Biological dentists and hygienists ask A LOT of questions – usually far more than your typical dentist. We do it because integrating your concerns and challenges is crucial when it comes to serving your healthcare needs. 

Whatever happens in or is done to the mouth can have effects throughout the body – and vice versa – so it’s always important to hear about any changes to your overall physical and mental well-being. 

Not only does sharing your story allow for a more empathetic and fruitful patient/provider relationship; it also could be the first step to discovering if your health is being compromised by a dental burden, such as the hidden infection from cavitations or heavy metal toxicity from mercury amalgam fillings.

And when it comes to those fillings, your story could even become a catalyst for change, too. 

Last month the Food & Drug Administration’s Immunology Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee met to hear expert testimony and recommend solutions for problems associated with metal-containing implants, including mercury fillings. 

University of Maryland professor of medicine Dr. Melissa McDiarmid shared with the committee that “evidence is there” to indicate dental amalgam isn’t fully safe. Dr. Mark Dykewicz, professor of allergy and immunology at St. Louis University in Missouri, spoke about the lack of informed consent and lack of choice, particularly for underprivileged populations. 

“I think it’s unconscionable that Medicaid children in some states are forced to get amalgam and may not be offered alternatives in an informed consent with their parents. Do we wait to see that there are neurocognitive problems before we take some action?”

The FDA advisory committee did ultimately propose that packaging should list the “elemental compositions” of each device – a/k/a which metals it contains – and that information be provided to patients about the risks of mercury amalgam, especially for vulnerable populations. 

The most encouraging news, however, came in the summary statement from committee chair, Dr. Raj Rao, professor of orthopedic surgery at George Washington University:

The general direction should be to move away from using mercury-containing amalgams and towards nonmercury-containing products to deal with dental restorations.

That’s music to the ears of mercury-free, mercury-safe dental offices like ours – and should be music to the ears of patients everywhere. Yet when it comes to mercury in dental materials, as in our environment, the pace of action by the FDA can seem positively glacial.   

What to do in the meantime? If you have an amalgam story, tell it. 

As the FDA considers the committee’s recommendations, they’re also asking for consumer input on amalgam. They’ve already collected hundreds of comments on the adverse health impacts of mercury fillings, plus plenty of complaints about the lack of informed consent and lack of choice when it comes to dental materials, but they need more. 

With every story the FDA sees, the argument against mercury amalgams grows. Ultimately, there will be no choice but to take action.

Comments don’t need to be long, and submitting them is simple and quick. The FDA is only taking them until December 16, 2019, though, so why not share your story right now? 

When a patient chooses to have their mercury amalgam fillings removed, protecting them – and our team – from mercury exposure is paramount. But safety doesn’t stop there.

Practicing mercury-free, mercury-safe dentistry is vital for our planet’s health, as well.

Because so many dentists around the world continue to fill teeth with amalgam, the industry remains one of the biggest sources of environmental mercury pollution, contributing as much as  340 tons every year. It’s been estimated that here in the US, up to half of all mercury in wastewater comes from dental amalgam. Plenty winds up in our air and soil, as well.

How does it get there? Take a look:

Unfortunately, we can’t necessarily count on regulators like the EPA to put a stop to this kind of pollution, and history has proven time and again we also can’t depend on big corporations or powerful organizations like the ADA to do what’s right.

Sure, we have the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which the US signed in 2013, pledging to protect humans and the environment from mercury. Yet while one country after another has begun to phase out amalgam, the US has done nothing.

So when it comes to creating a mercury-free future, we need more than ever to depend on each other.

Here in Washington state, where fishing plays such a big role traditionally and economically, we know first-hand the health challenges that come from polluted water especially. As holistic health advocates, we know the nutritional challenges of a change in diet when you avoid fish for safety reasons. We also understand the financial burdens that come when pollution puts the brakes on fishing – whether commercial or personal, fishing to feed your family because it’s just what your ancestors have always done for generations, if not centuries.

