The Benefits of Holistic Dentistry

The benefits of holistic dentistry come down to a few practical things: dental materials chosen and tested for your body, no new mercury in your mouth, gum treatment aimed at the bacteria you actually have, and a clear picture before any decision is made. Each of those benefits comes from a specific protocol. This guide walks through them one at a time, as they are practiced at the Timonium office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS.

If you are wondering why your mouth matters to the rest of your body in the first place, start with how oral health and whole-body health connect. For the service overview, see holistic dentistry in Timonium.

Holistic dental care in brief

A holistic dentist chooses dental materials and treatments with your whole body in mind. Holistic dentistry is also called biological dentistry, and the two terms describe the same comprehensive approach. Conventional dental care often defaults to the standard material. Holistic dental care weighs every material and protocol for biocompatibility, looks for the root cause of dental issues, and prefers minimally invasive treatment whenever possible. The benefits below are what that looks like in the treatment chair.

1. Materials tested for your body

The benefit: fewer unknowns about what goes into your mouth.

Composite, ceramic, metal: a material’s label rarely tells you what is actually going into your mouth. Holistic dentistry starts there. Restorations here are non-toxic, metal-free and biocompatible, and Dr. Haywood avoids mercury, fluoride, nickel and bisphenol plastics. For someone with sensitivities, or anyone who simply wants to know what is being placed in their teeth, that is the difference between a material chosen for your body and one chosen for cost or convenience.

2. No mercury fillings, ever

The benefit: no new mercury in your mouth, and fillings that blend in with your smile.

Dr. Haywood never uses amalgam fillings and is fundamentally opposed to mercury in dental fillings. Being a holistic dentist means being a mercury-free dentist. Instead, teeth are restored with a special tooth-colored composite that is mixed at the time of treatment to match your natural teeth and bonded in place. Tooth-colored fillings are completed in a single visit, look natural, and carry a decreased risk of fracture. Read more about mercury-free dentistry.

3. Safe removal of old mercury fillings

The benefit: old silver fillings can be replaced while limiting your exposure to mercury vapor.

Having old mercury fillings drilled out carelessly is exactly what many mercury-conscious patients want to avoid. At this practice, old amalgam fillings are removed under rigorous safety protocols that follow best practices established by holistic dental associations, designed to minimize your exposure to mercury vapor. The tooth is then restored with mercury-free, biocompatible material.

Metal fillings can also discolor and age teeth. Over time any filling can wear away, fracture or pull away at the edges, and a gap at the edge can let decay develop underneath. An old filling is worth having checked even when it does not hurt.

4. Gum disease treatment aimed at your own bacteria

The benefit: treatment matched to the cause, not a one-size-fits-all cleaning.

Gum disease is not one generic condition. Bacterial DNA testing identifies the specific bacteria behind periodontal disease, and the practice’s oral DNA testing looks for which of the 11 most suspected periodontal pathogens are present. Different bacteria call for different treatment, so knowing exactly what is there makes your treatment plan more personal and more accurate. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and gum health has been linked to diabetes and cardiac disease, so targeted gum care protects more than your smile. See gum disease treatment.

5. Laser and ozone therapy for the gums

The benefit: clearing infection without chemicals, with a gentler experience.

Laser dentistry and ozone therapy clear bacteria and infection from the gums without chemicals, which tends to mean faster healing. The Picasso laser allows soft tissue and periodontal procedures with greater precision and comfort, and lasers make periodontal therapy less invasive. Invasive procedures are not the default here: 98 percent of the practice’s periodontal therapy is non-surgical.

6. A full 3D view before decisions are made

The benefit: better information, with less radiation.

Cone beam CT scanning gives Dr. Haywood a full three-dimensional view of your teeth and jaw. It is used to assess existing root canals in far more detail than a flat X-ray shows, and to plan dental implants. The practice’s Green CT scanner emits a much lower dose of radiation, and digital X-rays mean as much as 90 percent less exposure than traditional film. Seeing more before treatment helps avoid invasive treatments that turn out not to be needed. See the practice’s dental technology.

