. Cola drinks are very dangerous to the enamel of the tooth and also deplete minerals that are needed for good oral health.
The standard material used to fill cavities for the past century is a mix of mainly silver and mercury, with a small amount of copper, cadmium and other metals. Mercury makes the filling soft enough to place in the tooth. Mercury also kills bacteria that might cause infection. What could possibly be a disadvantage to the use of amalgam fillings? First, mercury is a highly toxic metal. Placing mercury in the mouth means there will be some leached into the body. Why is this a problem since the amount of mercury is very small? Even small amounts of mercury may affect the immune system, central nervous system, the thyroid gland and other body systems. A second reason that amalgam fillings are undesirable is that filling material provides no strength to the tooth. Hollowing out the tooth to place the filling weakens the tooth. This enhances the possibility of cracking the tooth. Third, placing metals in the mouth, particularly several kinds of metal in the same mouth, can generate a flow of electrical current in the mouth. This can affect the brain and general health in some people. The metals react with saliva like the materials in a car battery. The biological dentist who worked on my teeth found 15 different metals had been used and the electrical current in my mouth was very high. You will find that Biological dentists arouse the wrath of some conventional dentists by recommending that apparently healthy amalgam fillings should be replaced with other, less toxic materials. The materials may include gold or ceramic inlays, or composite resins or acrylic plastic materials. Some biological dentists use blood or other tests to determine if a material is compatible with a person's body chemistry. I had such a blood test done and I was amazed at the results. The test looked for compatibility of any and all materials used including the topical anesthesia used. Biological dentists exercise care when removing mercury amalgam fillings. They use a very special process in removing mercury amalgams to minimize exposure both to the patient and themselves. An excellent book on the dangers of mercury amalgam fillings is It's All In Your Head, by Dr. Hal Huggins, DDS.
The typical root canal procedure involves destroying the nerve of a tooth, and filling in the entire nerve canal. The problem is these teeth are particularly prone to chronic infection. I discovered much to my dismay that a root canal I had done 20 years before my visit to the biological dentist was deeply infected and the infection was creating havoc with my immune system. The determination was that the tooth needed to be extracted. The positive to this is that now I feel much better. The chronic infection has disappeared. My immune system is improving. The video I have included as a link on this page will help you to understand why I am so passionate about biological dentistry.
Another area biological dentists may address are problems caused by misalignment of the temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ. This joint is located just below the ears. The jaw pivots at this joint when it opens and closes. Misalignment or stress on this joint is common. It may be due to an imperfect bite, missing teeth, dental appliances, accidents or other reasons. The condition can cause fatigue, headaches, neck aches, facial ticks, disturbed sleep and other symptoms. My situation with TMJ led to headaches. The adjustment my biological dentist made has been nothing short of amazing. I no longer have headaches and I can chew using all of my teeth with no pain. Biological dentistry has much to offer, and much to teach about the relationship of dental health to overall health. There is an abundance of information about gum disease, cavitations and other dental concerns. For more information about Biological dentistry To find a biological dentist click this link.
|
|
