|
A biological dentist takes into consideration the cause-and-effect
relationship between a patient's oral health and the health
of the rest of the body.
In contrast, a traditional dentist tends to focus on the more mechanically
oriented tasks of treating symptoms and repairing structures as
problems arise, instead of looking for root causes.
For example; when treating dental decay, like a cavity,
a traditional dental practitioner will mechanically remove the decay
and restore the tooth with a filling and consider the treatment
complete. In a biological dental practice, the dentist will remove
decayed material and then restore the tooth with an appropriate
biocompatible material.
After restoration of the tooth, a biological practitioner will
then evaluate the patient for any systemic imbalances (i.e. biochemical
or hormonal imbalances) or toxicity that may be contributing to
the patient's susceptibility to tooth decay, so it can be prevented
in the future.
When periodontal disease is present, the traditional practice is
to remove debris from the teeth and provide oral hygiene instruction,
or use surgical procedures for advanced disease. In a biological
practice the removal of debris occurs, but it is not as important
as improving the biological terrain and reducing the patient's susceptibility
to disease.
By improving the body's ability to break down and eliminate the
microbes through improved wellness, good hygiene practices and the
use of supplements, herbs and homeopathic medicines, the patient
can avoid a constant cycle of disease progression and treatment.
Traditional dental practitioners have generally approached orthodontic
treatment with a focus on doing whatever was necessary to produce
straight teeth, even if this meant tooth extraction and the use
of headgear that can distort the cranium. Such treatment failed
to consider the underlying cranial distortions that can show up
as cross-bites, deep-bites and overbites.
A biological practitioner, on the other hand, begins orthodontic
treatment by evaluating the patient for cranial-skeletal disorders.
By correcting any underlying cranial-skeletal disorder first, the
natural structure and health of the patient's mouth are improved,
the teeth can be straightened with less trauma to the patient and
the teeth are more likely to hold their corrected positions for
a lifetime.
In summary. The guiding philosophies of biological dentistry
are:
1. " First do no harm" (Hippocrates)
2. The health of the mouth and the body are one and the same.
By seeking out and working to understand the root cause of illness,
the biological practitioner helps the patient achieve health stability,
wellness and a reduced need for avoidable, unnecessary and costly
treatment.
|
