Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- #1: Natural Dentists Don’t EVER Use Amalgam Fillings
- #2: No Fluoride Treatments
- #3: Crowns a Last Resort
- #4: No Tooth Sealants
- #5: X-Rays Used Sparingly
- #6: Filling Materials Tested on Patient First
- #7: Use of Homeopathy and Vitamin C for Invasive Surgery
- #8: Infrared Devices for Healing from Surgery Instead of Painkillers
- #9: Removal of Wisdom Teeth Avoided
- #10: No Root Canals
- Find a Natural Holistic Dentist Near You
Choosing the right natural dentist for yourself and your family is no less important than choosing the right doctor. In fact, it might actually be more important from a prevention standpoint. This is because what is happening with and to a person’s teeth and gums is a harbinger for the health of the rest of the body down the road.
Dr. Weston A. Price discovered this during his travels to 14 isolated Traditional Societies in the early part of the last century. He wrote about his findings in the book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. Invariably, those cultures with the best dental health enjoyed the best overall health too.
Cultures that deviated from their native diet began suffering from tooth decay with chronic and degenerative diseases and physical malformations including crooked teeth and dental malocclusions manifesting in the next generation.
Finding a natural dentist that will use nontoxic treatments and methods that will facilitate oral health without any harm to the rest of the body is tricky because many natural dentists who claim to be holistic are actually not.
They may define themselves as natural dentists on their website and in their marketing materials, but in fact, they might just sell supplements in their office with every single dental practice by the book conventional.
I remember one experience I had with a so-called natural dentist who was nothing of the sort. I traveled far out of town with one of my children to seek his opinion only to find that his definition of “holistic” was offering the parent a choice to opt-out when it came to fluoride treatments!
That was it!
Everything else was completely conventional. Such a disappointment and a waste of time on my end. But, I am glad that I carefully asked questions during the consultation before putting my child in his care. Another dentist heavily marketing himself as natural in my area (and fooling a lot of people) requires x-rays for children on a very frequent basis.
There is no way for the parent to opt-out and the receptionist even suggested to me over the phone that parents who skip x-rays are negligent. Given the study published in Cancer by Yale University’s Elizabeth Claus which found that those who have the most dental x-rays have the highest risk of brain tumors, this practice doesn’t seem so holistic, does it?
The most important rule for selecting a natural dentist is not taking the dentist’s word for it!
Prepare a list of questions beforehand and insist on a consultation one on one with the dentist or at the very least, (nicely) grilling the receptionist before agreeing to any treatment for yourself or your children. Once you’ve found a natural dentist that seems promising, here are a few things to check off the list before deciding that your natural dentist is well and truly holistic.
#1: Natural Dentists Don’t EVER Use Amalgam Fillings
Natural dentists don’t offer amalgams as an option. Period. The reason is that they value their health as much as their patients. Hence, they don’t even want mercury or the vapors it produces anywhere near their office unless they are gowned up with a mask.
If your dentist offers amalgams as an option, find another one immediately. The mercury vapors floating around the dental office alone should be reason enough to not want to ever go there even if you don’t choose amalgams yourself.
#2: No Fluoride Treatments
Natural dentists are well aware that fluoride reduces a child’s IQ. It can also lead to white spots on the teeth, increase the risk of fractures by weakening the bones, and harm the thyroid. No truly holistic dentist in his/her right mind would ever offer this type of damaging treatment to a child. Even if a dentist offers the parent a choice to opt-out of fluoride treatments, simply having the option in the first place is a red flag that the dentist is not really holistic.
#3: Crowns a Last Resort
Truly natural dentists are very conservative with their drilling practices. This means when a cavity requires a filling, holistic dentists leave as much of the tooth intact as possible and use non-toxic filling material.
If the cavity or hole is large, an inlay should be considered. Since crowns typically involve removing up to two-thirds of the tooth, a holistic dentist would use this type of dental restoration only as a last resort. If your dentist is crown happy, find another one.
#4: No Tooth Sealants
Dental sealants are generally made with hormone-disrupting Bisphenol A (BPA). A truly natural dentist would never consider using this material with any patient let alone a child. Don’t be fooled if a dentist says that “BPA Free” sealants are safe to use either.
In that case, the cousin chemical BPS is used which is just as bad. According to Rene Vinas, a researcher at the University of Texas who conducted a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, BPS is essentially the same as BPA.
