New Jersey residents benefit from holistic dentistry for better overall health

“Holistic dentists are well-trained, modern dentists who are dedicated to providing quality oral care using only the safest techniques,” saidDr. Vladimir Gashinsky ofHolistic Dental Center in Milburn. “We use the least toxic methods available to achieve the same results as a traditional dentist, which often means avoiding amalgam fillings, fluoride and other potentially dangerous substances.”

(Article by Special to NJ.com)

The name “holistic dentist” refers to the awareness of these practitioners that oral care is closely related to the overall health of the patient. “Holistic dentists provide dental care based on the belief that the teeth and gums play an integral role in making a person ill, or keeping the body healthy,” Dr. Gashinsky said.

“This interdisciplinary approach to dental care allows the dentist to improve not only the patient’s oral health, but their overall health,” he said. “It leaves room for the dentist to facilitate healing and wellness through more natural, non-toxic means. Biocompatibility is also considered on a patient-by-patient basis, using testing to determine the best dental materials for each individual.”

Holistic dentistry aims to provide the highest possible levels of responsible patient care by avoiding some of the questionable chemicals and substances that are used by traditional dentists. Holistic dentists are dedicated to providing care that is free from fluoride and mercury. Most are also well-trained in the safest removal methods for mercury-containing amalgam fillings.

“Holistic dentists provide dental care based on the belief that the teeth and gums play an integral role in making a person ill, or keeping the body healthy.”

Removing these fillings can expose the patient to a relatively large amount of mercury, which is toxic even in small amounts. Almost half of all dentists in the United States today avoid the use of amalgam fillings that contain mercury. “By using the specific techniques employed by holistic dentists to remove these fillings, this exposure can be minimized,” Dr. Gashinsky said.

Holistic dentists also oppose water fluoridation, and do not prescribe fluoride treatments to patients. According to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, an organization that supports holistic dental care, there is no discernible health benefit from fluoride treatments. They also report a higher incidence of adverse health effects including an increase in dental fluorosis among children, the very oral health condition that widespread fluoridation was supposed to prevent. According to a study for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm), almost 41 percent of American youth between the ages of 12 and 15 have the enamel discoloration and mottling that signifies the condition.

At the heart of holistic dentistry is a belief that the best treatment is the minimum action that treats what is causing the symptoms. Holistic dentists typically recommend conservative treatments, while also providing each patient with the information necessary to make informed choices about their oral health and overall wellness.

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