.svg)
.svg)
Wholistic dentistry is an approach to dentistry with the belief that the mouth is an integral part of the body and vice versa. It is a system that recognizes the important relationship between oral health and overall body health. With this approach to dental care, we create solutions for maintaining oral health without compromising the rest of the body. For example, although deemed to be safe, we do not use mercury (silver) fillings. On the contrary, we remove old mercury fillings that are breaking down, corroding (rusting) in the mouth, and usually causing fractures, cracks, and harm to the adjacent tooth structure. When removing mercury fillings, we always follow strict protocols outlined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. These protocols include:
● Provide you with an alternative air source and instruct you not to breathe through your mouth
● Use a cold-water spray to minimize mercury vapors
● Upon request, put a latex shield in your mouth to separate your teeth from your mouth. This ensures you do not swallow or inhale any toxins. We say on request because some people are claustrophobic.
● Use high-volume suction near the tooth at all times to evacuate the mercury vapor
● Wash your mouth out immediately after the fillings have been removed with a charcoal rinse (the dentist will also change gloves after the removal)
● Immediately clean your protective wear and face once the fillings are removed
● Use micron whole office filtration
“A Wholistic Approach to Dentistry” is our commitment to your WHOLE health. We implement health-based dentistry which optimizes the mouth-body connection. We want your oral health to be at its optimum state as well as your overall health.
Whenever possible, we holistic dentist Toronto offer natural or healthier alternative materials and medications. For example, many people within the dental industry are not aware that filling materials contain BPA and/or its derivatives. BPA is a harmful chemical that is released when exposed to heat.
Although the manufacturers state that minute amounts of BPA is safe, we like to offer our clients an alternative since it is available. One manufacturer offers a filling material that contains no BPA.
Your long-term health and client experience is extremely important to us. Although we are here to address any immediate oral health concerns, our long-term goal is to coach you to your optimal oral health.
Because of our wholistic approach to dentistry, we believe in treating periodontal disease very seriously. Periodontal disease has been linked with several systemic diseases. As a result, at Junction Family Dental Care, we will start your periodontal examination with a microscopic analysis of your saliva and plaque. This will allow us to see what types of bacteria are present in your mouth. Once we determine the bacteria type, we will create a custom-tailored treatment plan to target the specific bacteria present in your mouth. If needed, we can also perform salivary DNA analysis to determine the exact genetic make-up of your bacteria, any genetic predispositions you may have to periodontal disease, and also test for oral HPV (a leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer).
● Alzheimer’s Disease: Periodontal disease increases inflammatory molecules in the brain. Certain bacteria (Treponema spirochete) have been found in the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer’s patient’s brain.
● Rheumatoid Arthritis: Studies show patients with periodontal disease are more likely to have inflammatory cytokines in their bodies. This increases the risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis and the severity of the disease. Interestingly, patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis also have an increased risk of having periodontal disease.
● Diabetes Type II: Patients with Periodontal Disease have increased inflammatory molecules. These molecules increase the production of stress hormones. Inflammation and stress hormones decrease the body’s immune system and increase insulin resistance in diabetic individuals. This results in increased blood glucose levels, decreasing the amount of glucose that can be used for energy and normal cell activity.
● Heart Disease: Harmful bacteria in the mouth travel to the blood stream. Once in the blood vessels, they can increase the amount of inflammation in the blood vessel wall. This increases the risk of arterial plaque formation (atherosclerosis). Once this plaque becomes dislodged it can plug smaller vessels in the heart (causing a heart attack), or it can become dislodged in the brain (causing a stroke). In fact, many studies suggest that over half of the heart attacks and strokes could have been prevented by having a healthy mouth.
● Lung Disease: Increasing evidence has linked the association between anaerobic (harmful) bacteria in the mouth with aspiration pneumonia in the elderly population.
● Preterm and low-birth weight: A specific bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, commonly found in pregnant females have been shown to move from the mouth, into the blood stream, and through the placenta. This bacteria is uniquely invasive and can pass through the placental barrier and make direct contact with your developing baby. Since a developing fetus has no immune response capabilities, the bacteria can quickly increase inflammation leading to a risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and tragically stillbirths.
At Junction Family Dental Care, we believe your mouth is the gateway to your body. That is why we will always perform an oral cancer and head/neck cancer screenings using visual inspection and manual touch at each new patient exam and comprehensive oral evaluation exam – free of charge!
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, the leading cause of oropharyngeal cancer is HPV infection. Since it is one of the most common viruses found in the United States, the Center for Disease Control predicts 80% of Americans will be infected with HPV within their lifetime. The statistics for Canadians is very similar at more than 70% of sexually active Canadians will contract HPV sometime in their lives. That is why we take oral HPV very seriously. In order to detect oral HPV in the absence of symptoms, it is necessary for us to use a qualified DNA testing lab. If you would like to be tested for oral HPV, speak to one of our friendly staff for details.
Many oral conditions can be treated with nutrition and diet counseling. After all, we are what we eat! It is also most effective to prevent disease by choosing food and lifestyle choices carefully. That is why, at Junction Family Dental Care, we are trained in discussing supplementation as well as dietary counseling. This becomes particularly important if you have oral disease, or if you are a developing infant, child, pregnant mother, or elderly. If you are concerned about your health and would like to know what recommendations we can make to help you achieve optimal oral health, your Toronto holistic dentist is only a phone call away!
.svg)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg)