The major difference between biological and traditional dentists, is the philosophy that guides them in the practice of their profession.
A biological dentist takes into consideration the cause-and-effect relationship between a patients oral health and the health of the rest of the body. In contrast, a traditional dentist tends to focus on the more mechanically oriented tasks of treating symptoms and repairing structures as problems arise, instead of looking for root causes.
For example; when treating dental decay like a cavity, a traditional dental practitioner will mechanically remove the decay and restore the tooth with a filling and consider the treatment complete. In a biological dental practice, the dentist will remove decayed material and then restore the the tooth with an appropriate bio-compatible material. After restoration of the tooth, a biological practitioner will then evaluate the patient for any systemic imbalances (i.e. biochemical or hormonal imbalances) or toxicity that may be contributing to the patients susceptibility to tooth decay so it can be prevented in the future.
Another example would be the different treatment approaches used during root canal therapy. A traditional practitioner would again mechanically clean the tooth and seal it. To a biological practitioner this is a partial treatment. A biological dentist would continue treatment by evaluating the biological “terrain”, to determine the causative factors that lead up to the death of the tooth. Once these factors have been determined the biological practitioner then works with the patient to improve the micro-circulation, lymphatic function and the health of the bone surrounding the treated tooth. This approach allows complete healing to occur, improves the surrounding biological terrain and helps prevent the need for future root canal therapy.
When periodontal disease is present the traditional practice is to remove debris from the teeth, and provide oral hygiene instruction or use surgical procedures for advanced disease. In a biological practice the removal of debris occurs but it is not as important as improving the biological terrain and reducing the patients susceptibility to disease. By improving the bodies ability to breakdown and eliminate the microbes through improved wellness, hygiene practices and the use of supplements, herbs and homeopathic medicines, the patient can avoid a constant cycle of disease progression and treatment.
Traditional dental practitioners have generally approached orthodontic treatment with a focus on doing whatever was necessary to produce straight teeth, even if this meant tooth extraction and the of headgear that can distort the cranium. Such treatment failed to consider the underlying cranial distortions that can show-up as cross-bites, deep-bites and overbites. A biological practitioner, on the other hand, begins orthodontic treatment by evaluating the patient for cranial-skeletal disorders. By correcting any underlying cranial-skeletal disorder first, the natural structure and health of the patients mouth are improved, the teeth can be straightened with less trauma to the patient and the teeth are more likely to hold their corrected positions for a lifetime.
In summary. The guiding philosophies of biological dentistry are,” first do no harm” and that the health of the mouth and the body are one in the same. By seeking out and working to understand the root cause illness the biological practitioner help his patients to achieve health stability, wellness and to reduce their need for treatment through-out life.
The above article compliments of Institute for Biological Dentistry
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