So be mercury-safe, whether you’re fishing in our state’s beautiful waterways or carefully choosing fish at your local market, and be sure you have a mercury-free dentist who is also mercury-SAFE. For the environment, that means, above all, having well-maintained amalgam separators installed and disposing of any amalgam-contaminated materials as the toxic waste it is.

This week, biological dentists, holistic healthcare providers, activists, and people like you are observing Mercury Awareness Week, a joint campaign by Dr. Mercola and Consumers for Dental Choice, two leaders in the fight for mercury-free dentistry.  There’s still so much work to do, but this week, we salute the people who do the research, who provide the education and training, and who do the necessary lobbying and other outreach, as well as, of course, mercury-free, mercury-safe dentists everywhere.

Thanks to such folks, we at Green City Dental can easily share with you the vital information we all need in order to move closer to a mercury-free world for us all. Check out their websites, sign up for their newsletters, and share what you learn. The more we know, the better we live, and the more we can give back.

Despite mercury being one of the most toxic materials around, most dentists continue to use it for filling teeth. After all, it’s cheap, and can be placed much more quickly and easily than newer, higher quality materials. (Curious as to how it’s done? Here’s a basic demo.)

But because of that toxicity, we not only avoid using mercury amalgam to restore teeth; we take extra safety precautions whenever a patient chooses to have their old “silver” fillings replaced with biocompatible materials. Their health, as well as our own and that of our environment depend on it.

The importance of this was recently highlighted by new research on the potential for mercury exposure during amalgam removal.

For the study, published in last month’s Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, dentists measured mercury particulate from 21 patients who had elected to have their amalgam fillings safely removed. They then took swabs of the head of their dental drills and tested levels of mercury vapor.

“The head of the drill,” they wrote, “is a predictable area where particulate accumulates which makes it a convenient place to collect from.”

And what did they find?

We showed that drilling dental amalgam generates particulate that volatilizes significant amounts of mercury vapor generally for more than an hour after removal. The levels of mercury vapor created by this procedure frequently exceed the safety thresholds of several jurisdictions and agencies.

“Frequently” here means in nearly half of all cases. Some samples continued to emit unsafe levels of mercury vapor for as long as four hours after the procedure. Earlier research has likewise found dramatically high levels of mercury exposure in dental offices.

Need a visual of how just how significant vapor exposure can be? Check out this demo from the excellent documentary Evidence of Harm:

This exposure may explain why dental workers incur health effects when safety thresholds are not breached. The dispersion patterns for the particulate are not known, so the use of effective skin barriers and inhalation protection are required during amalgam removal to protect the dental worker from this form of occupational mercury exposure.

Here are some of the specific measures we take here at Green City Dental when removing dental amalgam:

• Patient counseling on prep protocol to open up detox pathways prior to removal.
• Mouth rinse that binds mercury for the patient before and after removal.
• An alternative air supply for the patient.
• Mercury-rated breathing protection for the dentist and assistant.
• Full facial and body barriers for all in the room.
• Isolite to provide retraction, reduce the risk of particulate going down the patient’s throat, isolate the working field, and remove fluid from the oral cavity.
• High volume suction and a secondary air vacuum placed near the head to trap particulate and vapors.
• Removing the amalgam in large chunks with a low-speed drill.
• Copious amounts of water to keep the filling cool and reduce airborne particulate.
• Amalgam separators in every room to keep mercury from entering the waste water lines.

Mercury-safe dentist Dr. Nick Yiannios has put together an excellent video showing just how much of a difference such protections can make:

Ready to learn more? Check out our archive for more on the dangers of mercury exposure and the importance of following thorough safety protocols for removal and detoxification Or drop us a line here or via Facebook or Twitter.

We’re always happy to speak with you about our mercury-free, mercury-safe practices and how we can help you achieve your desired level of health!

As we noted last time, mercury is constantly off-gassed from so-called “silver” amalgam fillings. This vapor must go somewhere, and where it goes is into your circulation. This is how it can affect so many different body systems. (What it affects and how depends on your unique biochemistry, overall health history and current challenges.)

