Dr Dana Vieru York, a leading holistic dentist in the USA, talks about her approach to oral health
Oral health cannot be seen as an isolated issue, but is much more complex, with many underlying factors influencing the condition of the patient’s teeth and gums.
Holistic dentists take into account the entire body when providing a suitable treatment, acknowledging the interrelations between all different body systems.
For example, bleeding gums may be an indication of a low immune system and therefore the patient could benefit of a diet high in vitamin C to boost the body’s natural defences.
Also, illnesses such as osteoporosis, diabetes and liver disease have an impact on one’s oral health as it affects the gums, teeth and bones.
An oral health problem is often an indication of a wider problem and this should not be ignored.
Traditional dentists are inclined to prescribe medication such as ibuprofen, nsaids and amoxicillin, which all can cause serious side effects, and patients who take such drugs on a regular basis can suffer from chronic infection and an endocrine imbalance.
Holistic dentistry offers an alternative.
For instance, periodontal disease can also be treated with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), which has no side effects and has been proven to deliver great results.
When I wrote my PHD on this topic, the data was very clear about the benefits of LLLT for the treatment of periodontal disease and it’s a shame this alternative treatment is still not as widely used as it should.
Of course, traditional dentistry has its place and I don’t dismiss its reason for existing.
Instead, holistic dentistry is an addition to this and aims to broaden the way we look at oral health, while using alternative, non-toxic materials and procedures when treating patients.
Although the industry may be lagging behind in acknowledging the results holistic dental treatments can achieve, patients are definitely catching on and are becoming savvier when it comes to holistic and natural dentistry.
Over the last few years there has been an increase in demand for our services, which may be the result of an overall trend towards natural and organic products and services across the entire health and beauty industry.
However, if it wasn’t delivering the results patients were looking for, holistic dentistry wouldn’t have been around for very long.
The fact it is a growing area is proof of its effectiveness and appeal, which is a very exciting development as it may just change the dental industry over the years to come.
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Dr Dana Vieru York specialises in holistic dentistry which considers the patient’s dental health in the context of their entire physical health. Considered a pioneer in the field of laser therapy, her research delivered the first ever proof of the benefit of low level laser therapy (LLT) in the treatment of gum disease.
