Biological
Dentistry
Consider This Therapy For
The various therapies encompassed by biological
dentistry all share a single basic premise:
They are founded on the idea that the teeth
can affect the general health of the body,
and vice versa.
For example, the theory for which biological
dentistry is best known asserts that the mercury
in amalgam fillings can make you sick, leading
to recurrent health problems, such as neurologic
disorders, chronic fatigue, and arthritis.
To remedy these ailments, proponents say,
you need only have all your amalgam fillings
removed and replaced with less toxic alternatives,
such as non-metallic quartz-based fillings
or porcelain inlays.
Many dentists and oral surgeons
can and often do remove amalgam fillings at
their patients' request. However, before you
embark on what could become a very expensive
and uncomfortable series of dental procedures,
you should consider the fact that both the
American Dental Association and the National
Institutes of Health have specifically rejected
the amalgam theory. There is no scientific
evidence, they say, of any detrimental effects
from amalgam.
Of course, the so-called amalgam
problem is not the only reason that people
seek out biological dentists. The various
unconventional treatments outlined below seek
to cure a broad spectrum of ailments--ranging
from headache to heart disease--through operations
on the teeth and mouth. Some people adopt
these therapies as "natural" or
"non-toxic" alternatives to mainstream
treatment. However, none of them have been
proven effective in scientific tests.
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How the Treatments Are Done
Many biological dentists work in conjunction
with other alternative health care providers,
such as homeopathic practitioners and holistic
medical doctors. The dental procedures most
commonly offered in the United States include
neural therapy, oral acupuncture, cold laser
therapy, and mouth balancing. To enhance the
effectiveness of these therapies, the practitioner
may prescribe homeopathic remedies and make
recommendations concerning diet and nutrition.
NEURAL THERAPY According to
practitioners of neural therapy, biological
energy flows throughout the human body and
enters each cell at a specified frequency
range. If the energy flow stays within the
appropriate range, it's believed that the
individual will stay healthy. However, a breakdown
of this flow can theoretically cause a disruption
of cell function, eventually leading to a
number of chronic disorders.
According to this theory, injury, inflammation,
or infection in the mouth signals a blockage
in the energy flow elsewhere in the body.
Hence, it's thought that a problem in a distant
organ can be remedied by restoring the normal
flow of energy at the site of the dental problem.
To accomplish this, biological dentists inject
a local anesthetic, such as procaine, around
the offending tooth.
Treatment Time: 2 to 3 seconds
for the injection.
Treatment Frequency: Varies
according to the body's response to the injection.
If it's not clear which tooth is involved,
the practitioner may experiment with 4 to
5 treatments over a period of 2 to 4 weeks
to identify the location of the energy blockage.
ORAL ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture
seeks to balance the flow energy along 14
channels, or meridians, throughout the body.
It's thought that the flow can be adjusted
through application of needles at specific
"acupoints" along the meridians.
Oral acupuncture uses injections of saline
water, weak local anesthetics, or homeopathic
solutions at acupoints within the mouth. When
the energy flow has been properly balanced
at these points, practitioners believe, problems
elsewhere on the meridian will be rectified.
Hence, this form of therapy is used for problems
ranging from sinusitis and allergies to digestive
problems and neuralgia.
Treatment Time: 1 to 2 seconds
for the injection.
Treatment Frequency: Varies
depending upon the body's response to the
injection. Patients typically undergo no more
than 3 treatments over a period of 2 to 3
weeks.
COLD LASER THERAPY Cold laser
therapy is an alternative form of oral acupuncture
available to patients who dislike needles.
The low-power beam used in this procedure
is incapable of causing any thermal damage
to the body's tissues; hence the name "cold."
The beam is typically aimed either directly
at the teeth to prepare them for treatment
or at an acupoint within the mouth. The therapy
is usually recommended to reduce swelling
and hasten healing.
Treatment Time: When used
directly on the teeth, 30 seconds to 1 minute;
when used on acupoints, 1 to 5 minutes.
Treatment Frequency: Depending
upon the body's response, 2 to 3 applications
may be recommended.
HOMEOPATHY Homeopathic remedies
are extremely weak herbal solutions given
to stimulate the body's healing powers. Advocates
regard them as a non-toxic alternative to
drugs, although they have never been proven
effective in standard clinical trials. Biological
dental practitioners use them to temporarily
alleviate pain or discomfort during dental
emergencies. They are also used to aid the
body in eliminating supposed mercury toxicity
after the removal of amalgam fillings. Other
dentists prefer to use them to enhance "detoxification"
during the actual amalgam removal process.
Treatment Frequency: May be
used every 15 minutes in dental emergencies.
For amalgam detoxification, treatments range
from 2 to 3 months up to 2 to 3 years or longer.
