Alternative dentists: Holistic dentistry is the alternative to the conventional dentist

There are other types of dentists. They are holistic dentists, who propose respectful treatments, do not use toxic substances and use complementary therapies to take care of the whole organism from the mouth.

Whoever touches a flower can disturb a star.” What did Antoine de Saint Exupéry mean by this phrase from The Little Prince? That everything is interconnected. As I am a stomatologist (specialist in the mouth), applying this principle to our body, I can say that there is an interconnection between our teeth and our physical, mental, biological and emotional realities.

This is the starting point of holistic dentistry, the practice of which is radically different from that of a conventional dentist. The holistic dentist”s relationship with his patient is not a simple “open your mouth.” You must know your life history in order to heal not only your teeth, but also what may have caused your pathology both physically and emotionally.

A holistic dentist understands that any problem at the oral or dental level can be the sign of a general imbalance or poor hygiene of life. In addition, problems in the mouth can have consequences at a distance, in an organ or in an area of ​​the body far from the mouth.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY USES SEVERAL COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

In the practice of holistic, energetic or natural dentistry, each professional has at their disposal a series of effective therapies to address disorders. For instance:

• Neural therapy can treat energy blockages (due to a scar, for example) with a very mild anesthetic.
• Homeopathy can be used as a background treatment to prevent cavities in children.
• Essential oils are effective in treating canker sores, gum inflammation, sensitivity to cold and heat, herpes, etc.
• Plants such as calendula or echinacea in rinses are very useful for inflammation of the gums and for their healing effect.

THE TEETH ARE IN RELATION TO THE WHOLE ORGANISM

There is a close relationship between teeth and the rest of the body that goes back to the embryonic stage. Our teeth come from the outer layer of the embryo, the ectoderm, just like the brain and the skin. In the seventh week of intrauterine life, baby teeth are already forming. It is a frenzied activity that takes place inside the mother”s womb. That is why a situation that can affect the mother both physically and emotionally can have repercussions, for example, in the formation of defective enamel.

Correct nutrient intake throughout life is obviously essential for the development and health of the teeth. With a good diet, the energy that supports the structure of the mouth is generated. We refer to that energy that is not seen, but that is there and that the Greeks called “pneuma”, the Hindus, “pana” and the Chinese, “chi”.

The teeth are sensors. Chinese medicine tells us that this energy circulates through twelve channels or meridians. Each of the teeth is related to a meridian, so it participates in the circulation of energy and is capable of capturing unconscious emotions or energies from our environment. When situations of blockage or conflict occur in these energies, the teeth can express them with the appearance of pathologies.

Therefore, the holistic, natural or energetic dentist tries to understand the health of the tooth and the role it plays in our overall health. The 32 permanent teeth (this number is equal, by the way, to the number of vertebrae) tell us about our emotions and our unconscious as suggested by psychoneurodontology, another discipline that provides us with its knowledge.

Kinesiology also helps us diagnose alterations in the ‘stomatognathic system” (the set of structures that are part of the head and neck) and their relationship with the rest of the body through the information provided by the muscle chains.

BREATHING AND TONGUE POSITION

One of the main tasks of any holistic dentist is the prevention of cavities and malpositions of the teeth and jaws, which can cause a postural imbalance in children and adolescents (in the long run they can develop, for example, a deviation of the spine). To avoid these problems we offer two important tips:

• Always breathe through the nose so that the development and functioning of the body is harmonious.
• When swallowing, the tongue should be placed on the palate to avoid malpositions of the teeth and jaws.

These tips work as a “functional orthodontics”, with which we can get children to grow in harmony and without problems. But if the orthodontic prosthesis becomes unavoidable, it is important to accompany it with a complementary treatment. For example, osteopathy can compensate for the stresses that can be placed on the bones of the skull and spine.

Another help is posturology, a multidisciplinary specialty whose objective is for the patient to regain a balanced position with elements such as templates, prisms in glasses, osteopathic and dental treatment.

There are other common problems that can be approached sensitively and in depth. For example, sleep apnea can be treated without the need for very uncomfortable treatments for the patient (the conventional option may be to sleep with a mask that increases air pressure). In short, in holistic dentistry each professional works from his vision and background to achieve the restoration of the lost balance.

IS IT ADVISABLE TO REPLACE AMALGAM WITH MERCURY?

Metallic-colored fillings contain 50% silver, tin, copper and zinc dust, and 50% mercury (there may be 1g in a filling) that is gradually released and circulates through the body. Some people have no obvious symptoms in the short term, but for others it creates a long list of disorders.

In sleeves and crowns there may be alloys with chromium, cobalt, nickel, palladium, gold, etc., which favor the corrosion of metals. In people who are sensitive or subject to other factors, they can cause migraines, tremors, skin lesions, etc.

IS IT ADVISABLE TO REPLACE THEM?

It is advisable to replace amalgams with metals with others without them and that do not release endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol. This change is made following a strict protocol determined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology to minimize risks. The tooth should be isolated and oxygen placed through the nose so that the patient does not breathe the gases. The changes are spaced a month apart and antioxidants and homeopathy are taken.

THE SAFEST IMPLANTS

The dentist assesses whether the patient will accept titanium implants well through blood, kinesiological or bioresonance tests. There is the possibility of placing “removable” appliances with biocompatible materials without metals.