Otherwise known as a natural, functional, or holistic dentist, a biological dentist is one that treats dental problems in relation to a person’s overall well-being. They try to search for the root causes of why you’re having a dental problem, providing you with more treatment than what typical dentists learn in dental schools. If you plan to go to a biological dentist for your oral treatment, these are the top five traits you should look for that’ll help you distinguish yourself from a typical dentist.
They Offer Mercury-free Treatments
Mercury is one of the common elements used in dentistry, but it comes with a lot of risks. While the element itself is known to be a neurotoxin, mercury poisoning makes you susceptible to neurological, immunological, and psychological problems. When used as fillings, it consistently releases little amounts of vapor that’s toxic to your body every time you brush your teeth, clench your jaw, drinks water, eat, etc.
Continuous exposure to this toxic vapor can lead to mercury poisoning, which in turn leads to complicated health problems. A biological dentist doesn’t use mercury as part of their treatment. Instead, they utilize alternatives such as porcelain and composite resin fillings. Biological dentists strictly adhere to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Technology (IAOMT) protocol that aims to protect patients, staff, as well as the environment from exposure to mercury.
They Offer Complete Treatment
Unlike conventional dentistry which focuses solely on oral health, a biological dentist considers your overall health. Normal dentists fill cavities, treat gum diseases, and work on root canals. It’s rare to find a conventional dentist that considers the overall health of a patient to find out whether or not there’s an underlying reason why certain oral conditions occur.
Thanks to modern research and technological development, the medical field has now realized that physical conditions such as smoking and poor nutrition can have an impact on a patient’s oral health. Also, health conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy complications, heart diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease have been found to cause poor oral health.
A biological dentist uses a whole-body approach that assesses the mouth-to-body relationship to treat not just the symptoms but the root causes as well. Biological dentists are well-versed in how oral infections affect other parts of the body and how toxic materials found in everyday beverages, food, and indulgent can cause oral issues.
They Provide Bio-Compatibility Testing
A biological dentist will provide you with a bio-compatibility test to know the ideal type of dental material to use for your treatment. This testing is significantly helpful to sensitive patients who may be sensitive to certain types of dental materials. The bio-compatibility testing may be done through muscle testing, otherwise known as kinesiology, or blood testing.
Most biological dentists use materials that are bio-compatible for crowns, bridges, and fillings. On the other hand, many traditional dentists will neither provide you with a bio-compatibility test nor ask if you’re sensitive to a certain type of material.
They Offer Ozone Treatments
Biological dentists provide their patients with ozone treatments. Ozone gas is considered to be an effective antimicrobial agent that can stop bone infection, gum disease, tooth decay, and more. A biological dentist will always advocate for non-surgical procedures to help minimize the patient’s pain. Besides ozone therapy, biological dentists also provide air abrasion which is a type of drill-less dentistry, and laser therapy to help kill bacteria and sterilize the tooth.
Biological Dentists Use Low-Radiation Digital X-rays
X-rays may be important for detecting dental problems in their early stages; however, not all dental x-rays are the same. A professional biological dentist uses digital dental x-rays to assess your dental problem, exposing you to 80-90 percent less radiation when compared to typical dental x-rays. Besides being safer than normal x-rays, digital x-rays also feature better technology that promotes more accurate evaluation and diagnosis.
Conclusion
Having a biological dentist treat your oral issues would be beneficial. Not only will you be in safe hands, but the environment and materials used for your treatment would be safe as well. Also, since biological dentists are inclined to offer comprehensive health advice, you’ll get more than just dental treatments when you visit one.
