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What Is Holistic Dentistry?
Holistic dentistry is an approach that treats oral health problems by considering all aspects of your overall health, focusing on the entire person. At NYC Dentistry Center, we incorporate holistic or biologic dentistry into our practice by using minimally invasive techniques and materials designed to work harmoniously with oral health.
For example, we avoid using materials that could contain toxic substances and focus on preventive dentistry and dental education to help our patients achieve and maintain good oral health more easily.
How Does a Holistic Biologic Approach Affect Treatments Offered?
A biologic approach reshapes standard dental care by utilizing biocompatible materials and advanced, low-exposure diagnostics that respect your systemic physiology. Our therapies are designed to heal oral conditions without placing unnecessary toxic or physical stress on the rest of your body. To maintain this biocompatible standard, our core holistic services include:
- Mercury-Free Restorations: We utilize high-grade composite materials instead of traditional silver amalgam fillings, eliminating heavy metal exposure from your dental treatments.
- Minimal-Exposure Diagnostics: Our practice relies on ultra-low-dose imaging technologies to evaluate structural health while minimizing your overall environmental radiation burden.
- Biocompatible Preventive Strategies: We develop customized oral health plans focused on balancing your oral microbiome naturally, reducing the need for aggressive chemical or surgical interventions down the road.
- Biomimetic and Natural Therapies: Wherever clinically appropriate, we implement treatment alternatives that mimic natural tooth structure and leverage your body’s innate healing capacity.
Mercury Free Fillings
Amalgam has been widely used for decades and is a cost-effective material, but it contains mercury. We do not use amalgam fillings since there are modern alternatives that work more harmoniously with your teeth and are mercury-free.
These materials include composite resin and modern ceramics.
How Are Mercury Free Fillings Holistic?
If you have an amalgam filling, it is necessary to remove all the damaged and decayed areas, including some healthy tooth structure. Once the amalgam filling is placed, it will flex when subjected to pressure during biting and chewing, as well as when exposed to temperature changes. Over time, this can lead to microfractures in the teeth.
In comparison, mercury-free fillings only require us to remove minimal tooth structure that is too damaged to save. Composite resin and ceramic are both biocompatible materials, meaning they closely mimic natural tooth structure. They do not flex when under pressure or exposed to temperature changes, and they bond strongly to teeth.
Removing Mercury Fillings Safely
Many people have amalgam fillings, and as they age, they will need to be replaced. We can ensure your amalgam fillings are removed safely, as precautions must be taken during this treatment to capture any mercury vapour released.
We isolate your tooth using a rubber dam to collect any small fragments and use high-quality high filtration to capture any mercury vapour released.
Once the filling is removed, the amalgam is safely processed to ensure it cannot harm the environment.
We can then replace the filling with a suitable biocompatible material.
Low Radiation Imaging
Modern diagnostic technology allows us to capture high-definition internal imagery with only a fraction of the radiation exposure associated with traditional film X-rays. Digital sensors record precise structural data instantly, significantly lowering exposure times while providing highly detailed diagnostic views.
When imaging is required to evaluate deep structural health, we implement strict protective protocols, including the standard use of lead aprons, to maximize your physical safety and peace of mind.
Benefits of Low Radiation Imaging
We only take an X-ray when necessary, and the benefits far outweigh the tiny risks. Digital dental X-rays provide us with clear, detailed images of the structures hidden from view in your mouth, such as contact areas between teeth, the bone levels around them, and the location of teeth yet to erupt.
We use these images to plan treatments, such as root canal therapy, helping to ensure your treatment is more accurate, faster, and more comfortable.
Because these images are digital, we can quickly send them to other dental specialists if a second opinion is needed.
Preventive Dental Care Plans
Preventive dentistry is at the heart of our practice, and by taking a holistic approach, we can help you avoid many common dental diseases. When you first visit our practice, we assess your risk of tooth decay and other dental diseases. We assess this risk by considering your dental health and bite, as well as reviewing your medical history.
The information helps us customize your plan more effectively, including regular dental exams and hygiene appointments.
Benefits of Preventive Dentistry
The benefits of practising preventative dentistry are considerable, as regular dental exams allow us to detect small problems more quickly, enabling minimally invasive treatment. Treatment is likely to be faster and more cost-effective, while also protecting and preserving more of the healthy tissues, such as teeth and gums.
Natural Alternatives
Some people have metal allergies or concerns about having metal in their body, and this is where holistic dentistry can help, as we can provide alternative solutions, including metal-free dental implants. We can also offer testing for metal sensitivities if required.
Others may have concerns about fluoride; in such cases, we can suggest alternative, fluoride-free products that are safe and of high quality. We can also use other products suitable for individuals with sensitivities to certain materials, such as latex-free gloves and rubber dams.
What to Expect during a Holistic Dental Exam
We take a holistically oriented approach to every dental exam. The general steps are outlined below, and as you can see, they follow a standard dental visit format.
Step One: Dental And Medical History Review
Before we begin, we will ask if you have noticed any changes to your dental health. We also conduct a brief review of your medical history and ask if anything has changed or if you are taking any different medications. It would be very helpful if you could bring a list of any medications you are currently using.
Step Two: Comprehensive Dental Exam & Digital Imaging
Our dentist will gently examine your mouth, conducting a comprehensive exam that includes an oral cancer screening if necessary. If we detect any issues requiring closer examination, we will request a digital dental X-ray. A complete set of digital X-rays is required periodically so we can closely monitor your oral health, but you can rest assured that we only take these when necessary.
Step Three: Discussion Of Our Findings
If we discover any issues that require treatment, we will discuss our findings with you and explain how your treatment plan incorporates holistic dentistry principles. We always strive to ensure that every plan is minimally invasive whenever possible and utilizes gentle dentistry techniques.
Step Four: General Discussion about Oral Health and Overall Health
Your appointment concludes with a general discussion about your oral health and its relationship to your overall health, during which we can provide information tailored to your specific needs. Not everyone will need or wish to have this discussion, but we are always more than happy to talk to you and answer your questions, as education is an important part of our practice.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Holistic Dentistry?
Any patient is a good candidate for holistic dentistry, but this approach is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking the following.
- A preventive and more natural oral care routine.
- A metal-free solution for people with sensitivities to certain chemicals.
- An integrative approach to oral and overall health.
- Transparency in the materials and techniques used in dentistry.
If you are interested in understanding how holistic dentistry can improve not just your oral health but your overall well-being, our NYC Dentistry Center is here to guide you. To explore holistic dentistry and how it can benefit you, please call our office at (212) 518-6096 or visit our NYC Dentistry Center in Midtown East.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096