MOUTH BALANCING Often recommended
as a remedy for painful temporomandibular
joint syndrome (TMJ), headaches, and eye problems,
this form of therapy aims to bring the facial
muscles, ligaments, and jaws into the proper
relationship so that the muscles do not endure
too much stress. The alignment of the teeth,
jaws, and muscles undergo an initial evaluation,
typically with the aid of a computer, as the
practitioner looks for muscle dysfunction
and jaw vibrations. If any deformities are
identified, custom orthopedic braces are produced
to be worn in the mouth and realign the jaw,
thus eliminating associated pain. Note that
although this procedure sounds similar to
standard orthodontics, its claims are considerably
more expansive.
Treatment Time: Depends upon
the severity of the deformity, but can last
up to 12 months, perhaps longer in severe
cases.
Treatment Frequency: Appliance
adjustments must be made on a regular basis.
Between 5 and 20 appointments are typically
required.
DIET Most biological dentists
recommend that you supplement their treatments
with certain vitamins and foods. For example,
patients who have undergone the removal of
amalgam are told to include magnesium, selenium,
vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acid in their
diets to promote the excretion of mercury
from their system. (These ingredients can
be found in a variety of popular multivitamin
supplements.) Patients are also given a long
list of things to avoid, often including sugar,
alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, soft drinks,
refined carbohydrates, milk, cheese, margarine
and fish. (Note, however, that none of these
products, eaten in moderation, has been shown
to have any adverse effect upon health.)
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What Treatment Hopes to Accomplish
Two schools of thought run through biological
dentistry. One asserts that the materials
used in mainstream dentistry are toxic and
can promote serious disorders elsewhere in
the body. By weakening the immune system or
attacking the nervous system, these materials
are said to cause ailments ranging from Alzheimer's
disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and arthritis
to kidney problems and heart disease. Removing
the offending materials is therefore supposed
to effect a cure. Although various case studies
are advanced to demonstrate the validity of
this theory, there is no scientific evidence
to support it.
The second school of thought holds that the
teeth and surrounding tissues are linked to
other organs in the body through a network
of energy channels. Although these channels--such
as the meridians of acupuncture--have never
been verified by modern science, clinical
trials have shown that acupuncture-type techniques
can in fact relieve certain types of pain.
Claims for oral acupuncture include relief
of toothaches, tooth sensitivities, jaw pain,
gingivitis, neuralgia, sinusitis, and pain
in distant parts of the body. In addition,
the oral acupuncture points behind the last
upper and lower molars have been used to treat
shoulder and elbow pain, neck pain, restricted
neck movement, low back pain, and TMJ. Although
the jury is still out on the true value of
acupuncture, it's possible that it could provide
some relief.
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Who Should Avoid This Therapy?
Mainstream dentists regard amalgam removal
and detoxification as an expensive scam, and
the American Dental Association has declared
it unethical.
Other forms of biological dentistry, such
as oral acupuncture, are generally considered
safe for anyone, although you may want to
avoid the use of needles if you tend to bleed
easily.
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What Side Effects May Occur?
Proponents of biological dentistry point with
pride to its lack of side effects. Occasionally
a patient may experience nausea from the detoxification
process during and after amalgam removal.
However, biological dentists say that patients
are more likely to experience tooth sensitivity
and allergic reactions in traditional dentistry
than in the biological variety.
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How to Choose a Therapist
There is no certification criteria for biological
dentists. In fact, the treatments can be offered
by any licensed dentist or oral surgeon. To
locate a practitioner in your area, you can
contact one of the several holistic, biological
dental organizations that provide lists of
biological dentists free of charge.
Before choosing a dentist, try to schedule
a consultation visit with the leading contenders.
Find out which ones offer the type of procedure
you desire. Ask what other services they provide.
Check on the safety precautions taken in the
dental chair. If you are seeking amalgam removal,
ask what measures the dentist uses to eliminate
mercury from the body's tissues and what materials
he uses in replacement fillings. Finally,
ask for some patient references and see what
they say.
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When Should Treatment Stop?
Many biological dentists promote the technique
as a process, not a definitive treatment.
They point out that, like any sort of treatment,
holistic therapies may not necessarily cure
all problems completely--indeed, some can
last a lifetime and may require constant monitoring.
Many biological dental patients, for example,
continue to see their dentists on a weekly,
monthly, or annual basis for bite adjustments.
If you agree with this philosophy, the treatments--and
your payments--can last indefinitely. To make
sure continued therapy remains worthwhile,
try skipping a treatment once in a while.
If your problem remains in check, you may
be able to cut back or eliminate the therapy
entirely.
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See a Conventional Doctor If...
In many cases, people turn to biological dentistry
after mainstream treatments have failed. Nevertheless,
if any serious new symptoms arise, the only
safe course is to return to your doctor for
a professional medical diagnosis. Unfamiliar
symptoms could signal new and unrelated problems
that require a whole new course treatment.
Sources: Yahoo
Health News on Feb 15, 2004
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