#5: X-Rays Used Sparingly
The natural dentist who cares for my family won’t do an x-ray on a child ever until he/she is 13 years old. While this is probably an unusual practice even for natural dentists, beware of those who insist on a round of bitewings with every cleaning or even once a year. Radiation exposure is cumulative over a lifetime so the fewer x-rays, the better.
Digital x-rays are only about 50% lower in radiation on average than the old-time dental x-ray machines, so don’t buy the argument that the radiation is insignificant from these devices. As mentioned earlier, a study published in Cancer by Elizabeth Claus, of Yale University, suggests those who have had dental X-rays often have a significant rise in the risk of developing a brain tumor.
#6: Filling Materials Tested on Patient First
A natural dentist trained in holistic dental practices will test patients either via blood test or applied kinesiology (muscle testing) to determine which filling material suits them best biologically. Dentists who only think they are holistic don’t test and use their favorite composite materials for every single patient and situation regardless of the patient’s health status or history.
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to dental materials. A truly holistic dentist knows this and acts accordingly in his/her practice.
#7: Use of Homeopathy and Vitamin C for Invasive Surgery
I had dental surgery last year and was administered homeopathy drops instead of drugs prior to the procedure. This permitted a minimum of painkillers to be used during the actual operation.
After the surgery, I was immediately administered a whole food-based, oral Vitamin C. Not synthetic ascorbic acid! The drinkable supplement helped jump-start the healing process. The upshot is that I recovered from the surgery with no antibiotics needed. In fact, the dentist didn’t even write a script for meds.
#8: Infrared Devices for Healing from Surgery Instead of Painkillers
After my dental surgery last year, I was given a handheld device that emitted gentle near-infrared heatwaves to take home. I was instructed to hold it very close to the area of my jaw where the surgery occurred for 20-30 minutes at a time, several times a day. The healing benefits are similar to what is experienced in a near-infrared sauna.
The device helped increase the speed of healing and reduced discomfort. It felt really good and it worked! When my stitches were removed, the surgical area had healed up beautifully. I needed no painkillers at all during my recovery.
#9: Removal of Wisdom Teeth Avoided
Over two-thirds of cases of wisdom tooth extractions are completely unnecessary says Dr. Jay Friedman DDS in a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Of the approximately 5 million people who endure wisdom tooth extraction each year, 11,000 suffer what’s called “permanent paresthesia”. This is a fancy name for numbness of the lip, tongue, and cheek resulting from nerve damage during surgery.
Wisdom teeth should only be removed if they are causing a problem. When and if they are removed, a holistic dentist takes great care to ensure no cavitations are created which can cause health problems down the road. If your dentist routinely removes wisdom teeth even if there is no pain or infection, that is a big clue that dental office is not a holistic establishment.
#10: No Root Canals
In many cases, inflamed teeth that conventional dentists diagnose as needing a root canal will quickly respond to homeopathy, herbs, and/or clearing away toxic dental materials in and around the tooth. Nutritional support can rapidly reverse any need for a root canal as well.
If you are told you need a root canal, seek a second opinion before you do anything! This is particularly important if the dentist suggests doing a root canal and placing a crown over the top of it. Such an approach not only completely destroys the tooth but also virtually guarantees chronic bacterial outflow into the bloodstream.
Find a Natural Holistic Dentist Near You
I get many requests about who I recommend as a truly holistic, biological dentist. If you are looking for one, I recommend Dr. Carlo Litano of Natural-Smiles.com – (727) 300-0044. He sees young children as well as adults and does phone consults with those who don’t live close enough for an office visit. Be sure to tell Dr. Litano that The Healthy Home Economist sent you and get 10% off your first visit!
Is your natural dentist truly holistic based on the above list too? If so, please share your experience and post his/her name and location in the comments section. Others would like to consult with these special, gifted practitioners too. You can also initiate a search in your area by checking one of the websites below.
Be warned, however, that the natural dentists from these websites may not always be very holistic. Don’t assume just because a dentist is on one of these lists, that he/she is a truly biological dentist. Some dentists use the term “natural” or “holistic” as a marketing tool, when in fact, they aren’t very alternatively minded at all.
