What is Biological Dentistry?

Alternative health practices are gaining traction as more and more people recognize the level of toxicity we are subjected to through destructive farming practices, unnatural food production, water treatment, air contamination, EMF pollution, cosmetic products as well as pharmaceuticals and invasive medical procedures that often lead to more suffering. People all over the world are going back to Mother Nature for micro nutrients and healing remedies, seeking preventative and conservative health care, and many medical professionals are choosing alternative fields or converting their practices in order to better serve their like-minded patients.

At White Sands Dentistry we have undergone a full conversion to a biological dental practice after reviewing scientific research that clearly shows toxicity of some of the materials and procedures being taught in dental schools and subsequently practiced in mainstream dentistry. As we connected with our peers in the field of biological, also called holistic, dentistry through professional groups we would like to share with you the main features of this long-emerging field.

Biological dentistry is mercury-free and mercury-safe. Meaning, "silver" dental amalgams are handled with utmost caution. Dental amalgams are only 10% silver but 50% elemental mercury. This mercury vaporizes on a 24/7 basis while in a person's mouth and bioaccumulates in the body leading over time to many neurological and systemic dysfunctions. Mercury has been singled out as a prime suspect in Autism and Alzheimer's disease among a long list of other serious conditions. Extremely unsafe levels, however, are being released during placement and removal of these fillings. A typical biological dental practice will not use this material to restore teeth and when it is necessary to remove such an existing filling, a safe protocol will be utilized. This protocol has been developed by International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and a professional certification course is being offered through this organization.

Biological dentistry is metal free. Metals utilized in dental alloys whether it be mercury amalgams, porcelain-fused to metal crowns, gold crowns, titanium implants, orthodontic brackets, prosthetic framework etc. are actually not compatible with human health. Some metals are carcinogenic, most are negatively challenging the immune system, and all of them disrupt neuronal firing in the brain and along the nerve fibers. Biological dentistry will safely remove existing metal restorations and utilize more compatible plastic, resin, porcelain, or zirconium alternatives including ceramic implants. Patients are encouraged to get dental-material biocompatibility testing to determine the type of dental material that will be least likely to provoke their immune system. This is especially important in those who are already diagnosed with an autoimmune condition.

Biological dentistry makes extensive use of ozone gas as an affordable and non-toxic therapeutical modality. It is used in treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease, in desensitizing abrasions, in sterilizing the tooth surface after caries removal, in reversing small surface cavities, in revitalization of the tooth nerve after extensive restorative treatment, as an alternative to dental sealants, and in sterilization of surgical sites.

Moreover, surgical dental procedures are taken a step further in biological dentistry. Many patients are now seeking removal of teeth previously treated with root canal therapy as mounting scientific evidence exposes the fact that such teeth remain infected even after this procedure, leading to systemic diseases such as autoimmunity and cancer. A typical biological dental practice will send such extracted teeth to a specialized lab for microbial DNA analysis. The patient can then follow up accordingly with their physician as many of these lab reports turn up highly pathogenic bacteria including spirochetes and amoebas. And, as previously mentioned, ozone gas is used to sterilize the extraction socket. Another great addition to the armamentarium of a biological dentist is the so-called PRF, or platelet rich fibrinogen. PRF has great many applications in medicine and it is gaining traction in dentistry where it is used to regenerate surgical sites. Clinical staff at White Sands Dentistry recently completed courses in this modality. PRF is harvested from a patient's own blood. Blood is drawn into tubes and placed in a centrifuge that separates the different layers. Only the top yellow plasma layer, called PRF, is utilized. PRF is rich in infection-fighting immune cells, growth factors, and stem cells that promote bone formation and proper healing. High-dose Vitamin C infusion is also administered through an IV line. Vitamin C administered in this fashion has been shown to greatly accelerate healing after surgery, lower post-operative pain, and to help the body detoxify from anesthetic solution and IV sedation medicine.

Last but not least, when it comes to biological dental surgery, a phenomenon of NICO or cavitation lesion is addressed as well. NICO stands for neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis of the jaw bone. This is a controversial yet real and serious issue. A typical dental school will not teach the removal of periodontal ligament after tooth extraction. Its presence leads to improper bone re-generation and a small dead space remains for years to come. Lab tests of the material collected from these NICO lesions again show high levels of pathogenic microbes. Revision of these long-standing NICO lesions needs to be considered especially in someone with autoimmunity or cancer as these disease have been linked to NICO presence in the jaw bone.

Finally, as we learn that a tooth is indeed a delicate living organ with its own blood supply, nerve bundle, and lymphatic drainage connected to internal organs and the rest of the body we have pushed a pause button on the many destructive procedures such as dental crowns when done solely for cosmetic purposes. Even when a tooth is extensively damaged and crown prep would be warranted, the field of biomimetic dentistry has developed tooth-preserving alternatives to dental crowns. A Kevlar mesh called Ribbond is used to reinforce the internal part of the tooth to prevent future stress cracks for example. This way, only minimal tooth structure is lost and detoxification capability of the tooth is preserved.

At White Sands Dentistry we continue to make a significant investment in technology, expansion of protocols, and continuing education as this exciting, health-promoting field evolves!