When people think of the "whole body" approach to health, they still often don't include their teeth and mouth in the equation. Likely this is primarily because physicians and dentists have traditionally worked apart, both in geographic and practical terms.
In the article below, reprinted from a local Chicago area newspaper, Dr. Lina Garcia, who practices dentistry and cranial osteopathy here at The Optimal Wellness Center, is interviewed. The article does an excellent job of reiterating why it is so important to remember that your teeth and mouth are as essential in the "whole" health equation as the rest of your body. In short, while many people are tempted to think of the teeth as something separate or secondary, they are a crucial organ, too.
By Dee Woods Reprinted with permission from The Reporter Newspaper, Palos Heights, IL, 8/7/03
Several weeks ago, I wrote about my sister's dentist prescribing bee propolis (an anti-inflammatory resin created by bees used to protect their hives from fungus and bacteria) for her mouth pain and infection. I was especially interested because my sister, Diane, suffered for quite some time prior to switching to her new alternative dentist. Diane's smile today is gorgeous and her pain relief is so complete, I asked her dentist if she would share information with me about how she accomplished this transformation of my sister.
The Schaumburg doctor of medical dentistry and cranial osteopathy, Lina Garcia, D.M.D.,D.D.S., was kind enough to grant me an interview to explain her very unusual practice to me. Within the first few minutes of conversation, I sensed that this doctor was onto something unique and ground-breaking. Her enthusiasm and caring attitude are inspiring. Her practice could probably be related to a ministry of sorts. She certainly ministers to her patients.
Her approach to dentistry is one that incorporates the entire being. She does not address her patients as merely heads with teeth. She embraces the concept of "the individual" and feels that each person has his or her separate and unique needs that must be addressed through both physical and emotional modalities.
She also feels that all roads in the medical, dental and emotional realm lead to the integrity of the immune system. It is also her belief that disorders of the mouth can emanate from other parts of the body and, conversely, tooth and gum disorders can manifest themselves in other medical symptoms that might appear entirely unrelated.
"The mouth and teeth are organs that should be treated as all other organs in the body," proclaims Dr. Garcia. She says every organ in the body works in some fashion to support every other organ and that, likewise, every sick organ can affect all other organs in the body, including teeth.
In her medical dental practice, she uses a method known as cranial osteopathy along with other innovative techniques to address various disorders such as TMJ and even migraine headaches. She believes that the cranium is the doorway to healing and to establishing a balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Dr. Garcia is part of the practice of the Optimal Wellness Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. She is associated with Joseph Mercola, D.O., a highly respected, alternative physician whose opinions I often refer to because he is truly a healer.
Dr. Garcia opened her Environmental and Biological Dental practice several years ago and her success can be measured by people like my sister as well as by the many patients throughout the country and the world who come to Schaumburg, Illinois seeking her unique treatment.
She also teaches her methods to other medical professionals in the U.S. and Europe. She explained that European physicians and dentists are very open to newer more natural techniques and are anxious to learn to apply them in their various practices.
Additionally, Dr. Garcia's work with young children is an especially important aspect of her practice. She is undaunted by challenging cases and says children, even children with attention deficits, are easy to treat.
"Children are easier to heal and beautiful to treat," says Dr. Garcia. She loves having the opportunity to use her healing methods on both children and pregnant women. "There is such a life force within children" says Dr. Garcia. "It is a gift to be able to treat them," she excitedly states. I only wish she had been around when I hauled my kicking and screaming wee one's for their annual check ups and subsequent dental work.
One of the issues of great importance to Dr. Garcia is that of recognizing medical problems that may well be associated with recent dental procedures. Patients frequently fail to associate the medical to the dental and will often contact their physicians instead of their dentists when experiencing medical symptoms after having dental procedures.
She feels physicians may not be aware of the prior dental work and may treat the patient as having a medical disorder that is entirely unrelated to the dental work.
Dr. Garcia hopes to instill the necessity of dentists networking with physicians to help determine the causes of various medical complaints and to be able to ascertain whether the symptoms have a linkage to former dental work.
I haven't begun to define the exciting and extensive functions of Dr. Garcia's impressive practice, but you can learn more about her innovative style of healing by [reading more about Dr. Garcia's practice at The Optimal Wellness Center here, including how to contact her team, have your questions answered, and set up a consultation with Dr. Garcia.]
Dee Woods can be reached at deewoods@compuserve.com
Dr. Garcia's Practice