Holistic dentistry has been growing in popularity since more and more people are leaning into alternative medicine and homoeopathy. So if you’re ever wondering if there’s a way to take care of your oral health more naturally, you should consider this approach.
What’s the Deal With Holistic Dentistry?
Holistic dentistry is an alternative practice of dental care. It views oral care from a holistic perspective, meaning it considers your whole body in approaching dental care and vice versa. In other words, holistic dentistry will diagnose, treat and care for your oral health by evaluating all aspects of your health. This includes your physical, emotional and spiritual state.
Holistic dentists diagnose and treat conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, tooth infection, enamel degradation or dry mouth. But, instead of focusing on purely dental cleaning and treatments, a holistic dentist offers education to encourage personal oral hygiene, along with help for other issues that may be compounding oral health problems.
Are Holistic Dentists Licensed?
Holistic dentists are general dentists who adopt holistic techniques. They must meet the exact same professional requirements of traditional dentists. This includes a Bachelor’s Degree in dental surgery from an accredited school and registration with the Dental Board of Australia. The only difference is that those holistic dentists further their studies by taking specialised courses in holistic healing. Many of them combine holistic remedies with conventional dental care but their approach, in general, incorporates alternative treatments.
Holistic Dentistry vs. Traditional Dentistry
How different is holistic dentistry from traditional dental practice? We’ve jotted down the key differences between the two methods to give you a better understanding.
The Difference in Philosophies
The difference between the philosophies behind holistic and traditional practices is astounding. While both target the same oral issues, the methods are based on two different ideologies. Traditional dentistry concentrates only on your dental health. Thus, diagnosing and treating problems only involves the teeth, gums, and jaws, as well as head and neck areas affected by the mouth.
On the other hand, holistic dentistry looks at your oral issues and finds causes and treatments throughout your whole wellbeing. This comes from the notion that all aspects of health are interconnected. It makes a connection with your holistic health, taking into account your physical, emotional and spiritual wellness.
Methods of Treatment
Since holistic dentistry is based on alternative ideologies, it uses different dental treatment approaches too. Traditional dentistry primarily includes scientifically proven safe and effective methods such as brushing, flossing and fillings. While holistic dentistry also uses a variation of these procedures, care can also involve nutritional education, homoeopathy, herbology and other alternative treatments.
Here’s an example to give you a clear picture. Let’s say you have gingivitis. A traditional dentist would advise you to brush and floss your teeth properly, perform a routine dental clean, and possibly a teeth restoration if needed. Apart from proper regular oral care and professional cleaning, a holistic dentist might also advise nutritional therapies to relieve your symptoms.
Materials Used
Holistic dentistry makes use of “biocompatible” or natural materials instead of the traditional substances used in conventional dentistry. Before using any material, a holistic dentist will first run it through biocompatibility tests. Biocompatibility refers to how ingredients affect your body, so these tests determine if these substances are compatible with your body and immune system.
You should also expect that all materials used in holistic dentistry are all-natural. So a holistic dentist may give you a herbal mouthwash for gingivitis. In comparison, a traditional dentist may prescribe chlorhexidine, a medicated mouthwash that is scientifically proven to reduce gingivitis. This is also the reason some holistic dentists may not offer root canals. Holistic dentists believe amalgam or mercury fillings are unsafe, although they are FDA-approved and research has shown they are safe. However, they may offer alternatives for filling materials.
A Holistic Approach
Holistic dentistry essentially believes that oral care goes beyond teeth and gums. It’s nailed to the idea that treating any illness, including your dental issues, involves taking care of your whole being — body, soul and spirit.
Do you agree with the holistic approach? When it comes to your oral health, you want to go to a dental clinic that respects every patient’s choice for their wellbeing. At Stanley St Dental, we offer traditional and holistic dentistry to cater to your treatment preference. The holistic dentists at Stanley St Dental in Collingwood can customise their treatments and approach according to your needs and liking. This way, you’ll always feel safe and never have to compromise your beliefs to get better oral health. Book a holistic dental check-up now!