- Holistic Dental Association
- Biological Dentist Association
- The American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
- American Academy of Gnathological Orthopedics
References
Bisphenol S Disrupts Estradiol-Induced Nongenomic Signaling in a Rat Pituitary Cell Line: Effects on Cell Functions
Dental X-Rays, Little and Not Often Please
From Attention Deficit to Sleep Apnea
More Information
How I Healed My Child’s Cavity
Toddler’s Severe Tooth Decay Halted in 5 Days
Whiten Your Teeth Without Dangerous Chemicals
Resolving Periodontal Problems with Bone Broth
Coconut Oil Stops Strep Bacteria from Damaging Tooth Enamel
Avoiding Root Canals with Diet Alone
Could the Cause of Your Illness Be Right Under Your Nose?
Most Wisdom Tooth Extractions Totally Unnecessary
Wow! I feel enlightened. I was on a holistic, homeopathic route with my little one but this ups the bar. It is so difficult to find a dentist of like minded thought. I have researched many when I lived in the Midwest and found one in TX. I just moved to FL and cannot seem to find one, for my little one!
Sarah, if you would please disclose the gem of a dentist you said you have found in FL, I’d be ever so grateful! Many thanks.
What holistic dentist did you go to in Texas?
Terrific read! Essential points if you’re trying to find a holistic dentist.
Thank you very much for sharing this great post. Actually this will very helpful for all like me.
I’m a dentist, and really this makes me feel like my efforts to help people are just not worth it. Does anyone give any credit to dentists at all? Yes I could become a holistic dentist and tell people what they want to hear and get a lot of business and charge a lot of money. I don’t because I would feel very guilty about it due to what I know and I pledged to do no harm to any patient, but there seems to be a high demand for that holistic dentistry stuff- great business idea. Maybe that’s what I should do.
Before blaming dentists, brush and floss well, you shouldn’t even need major dental work if you do your part. It’s so frustrating to see people with bombed out teeth looking at me with suspicious eyes as if I created that huge cavity in their mouth, until they get in horrible pain and their face becomes swollen, then they come back and ask for help. At that point, I just wanna say “you didn’t trust me when I told you we need to treat that tooth, why don’t you just take care of it yourself?” But I still help get them out of pain, often with a root canal btw, to get rid of the bacteria that caused that infection.
I would get out of my way to get my children sealants, and my nieces and nephews and my friend’s and neighbor’s kids – I love kids and I want them to be able to chew with their teeth until they get old, and sealants definitely help do that. they might not be the healthiest material, but they sure do protect teeth well. Nothing else can even clean out the deep fissures molars have, that’s why we seal it so bacteria doesn’t get in it, not for fun, it’s not fun doing it. It’s not even much money for the dentist, it’s for your kid. Seriously think about that for a minute – why would dentist’s bother offering something that doesn’t bring in much money and requires attention and making sure kids stay still during the procedure?
Dentistry has advanced a lot. It’s not perfect but we try to help people the best we can with the technology we have. What more on earth do you want from us? To tell you what you want to hear? Having limited information and looking from just one point of view is what’s extremely dangerous.
And what kind of implant is nontoxic btw? Are you sure a root canal does more harm to you than an implant? It’s a piece of metal in your bone. Oh but it brings in more $$ for the dentist than a root canal, and less work.
Healthy living ya’ll!
There are plenty of dentist, holistic or not that ARE out for the money only. Whether it’s the holistic guy wanting to do expensive implants, the pediatric dental chains putting crowns on all of a childs baby teeth, the cosmetic guy trying to talk you into “cosmetic” crowns and veneers that will end up hurting your real teeth in the long run.
“looking at me with suspicious eyes as if I created that huge cavity in their mouth”- In all fairness, there are dentists who do just that. It sucks for you, because you aren’t one of them but if somebody who has previously been lied to about the work they need they are just less likely to trust you. Also, are you SURE that some of the patients weren’t just plain terrified of getting the work done? If you told me I had a cavity, I’d probably act something like that and then go home and bawl my eyes out because the prospect of getting it filled scares me to death.
As for sealants, I was too terrified of the dentist as a kid to have anything done and actually had them put in at age 18. While reading this post did make me nervous I might doubt that I’ll have them removed.
While I’m not a dentist, I’ve had enough dental work to feel like some sort of authority on the subject.
I’m seeing a lot more topics arise on “holistic dentistry” these days, more than ever. I think that it’s absolutely awesome that people want to live a more healthy lifestyle – questioning the old philosophy of Western medicine and it’s one-sided viewpoint of health.
