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Many practices concentrate on the mechanical, cosmetic or functional aspects of dentistry (and these of course are vitally important) but we also believe that the dentistry we provide must take account of the whole of the patient’s biological system.
We marry the conventional with the alternative to achieve an holistic/biological approach to dental healthcare. We believe that dentistry has the ability to deal with many health issues that may appear to be unrelated to the mouth and conversely that many dental issues have an impact on body systems remote from, but connected to, the mouth.
Take for example periodontal disease which is now known to be linked to heart disease and strokes, diabetes, some cancers and perinatal complications. Also, head aches, migraine and neck ache may be related to the way our teeth meet together and how our jaws function. Body posture and pelvic alignment are also related to the way our temporomandibular joint works.
We also believe that there are energetic links between the teeth and the rest of the body through acupuncture meridians.
Many metals are used in the practice of dentistry: mercury, nickel, beryllium, cadmium to name some. Many people are concerned with the effect these have on the energy balance within the body and some people will be immunologically sensitive to these and other commonly used dental restorative materials. We can test and advise you on the right restorative for the job. We are Mercury Free because we have concerns about the toxicity of using mercury containing filling materials. (See our mercury removal article.)
We aim to provide the most biocompatible care possible.
Holistic dentists have views on the reliance of many conventional dentists on antibiotics. Whereas antibiotics are a valuable resource, they should be seen as a very last resort. Overuse has lead to the development of resistant strains of bacteria like MRSA. We will promote the use homoeopathic remedies, herbal remedies and dietary supplements where possible and when antibiotics prove really necessary, recommend probiotics to counteract the negative effects on gut bacteria.
Prevention is key to our philosophy. Much dental treatment is avoidable with good homecare and we can give you all the help and advice you need about brushing and interdental cleaning, dietary advice and supplements. Fluoride is a contentious issue for some people and we can guide them to finding the solution which is right for them.
We find homoeopathic remedies very useful in the practice of dentistry. For example, homoeopathic aconite can be used to alleviate the fear of going to the dentist. Belladonna or hepar sulph can be used for the relief of an acute abscess and arnica for the bruising and trauma following surgery. John has a licentiate from the Faculty of Homoeopathy (dentistry) and is studying for full membership at Bristol NHS Homoeopathic Hospital.
Whereas it would be nice to cater for all your dental needs, we try to avoid the “jack of all trades and master of none” pitfall. If a patient needs specialist treatment we will refer them to the appropriate practitioner. This might be necessary for implants or root canal treatment. Root canal treatments are a controversial subject within the holistic dentistry movement. We know that it is impossible to fully sterilize the canals within the tooth and that some bacteria will remain in the minute tubules of the system. These bacteria can produce toxins which are disseminated throughout the body potentially causing ill health. Extreme care is needed in the execution of root canal treatments and monitoring for local and general health problems thereafter is essential.
Cavitations are also contentious. These are areas of residual infection or poor healing left typically following an extraction. They might become apparent buried in the bone many years after the original extraction. Some people believe that cavitations can cause toxicity and symptoms locally and remotely through the energetic links of the body.
We work with other practitioners like homoeopathic doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths and nutritionists for the benefit of our patients.
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