A normal trip to the dentist for most of us often includes the usual routine. It starts with an examination and hygiene treatment, perhaps some x-rays, and typically concludes with a discussion on your oral care.
But what if we told you a trip to the dentist could also include advice and guidance for many different aspects of your overall health and well-being? When it comes to holistic dentistry, we understand that the language may be confusing.
The term ‘holistic’ is defined as the understanding that the sections or components of something are inherently linked and interconnected as parts of a whole. Holistic dentistry is an approach to oral health that also encompasses many other areas of our health and well-being in order to provide care that extends beyond the confines of the mouth and throughout our entire selves.
The guiding principle of holistic dentistry is that by taking care of the entire body, along with proper dental care, our total health will improve and have a positive impact on our lives.
Holistic dentistry begins first and foremost with a focus on proper health and good habits for cleaning teeth and mouth. regular dental checkups and hygiene treatments are essential, along with all of the dental care practices you are already familiar with such as brushing, flossing and oral rinses. In addition to these, holistic dentistry also places a great deal of emphasis on avoiding use of mercury in any dental treatments, such as fillings.
Holistic dentists will not use amalgam in any of their treatments, relying on alternative and non-toxic filling materials. Dr. Palmer is also trained in SMART - Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, very important in reducing mercury toxicity during removal of mercury fillings. Dr. Palmer also has training in the use of ozone therapy, which is a drug free treatment used in many areas of her practice to help with infections, TMJ problems and more.
One of the most critical aspects of our lives that impacts our total health, including our oral health, is our diet and nutrition. You can expect in-depth discussions with Dr. Shauna Palmer on your diet and will receive detailed explanations on how it can impact your overall health and well-being. In addition to these areas of your life, holistic dentists will also speak to you regarding other factors that can have significant impact on your overall health, and therefore on your oral health as well.
For example, smoking and heavy alcohol use are major contributing factors to our state of heath. There are only a small number of dentists in Kelowna that offer holistic dentistry to their patients, as it requires a unique set of skills and training above and beyond traditional dental procedures.
If you feel that holistic dentistry is of interest to you, and you would like to learn about its many potential benefits in greater detail, feel free to reach out to the team here at Dr. Shauna Palmer. Dr. Shauna Palmer is proud to offer complete holistic dental care and would be happy to explain the unique benefits that holistic dental treatments can offer you - contact us and learn more!