Dr. Lina Garcia, D.D.S., D.M.D.
By Lina C. Garcia, D.D.S., D.M.D.
Conventional dentistry and conventional dental practices have certainly helped a
great number of people enjoy good dental function for many years now. And if that's
the case, why should anyone be interested in seeing an environmental dentist rather
than a conventional dentist? What is an environmental dentist, anyhow?
Environmental dentistry, also know as, holistic or biological dentistry, in a nutshell,
respects the fact that the mouth is an integrated part of the entire body, and that
it should always be viewed and treated in this respect. The primary aim of environmental,
holistic or biological dentistry is to resolve a given patient's dental problems
while impacting the rest of the body as little as possible. Unfortunately, even
though many patients leave the office of a traditional dentist chewing much better
than before they went, a significant negative medical impact on the rest of their
body will result from what was done in the dentist's office.
The negative medical impact of conventional dentistry can come from any of a number
of sources. The most common ones are:
Mercury-Amalgam Fillings:
Commonly known as silver fillings or just amalgam fillings, these fillings should
really be called mercury fillings, since mercury has been and remains a full 50
percent of the content of these fillings.
Conventional dentistry long asserted that the amalgamation process rendered the
mercury non-toxic by the chemical reaction that was supposed to be taking place.
In our holistic practice we also take precautions and follow a protocol to minimize
patients' exposure to mercury upon its removal.
Other Toxic Dental Materials: Unfortunately, conventional dentistry continues
to evaluate new dental materials primarily, and sometimes exclusively, by their
mechanical characteristics. Little thought is given, even today, in trying to evaluate
whether a given material will have a long-term adverse toxic effect on the patient.
Holistic dentists use biocompatible materials that will not adversely impact a patient's
immune system. Stainless steel and other metals continue to be used in the mouth
even though they have been well-established to have a cancer-causing effect when
used elsewhere in the body.
Root Canals:
Root canal-treated teeth are proving to be almost always infected, and the toxins
that have been isolated from them are often incredibly potent. Some researchers
claim there is a strong relation between the presence of root canals and the development
of cancer and heart disease. It appears that the longer root canal-treated teeth
stay in the body, the more the immune system becomes compromised.
Cavitations: Pockets of gangrene in the jawbone are often found at the sites
of previous extractions by conventional dentists. These toxins are essentially the
same as those found in root canals, being the product of aerobic mouth bacteria
being forced to live in an anaerobic environment. Most traditional dentists still
think cavitations do not exist, even though they have been shown to be extremely
common, especially at the sites of wisdom teeth extractions.
Implants: Currently, implants continue to be done without biocompatibility
testing, and they are often started at extraction sites where cavitations are already
developing. Autoimmune diseases seem to be often aggravated or even initiated by
implants.
Periodontal Disease: Not enough emphasis is put on how severely the infection
in the gums of the periodontal-disease patient impacts that patient's long-term
health. Heart disease is clearly the result of such disease in many patients. Repeated
surgery and antibiotic courses are not the first choices of environmental, holistic
and biological dentists in treating this condition.
We recognize that the mouth and its contents can have a huge impact on a patient's
health and the way in which it is approached can either support our health or do
the opposite. We have to understand that we function as a whole and as doctors,
we must pay attention to the whole and work with other disciplines in order to create
continuity for our patients.
Traditional Osteopathy is one excellent medical discipline that works well synergistically
with environmental, holistic and biological dentistry, as it is an approach to the
patient that is based on health rather than disease. This is not a therapy, but
rather a medical treatment.
The Traditional Osteopath is taught the art of medicine in addition to a unique
hands-on treatment that supports the whole patient on all levels that include the
body, the mind and the spirit. This is not manipulation, massage therapy or craniosacral
therapy. It is a simple but detailed regimen that works individually with each patient
using very subtle approaches and requires a minimum of 10 to 12 years of post-doctoral
training to practice.
Here at The Optimal Wellness Center, we integrate
these principles with all of our patients and work diligently with a treatment plan
that includes nutrition, lifestyle changes, perceptual training, and a lot of reading
in addition to the above treatments.
Our commitment is to shift to a new medical and dental paradigm--one that will integrate
the human being as a whole and not as mechanical parts. Our purpose of the Wellness
Center and our Web site is to educate our patients, physicians and dentists to make
better and wiser choices for themselves and their loved ones.
In subsequent issues of Dr. Mercola's newsletter we will explore these issues and
many others related to biological dentistry and your overall health.
Yours in health,
Dr. Garcia
More Dental Articles
Other Articles by Dr. Garcia:
Drugs and Your Oral Health
Why Dental Work and Infections in The Mouth
Can Be The Roots of Disease?
What is Osteopathy, and How Can it Benefit You?
Shedding Some Light on Teeth Whiteners
TMJ and Cranial Osteopathy Treatment
Dr. Garcia's Biography
Other Must-Read Dental Health Articles on Mercola.com:
Dentists' Logo Used to Promote Coca-Cola Product
Dentist's Tale, The
Fluoride Treatments Not Beneficial
Fluoridated Water Affects Your Thyroid Gland
Free Dental Care Isn't Enough To Prevent Cavities
Genetically Modified Bacteria to Prevent Cavities?
Infected Gums Leak Toxins Into Bloodstream
Root Canal Alternatives
Shedding Some Light on Teeth Whiteners
Tooth Decay May Slow Child's
Growth
Toothpaste Can Damage Preschoolers' Teeth
The Toxic Toothpaste
Unhealthy Gums Can Lead to Lung Disease
