What is Holistic Dentistry?
Holistic dentistry, also known as biological dentistry is an approach to dental care that considers the patient’s overall health and well-being, rather than just focusing on the teeth and gums, it looks at the connections between oral health and the rest of the body, recognising that dental health can have negative implications for systemic health, for example, there is growing evidence linking periodontal disease with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancy and more recently its connection with bowel cancer.
Key principles of holistic dentistry may include:
Biocompatibility
The materials used in dental treatments are chosen with consideration for how they might affect the patient’s overall health, particularly in terms of metal. At Kateri Clinic we don’t place amalgam (metal) fillings. When removing amalgam fillings we follow the IAOMT’s (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicity) SMART (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) when removing amalgam fillings.
Prevention
Holistic dentistry often prioritises preventive measures to maintain oral health and prevent the need for invasive treatments whenever possible. At Kateri Clinic we will always advise our patients to have regular exam appointments with a dentist and to visit our hygienist.
Patient Education and Empowerment
As holistic clinicians we put a lot of emphasis on patient education and empowering individuals to take an active role in their oral health and overall well-being.
Patient centered care
Holistic clinicians often spend more time with their patients listening to their concerns and discussing treatment options. At Kateri Clinic we are very patient focused and as such will always try to allocate extra time.
Environmental and Ethical considerations
As well as our holistic approach to dentistry at Kateri Clinic we also give consideration to our impact on the environment without compromising on the safety of our patients or staff.
Some simple measures we have taken to protect our environment are
- Paper cups that we stack to save space in our clinical bins, hence less bin bags used.
- Surface spray instead of wipes where possible.
- LED lighting
