I confess that I actually like going to the dentist and so do my children, which I’ll admit, is not common. Allowing anyone, apart from my three-year-old, to put their fingers or bits of machinery into my mouth, must do some good.

Seeing a holistic dentist encompasses more than just fillings. As I lie back on the dentist’s chair, my eyes are drawn to a sky-blue dome inserted into the ceiling and my ears tune into background ambient music. I have complete faith that my dentist is never going to cram toxic mercury into my body and will never do only what is necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Also this dentist is the only person who has ever been able to give me an injection without my needle phobia sending me screaming out the door. I feel the respect in his touch and he will wait as long as needed without a hint of impatience or judgement until I am ready to open my mouth.

Dental Concerns

Like many people, it was concerns about amalgam fillings that drove me to find a holistic dentist and have them replaced with non-amalgams.

This is a controversial issue and while conventional dentistry upholds that the mercury in fillings is harmless, plenty of studies and reports point to wide-ranging issues.

Mercury has been linked to birth defects, multiple sclerosis, fatigue, Alzheimer's disease, depression, anxiety, reduced immune function, antibiotic resistance and impaired kidney function. Researchers have found that mercury is a potent killer of white blood cells and that proper removal of amalgam fillings will restore white blood cell counts to healthy levels.

There is also evidence that the number of T-cells (an important part of immune defences) decreases substantially when amalgam fillings are placed in the mouth, but increases again once the fillings are removed.

Studies, mostly from the US, includes one by Dr. Gary Null, PhD and Dr. Martin Feldman, MD who provide evidence that mercury continually leaches from amalgam fillings at a rate of about 10-50 times the safe limit (0.28 microgram/day) as set by the US Public Health Service.

Autopsies performed at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden revealed that people with amalgam fillings had three times more mercury in the brain and nine times more in the kidneys than did people with no amalgam fillings.

Medical researchers at the Catholic University in Rome report that patients with congestive heart failure (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or IDCM) have vastly elevated concentrations of mercury and antimony (a metal) in their heart tissue.

A Danish dentist, Dr. H. Lichtenberg, measured the concentration of mercury vapour in the mouths of his patients and found that it varied between three micrograms of mercury vapour per cubic meter of air and 329 mcg/m3 with an average of 54.6 mcg/m3. (the maximum permitted level in the Danish workplace is 50 mcg/m3).

More than half of his patients showed symptoms of chronic mercury poisoning including fatigue, poor concentration, poor memory, bloating, joint pain, muscle fatigue, cold hands and feet, irritability and headaches.

A 1991 World Health Organization (WHO) report showed that the mercury retained in the body from dental amalgam exceeds the combined amount from all other environmental sources, including seafood.

Not everyone is sensitive to mercury, but various studies estimate the percentage that are to be somewhere between 10 and 44 per cent.

Holistic Dentist

Ben Olstein is a Melbourne dentist who made the decision to practice holistic dentistry as an extension of many years of both self-exploration and study in Complimentary Medicine.

“First and foremost my practice philosophy is to recognise and respect your uniqueness as an individual,” he explains.

“Secondly in recognising the potential invasive nature of dental treatment I try to keep treatment to a minimum and focus on prevention. I also make sure that treatments are bio-compatible with the whole body and hence does not compromise a person’s general health and wellbeing.”

“Thirdly all materials used are energetically balanced personally for each individual so the system can function in a balanced energy field without unnatural interference. So all materials used are not only mercury- and metal-free, but also bio-compatibility tested.”

Dr. Olstein’s qualifications reflects expertise in this area and includes a Bachelor of Dental Science from Melbourne University, membership of the Australian Dental Association and Fellows of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine and The International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine.

He also holds a Diploma of Therapeutic Psychology and Health, membership with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and the Environmental Dental Association and his postgraduate training covers a vast range of natural health from Craniomandibular disorders to Chinese medicine.

He empathises the individuality of holistic dentistry: “After twenty seven years of training and personal experience in both holistic medicine and dentistry I came to recognise and respect that each person has their own unique vibrational energy and I work at maintaining this.”

Believing in avoiding dangerous toxic substances that adversely affect the nervous system, Dr. Olstein has seen resulting surges in energy levels, as the body heals itself of underlying disease and the opportunity to achieve optimal health.

“Holistic Dentistry is all about getting to the root of the problem and eradicating it. It does not fit within the normal realms of regular dentistry. Holistic dentistry is more personalised and works along with other branches of medicine to make patients happy and pain free,” he explains.

“In dental assessments, a holistic dentist considers the whole body and the person as a unique individual. We recognise that teeth, gums and the mouth cannot be treated in isolation from the mental physical and spiritual state of the person and the whole body.”

 “Holistic dentistry looks for the symptoms and the cause, then addresses the cause in a minimal invasive approach taking into consideration the possible effects of dental treatment on the rest of the body. This avoids or minimises any stress on the immune system and the rest of the body. It is more based on prevention rather than a surgical mechanical approach.”

Holistic dentistry is a little more costly than conventional methods, reflecting the extra care time and commitment for a favourable outcome, including working with the person’s health practitioner and may even include a detoxification program. Holistic dentists may also undertake a full evaluation of your lifestyle, eating habits, jaw shape and other issues that could be affecting dental health.

Dr. Olstein advises people who may be looking for a holistic dentist to make sure their practitioner has training and qualifications in complimentary dental and general health; does not use metal fillings; is minimally invasive; caring; and has an understanding of the dynamics of the body and its interrelationships with the meridian system acupuncture points and the energetic system of the body.

“Make sure they are aware of the potential toxicity of dental materials and biocompatibility, test materials for the individual prior to use and are aware of the potential effects of dental treatment on the rest of the body,” he says.

A holistic dentist treats people as unique individuals and includes their physical mental and spiritual needs; treats with minimal invasion; includes natural remedies; and will use digital x-rays where needed.

In Summary

Taking care of your teeth holistically

Dr. Olstein advises:

• Proper organic balanced diet
• Good oral hygiene
• Use of natural products to reduce toxicity
• Supplementation for healthy gums
• Focus on preventive measures

Written by Phoenix Arrien

PO  Box 181

Canterbury 3126

PArrien@hotmail.com