HOWEVER, as a few people have commented so far, getting all excited about holistic treatments for BAD BEHAVIOR is a little ridiculous to me. I had a lot of dental work done as a child, not because my dentists were evil people, but because I didn’t brush my teeth as a kid – plain and simple. My dentists did the best they could with the tools they had to save me from having to wear dentures at the age of 25, but they’re not miracle workers. Sorry folks but we don’t live 500 years in the future, like on Star Trek. Dental methodologies have come a loooong way in the past 100 years (do a Wiki search if you’d like some details on that). It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s quite impressive that dentists are able to help people chew on into their 70s and 80s today compared to the past.
My point is this: think dentists are evil to be using non-natural substances in your mouth? Me too. How should you avoid this? **Don’t each non-natural foods: refined sugar, deserts, soda – everything except fruits and vegetables. If you’re not willing to do your part, don’t blame your dentist because he or she “dares” to use the latest non-nature technology to save you from getting your teeth pulled. The answer isn’t so much holistic dentistry, the answer is holistic eating and living. Dentistry itself is a patch – trying to get it to be a holistic patch is both unrealistic and perhaps dangerous considering you’ll probably take a less than ideal approach in treating a problem that is more destructuve to your teeth than you believe (i.e. major decay that you’ve decided not to treat).
Finally there are many dentists who are less than ethical – if you’re going to spend energy looking for a new dentist, find one who’s highly ethical over one who tries to convince you to spend 5K to replace your entire tooth with a holistic implant than to spend $1K on a root canal because it’s “not natural”
JMHO
Sarah, as a health-conscious mom and orthodontist, I feel I must respond. I, too, question Big Pharma and the industrialized food industry. I practice in a LEED certified office and am a Gold certified EcoDentist. But like Lori on May 11th, I feel that your recommendations are simply unrealistic for life in the post-modern world. Certainly the western diet, toxic chemicals, allergies, and the daily stresses of life have adverse effects on our oral health, but unfortunately we can’t put Pandora’s evils back in the box. What I find most disturbing it the way you have taken single studies, and quote the headlines without understanding the research.
I have seen far too many problems caused by impacted molars to not recommend their removal for roughly 3/4 of my patient population (who already have malocclusions). I’ve seen far too many young adults suddenly develop bombed out cavities because the bacteria have burrowed into the pits and crevices to the soft dentin layer, then undermined their enamel. So, yes I recommend BPA-free sealants on all permanent teeth. No dentist ever wants to accept the responsibility of treating a patient without x-rays. I personally can’t make a single valid orthodontic recommendation without a panorex, which, by the way, provides less relative exposure than sleeping next to someone for one year (http://theenergycollective.com/willem-post/53939/radiation-exposure).
I’ve written my own blogpost about dental x-rays, referencing the flawed study you quote. And your conclusions about fluoride, well, I’m just going to respond (as I see many other have) on your original post about fluoride.
In defense of the vast majority of non-holistic dentists, their average patients ingest far too much sugar and processed foods, have imbalanced oral microbiomes, don’t brush and floss effectively, don’t maintain regular preventive care, and seek treatment far too late. I fear the measures you recommend for dentists would leave them wide open to malpractice lawsuits for not meeting the standard of care.
The EcoDentistry Association (http://www.ecodentistry.org/?page=AboutGreenDentistry) has a registry of dentists who may be equally (or, in my opinion, MORE) qualified to meet your blog-reader’s needs with a more balanced approach to oral health.
I appreciate your opinion, but know that many *truly* holistic dentists strongly disagree with you on your several stated positions. Based on what you have said here, you would not get my business.
Such a great article about holistic dentistry. Finding the right dentist for you is so important and these are some great things to look out for. Thanks for sharing.
Is there a dentist in the Settle / Tacoma area that anyone can personally recommend? I have looked a the links and see that a few holistic dentists exist in Seattle, but still I know there are others that are not on these lists. I took my son to one in particular and he had a filling that cost $700, out of pocket.
I’m perfectly fine with all of my past dentists’ procedures. However, I am looking for a good dentist in Provo, UT if anybody knows of one.
Is there a list that you know of, that includes healthy dental practices? I live in the Portland area and am looking for a good dentist to go to. I’ve put it off because trying to find a good one is overwhelming!