Holistic Dentistry is the provision of dental services using the safest materials and techniques that are currently available and paying attention to the fact that this will affect your overall health and wellbeing.
- The first premise of holistic dentistry is that everything that is happening in the mouth – decay, gum disease, mouth ulcers, jaw problems, teeth grinding, erosion of enamel crowding of teeth etc. is not happening in isolation but is related to everything else that is going on in the body physically, emotionally mentally and even spiritually.
The relationship between the oral health and the rest of the human condition is not a new concept but dates back to antiquity. Imhotep was the first physician to be recorded in history and he also practiced dentistry as part of his work.
He lived in Egypt in the 27th century BCE and his wisdom and skills across many areas (not just medicine and dentistry) were unparalleled and he was worshipped as a deity for more than one thousand years after his death.
Illness and disease were seen as an opportunity for healing and as a way for the human being to clear disharmony from the body in order to re-connect with the Soul.
Pythagoras who studied Medicine (as well as mathematics and astronomy) in Egypt brought this philosophy of holistic Medicine, back to the Ancient Greece School.
Plato later studied Pythagorean philosophy and is famous for continuing the same philosophy in his statement:
“[T]hat as you ought not to attempt to cure the eyes without the head, or the head without the body, so neither ought you attempt to cure the body without the soul.”
— Plato (427 BC – 347 BC)
So at Dent8 Dental, our philosophy is to look at the total picture of what is happening in your mouth and the relationship this has with the rest of your life and the state of your oral health. All consultations and procedures are carried out with respect to this relationship to provide a supportive environment for this essential aspect of your health care.
- 2. The second premise of holistic dentistry is to ensure that only safe dental materials and procedures are used: Some areas of concern include:
- The safety of dental filling materials. Dental amalgam due to its mercury content has the potential to cause health issues. I have not used dental amalgam for 24 years and our practice performs safe amalgam removal.
- There is concern over the BPA (bis-phenolic acid) content of dental white resins and the potential for BPA to mimic estrogen in the body. At Dent 8 we use only the highest quality biocompatible materials that are BPA free (sourced from a leading dental materials company in Germany).
- There is concern over the toxicity of fluoride used to prevent decay. Our oral hygiene treatments do not use fluoride. We use a very effective fluoride-free desensitizing polishing paste during scaling and cleaning procedures making tooth cleaning much less sensitive.
- There is concern over the safety of dental x-rays. We have a new technology that provides a safe alternative to check for tooth decay in the crown of the tooth, especially for children and growing teenagers. (Diagnocam).
- There is growing concern over the systemic effects of chronic infected teeth such as abscessed/dead teeth or failed endodontics (root canal). We are able to advise on treatment options for the safe removal and replacement of infected teeth. Dr Cath Hewitt is available on alternate Mondays and Saturdays for oral surgery appointments or cases may be referred to a maxillofacial surgeon if general anaesthetic is required.
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