7. Stronger enamel without fluoride

The benefit: a way to protect your enamel if you want to avoid fluoride.

The practice avoids fluoride. Instead of fluoride treatments, non-fluoride enamel rebuilding is offered to strengthen teeth naturally, so fluoride concerns do not have to mean giving up on protecting your teeth.

8. Metal-free, non-toxic restorations

The benefit: restorations chosen for your body, not for cost or convenience.

Along with mercury, Dr. Haywood avoids nickel and bisphenol plastics. Restorations use non-toxic, metal-free and biocompatible materials. For patients replacing a missing tooth, ceramic and zirconia implants are available as the metal-free choice, though ceramic implants cost more than titanium. Here is how the metal-free zirconia option compares with titanium.

9. Treating the root cause and keeping your natural teeth

The benefit: fewer repeat repairs, and more of your own tooth kept.

A biological dentist looks for the root cause of a problem, not just the symptom, so it does not keep coming back. That includes asking about your diet, medications and habits, from sugar and acidic foods to tobacco and alcohol. Treatment aims to preserve natural teeth and avoid drilling where possible. Air abrasion, for example, gently removes small areas of decay with a stream of air and silica, with no heat, pressure or vibration, preserving more of the natural tooth. DIAGNOdent laser detection helps find decay at its earliest stages, before discomfort develops.

10. Holistic care that does not cost more

The benefit: whole-body care without a premium for the philosophy.

Biological dentistry does not cost more than standard dental care. The practice is out of network with all dental insurance companies: you pay at the time of your visit, and the office files the claim on your behalf so your plan can reimburse you for what it covers. Health savings and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit, with no-interest options for up to 12 months, and Cherry, with payment plans from 3 to 24 months. Compare financing options.

What holistic dental care looks like here, at a glance

• Fillings: tooth-colored, mercury-free composite, never amalgam.
• Materials: non-toxic, metal-free and biocompatible, chosen for your body.
• Old mercury fillings: removed under safety protocols that limit mercury vapor exposure.
• Gum disease: bacteria identified by DNA testing, then laser and ozone therapy.
• Imaging: cone beam CT and digital X-rays with lower radiation.
• Enamel: non-fluoride enamel rebuilding.
• Approach: root cause, overall wellness and minimally invasive treatment.

Who benefits most from visiting a holistic dentist?

Holistic dental care suits anyone who wants their dental treatments chosen with their body health in mind, but it matters most if you:

• have old mercury fillings and want them handled safely
• are unsure whether standard dental materials suit your body
• have gum disease that standard scaling has not cleared
• want to avoid fluoride, nickel or bisphenol plastics
• are planning dental implants and want metal-free options
• simply want a dentist who connects your mouth to your overall health

That is why patients travel to Timonium from Towson, Hunt Valley, Baltimore and Shrewsbury, PA. Read more about what makes a biological dentist different.

Frequently asked questions

Do holistic dentists believe in root canals?

At this practice, the answer starts with a closer look rather than a blanket rule. Cone beam CT scanning shows an existing root canal in far more detail than a flat X-ray, so Dr. Haywood can assess the tooth and weigh your options with your overall health in mind.

Is holistic dentistry the same as biological dentistry?

Yes. Holistic, biological and natural dentistry all describe dental care that considers how your dental health and dental materials affect your entire body.

Do I have to replace all of my silver fillings?

That is a decision you make with Dr. Haywood after an exam. Before any procedure, Dr. Haywood looks at how it will affect your smile and your overall health, including any old amalgam fillings you already have.

Is sedation available at a holistic practice?

Yes. New patients are welcome, and laughing gas, oral sedation and IV sedation are available if dental visits make you anxious.

Book a visit with a holistic dentist in Timonium

If these benefits sound like the dental care you have been looking for, request an appointment or call (410) 453-9399. The office of Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS is at 108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093. Your first visit is an unhurried consultation, with time to talk through your health history, your concerns about dental materials and your goals before anything is recommended.