Your teeth and gums aren’t isolated from the rest of the body. They’re part of an entire system, and as such,
problems that affect your oral health are often tied to the rest of the body. Dr. Gandhi understands this
relationship very well, which is why she opts for a biological approach to dentistry, also sometimes known as
holistic dentistry.
What Is Holistic Dentistry?
Holistic, or biological, dentistry focuses on how the body and mouth affect each other and finding alternative,
natural treatment solutions. Traditional dental services like biannual cleanings are still performed, of course,
but we also take the time to consider all of the different aspects of your lifestyle and the way if factors into
your health. By carefully considering your diet, habits, lifestyle, and other factors, we can narrow down the
root cause of your oral health issues and suggest simple changes you can make to protect yourself.
What Does Holistic Dentistry Have to Offer?
Holistic and biological dentistry treats the whole person, not just their teeth. This approach helps protect you
from systemic healthy issues that might be connected to poor oral health, like diabetes, arthritis, heart
disease, and more. We also take the time to teach you about the mind-body connection to help you make
health-conscious decisions in the future.
Our practice uses safe, non-toxic materials to restore teeth. That means no more amalgam or mercury fillings! We
focus on providing conservative, minimally invasive solutions that keep your natural smile as intact and healthy
as possible. In addition to all this, we offer a variety of holistic dental services that you typically won’t
find at general dental practices.
What To Expect During Your First Holistic Dental Visit
When you come see us for your first holistic dental visit, we’ll take the time to get to know you as a person.
We’ll thoroughly examine your mouth and go over our findings with you. Dr. Gandhi will also review your overall
health, habits, and medical history to get a better picture of your holistic health. From there, we’ll work with
you to address any existing oral health problems in a way that focuses on the underlying problem. For example,
while a traditional dentist might only clean your gums to keep your gums healthy, we’ll also discuss how you can
alter your diet or lifestyle to naturally lower your risk of gum disease.
Holistic Dental Services to Improve Your Smile
Part of the biological or holistic philosophy of dentistry is staying away from potentially hazardous dental
substances. Not only do we only use safe, biocompatible materials like composite resin and porcelain, but we can
also help remove and replace amalgam mercury fillings. We’ll be sure to take the time to teach you about our
biological dental techniques so that you fully understand the kinds of treatment that we have to offer. Examples
of holistic dental techniques include:
Ozone Therapy
In the event that your gums or teeth are infected, such as with gum disease or a dental abscess, we can
use
ozone therapy to entirely remove bacteria from the mouth. The ozone gas is simply applied to the
infected
areas of the mouth, which causes a natural reaction that quickly and comfortably gets rid of harmful
organisms. This noninvasive solution helps the mouth heal from gum disease and other conditions. Plus,
ozone
therapy induces a variety of natural biochemical reactions, such as improved circulation and an improved
immune response, that promote faster healing. Dr. Gandhi has taken advanced training in ozone therapy
and is
pleased to offer this effective holistic dental service to her patients.
SMART Safe Amalgam Removal
By using the SMART protocol, which stands for “Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique”, we can remove
your
amalgam fillings while protecting you from additional mercury exposure. Then a biocompatible composite
filling can be placed instead. SMART stands for Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique and is a strict
protocol that we follow to ensure the safety of our patients. These safety practices include:
Each room where mercury fillings are removed have adequate filtration.
Protective gowns are included for the patient, dental team, and dentist.
Non-latex nitrile gloves are utilized by the dental team.
External air or oxygen will be delivered via a nasal mask.
Water will be administered to the site to reduce heat.
These are only a few of the long list of safety precautions that we take during tooth extractions and
amalgam
restoration removal.
Our fillings and restorations are made out of 100% mercury-free materials. Mercury has been known to
contribute to all sorts of neurological and behavioral disorders, but fortunately we have alternatives
that
are both healthier and more image friendly. Non-metal restorations like ours won’t expand or contract
when
in contact with hot or cold temperatures, and they require less enamel removal to be placed. Plus, our
materials bind more effectively to natural tooth structure, making them much better at sealing out
bacteria,
sensitivity, and future decay. To top it all off, non-metal restorations can be shaded to match the
color of
your natural teeth for virtually seamless results.
At Murphy Dental Home, our team knows the importance of nutrition on both your dental and overall health. That’s why we offer nutritional counseling to discuss each patient’s dietary habits as well as test saliva for PH levels to better understand the effects of daily meals on their smiles. By helping you understand the nutritional value of your diet, we can also assist in improving your ability to heal more effectively after dental procedures so that you remain as comfortable as possible.
Yes, and in some ways, a holistic approach to dentistry can be more safe than a traditional one. Our metal-free fillings and crowns are a great example of this. Though restorations made from metal amalgam will protect a damaged tooth, the mercury used in these materials can be harmful to your mouth or other areas of your body. A holistic dentist takes factors like this into consideration when recommending treatment, and will strive to provide care that’s safe for your whole body wellness, not just your dental wellness.
What is The Focus of Holistic Dentistry?
By definition, holistic dentistry is meant to be a more comprehensive way of viewing treatment planning. That said, there are four key principles that guide our approach:
Use biocompatible materials whenever possible and avoid potentially toxic substances.
Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent harmful oral conditions.
A balanced diet empowers the immune system and other essential functions, which benefits the entire body.
Mental health is just as important for promoting whole-body wellness as physical health.
Do Holistic Dentists Accept Dental Insurance?
Many holistic dentists do accept dental insurance and can use your benefits to offset your treatment costs. Our office, for example, accepts all PPO dental insurance plans.
It’s important to know, however, that many holistic dentists also have not negotiated treatment prices with dental insurance providers, meaning they’re often not considered “in-network.” This is because dental insurance providers tend to use price negotiations to influence the level of care and types of treatments dentists can reasonably offer their patients. They usually don’t approve holistic treatments for coverage.
Though we’re not in-network with any dental insurance provider, you’ll still be able to use your out-of-network coverage as outlined by your policy. Because we’re able to dictate our own fees and care, most of our patients find that their out-of-network coverage ends up making their overall costs comparable to what they would pay in-network.
Why Might I Want to Visit a Holistic Dentist?
Holistic dentists are often a good fit for patients who prefer conservative treatment recommendations, and typically appeal to those interested in natural or alternative medicine. You might want to visit a holistic dentist if you’re worried about toxic materials or would like to learn how you can promote your body’s natural functions in order to improve your dental health.
There’s a misconception that holistic doctors refuse to use modern technology and techniques. On the contrary, many new advancements in dentistry support a holistic approach! Our dental laser, for example, is less invasive than a traditional scalpel, and encourages the body’s healing response. “Natural medicine” doesn’t necessarily mean the methods are primitive!
