Feb
Note: Thank you to Edward Arana, DDS, founder of the IABDM, for his excellent article Thoughts on Biological Dentistry, for portions of this work, as he stated so clearly the heart of the matter.
One way to describe this type of practice is conscious dentistry. All the technical aspects of traditional dentistry remain true. However, the Biological Dentist takes into consideration how the oral state affects overall health and how overall health affects the oral state. Biological Dentists are concerned with preventing toxins being placed in the body and being released into the environment. Healthy dentistry.
“Emerging as Probiotic (life-supporting) Dentistry in Germany in the 1970’s, it has spread throughout the world. It is important to the Biological Dentist to be health enhancing to the patient and not health stressing. Biological dental treatment removes the stress burdens that conventional dentistry may induce.”
The Biological Dentist takes many things into consideration. Aesthetics and biocompatible (least-toxic) materials to an individuals immune system are primarily important. Practitioners use both physiological and electrical means to determine areas of chronic and acute disease states that frequently lie outside the notice of traditional dental practitioners.
Biological Dentists, by insisting that the mouth is an integral part of the body, utilize therapies once thought of for other body issues, to assist in patient wellness. Homeopathy, acupuncture, physical therapy, herbology, neural therapy, hematology, immunology, acupuncture/acupressure are used collaboratively, through the patient’s MD, Naturopath or adjunct therapists. The Biological Dentist often has a group of trusted practitioners they frequent and are excellent referral sources.
There are several areas of concern to the Biological Dentist. One is the releasing of toxic elements into the body from dental materials and appliances. Fillings known as amalgam, or silver fillings, are in fact 50% mercury. Crowns, and partial dentures contain nickel and other heavy metals. These metal ions dissociate from their dental locations and move through cell membranes. Once in the tissues, ions attach to enzyme systems, altering their activity and function. Ions change the types and relative numbers of the blood cells, reducing their ability to transfer oxygen among other things. Ions change the electrochemistry of the immune system.
“In maintaining this position, conventional dentistry has misled itself – and the public. Obscuring the truth that mercury does cause ill effects when implanted in the body, it denies that a filling inserted in a prepared tooth is even an implant! But the fact remains: mercury and other heavy metals from dental fillings contribute to all chronic diseases states. So do multiple chemical sensitizing exposures. Environmentally ill patients have provided clinical evidence that these conditions act synergistically to intoxicate and stress the patient, thus causing disease.”
Due to the nature of conventional dentistry, it is common to have many types of metal materials in the same oral cavity. Mercury amalgam fillings from different manufacturers, or mixed by different methods, have different electrical potentials. Crowns, whether covered with porcelain or gold or “silver” in color contain material with highly variable electrical states. Dissimilar metals in an aqueous solution is a literal battery with current flow (direction), and amperage (measurement of “push”). Biological dentists call this oral galvanism.
Common sense should tell us that galvanic power in an area of highly concentrated electrical conduction pathways (the brain and cranial nerves) should be a concern. How much galvanism before memory and recall are affected?
“Is it possible that these metallic energy sinks act as blockages in the meridians, the bio-energetic circuits associated with the teeth? Indeed it is. Can these blockages cause dysfunction in the respective organs, endocrine systems, vertebrae, muscle, nerves and nerve reflexes? Absolutely. Should we view current existing dental restorations as toxic scars? If mercury is involved, definitely. With gold and other metals, or with composite cements? For a certain number of people, yes. With just about any restorative material, there will be blockages if the body’s immune system is still functional. This is because the tooth is an open and dynamic living organ.”
The most suitable restorative material for one individual is not in many instances the most suitable for another. There are literally thousands of compounds in dental materials which range from “toxic to every living thing” like mercury, to “poses little immune response”. Biological dentists can use biocompatibility testing from a simple blood draw to identify which compounds and materials pose a threat to an individual’s immune chemistry.
This testing gives the Biological Dentist a selection of materials for varied applications. An individual may require a filling, a crown or onlay, and a bridge. The report allows the selection of biocompatible materials appropriate to structural and aesthetic requirements.
Another “area of concern is that of hidden or residual infection, including areas of necrosis (dead tissue) and chronic inflammation. Collectively, these areas are called Dental interference Fields, or Foci. A focus is a diseased change in the soft connective tissue containing non-processable material that keeps the local and general defense reactions in a continuous state of active conflict. This can lead to abnormal distant effects far removed from the original source. It is most often chronic in nature. Ignoring this area completely as it does, conventional dentistry misses out on the chance to make meaningful and effective therapeutic contributions in resolving chronic disease.”
“Using all the knowledge and skill of Probiotic dental medicine, Biological Dentists strive to provide individual compatibility testing and aesthetic, comfortable, functional and enduring dental replacements. Biological dental treatment has the possibility of stress reduction so great that the patient loses all or many of the distressing chronic disease symptoms, encompassing many pathological conditions.”
Biological Dentistry has concern for the environment. Mercury from amalgam fillings, when removed, produce a rich slurry of water borne mercury which goes from the dental office, into the vastly leaky sewer systems to waste water treatment plants which are designed to handle bacterial loads, but not highly toxic heavy metals. Mercury, and other metals currently get released into our ground water on their way to treatment, and afterwards flushed into our water systems. Some remain in bio-products that are sold as fertilizer for “organic” and traditionally grown foods. Biocompatible Dentists install Mercury Amalgam Separator systems which filter 95-99% of mercury exiting their office. The mercury is then collected and sent for responsible, accountable recycling.
For more information on biological dentistry, please visit www.iabdm.org