A snapshot of just some of the damage it has been documented to do:

 

• Brain: Poor memory, brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, depression, tremors, tics, loss of coordination, hallucination, lack of motivation, panic.
• Eyes: Blurred vision, bulging eyes, sensitivity to light, poor night vision, deteriorating peripheral vision, difficulty focusing.
• Ears: Dizziness, vertigo, poor balance, tinnitus, pain in ear canals, deafness, hearing loss.
• Nose: Chronic sinusitis, poor sense of smell, nasal congestion, persistant sore throat, chronic tonsillitis.
• Skin, Hair & Nails: Cold and clammy skin, dry skin, peeling or flaking skin, puffy face, red and itchy rashes, excessive perspiration, inability to sweat, night sweats, pricking, stabbing, fizzing or crawling sensations.
• Cardiovascular System: Palpitations, irregular heartbeat, slow or rapid heart rate, high or low blood pressure, faintness, high cholesterol and homocysteine levels, easy bleeding and bruising.
• Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath, persistent cough, bad breath.
• Digestive System: Food sensitivities and intolerances, abdominal cramps and pain, constipation/diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption, leaky gut, gastroenteritis, nausea, heartburn.
• Reproductive System: Late puberty, infertility, heavy or missed periods, menstrual pain, miscarriages, still births, impotence, low sperm count, sperm with poor motility.
• Urinary System: Kidney damage, frequent urination day or night, incontinence, difficulty urinating, urgent urination, kidney and bladder diseases.
• Musculoskeletal System: Sore muscles, muscle fatigue, joint pain, joint swelling, joint stiffness, muscle cramps, low back pain, muscle weakness, TMJ dysfunction.
• Endocrine System: Poorly controlled or low blood sugar, hypothyroid, adrenal exhaustion, poor response to stress.

Ready to Know More?

Here are a few of our favorite sources for learning more about dental mercury and its impact on the health of people and planet alike – and for getting involved in the fight for a mercury-free future!

• Dental Mercury Amalgam Solutions (DAMS)
• International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine
• International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
• Consumers for Dental Choice
• TALK International
• Mercury Safe Dentists
• Dr. Mercola

Image by Bart, via Flickr

If you’re savvy – and we suspect that you are – you may have wondered why the American Dental Association still endorses the use of mercury amalgam to fill teeth, even as other countries have banned it.

You might question how the US could ratify the global mercury treaty known as the Minamata Convention, which calls for a phase-down of amalgam, yet still encourage its dentists to use the stuff.

Maybe you’re outraged that your dental insurance company bases its coverage for white composite fillings on a mercury equivalent, ensuring the lowest common denominator for reimbursement.

But what if you don’t have amalgams or dental insurance to deal with? Dental mercury still affects you.

For one, consider that the dental industry is responsible for about half of all mercury pollution each year – more than four tons annually into the water supply alone. (Even more contaminates our air and soil.) In a continuous loop of toxicity, this dental mercury can break down into methylmercury. This accumulates in fish and fish-eating animals, posing serious risks to humans who consume them, especially pregnant women and children.

To protect yourself from harm, it’s a must to stay informed and advocate for yourself. Here are the top five things you need to know:

1. All “silver” fillings are mercury fillings. No matter what you’re told, at roughly 50%, mercury accounts for the largest portion of material in a “silver” filling. The rest is typically silver, tin, copper, and zinc. To call them “silver” is “deceptive,” argues Consumers for Dental Choice.




2. Mercury is a neurotoxin. All forms of mercury affect the nervous system. Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, behavioral changes, decreased cognitive function, tremors, headaches, memory loss, neuromuscular changes, kidney and thyroid dysfunction, and death. For a comprehensive look at amalgam’s toxicity – to human and environmental health alike – check out this scientific report from the IAOMT.




3. Mercury vapors don’t bond. Though many once believed that mercury became inert when amalgamated, we now know this is just not true. Newer technologies prove that amalgam fillings constantly off-gas mercury. That vapor is potentially the most dangerous aspect of elemental mercury. Once released, they are absorbed by your body and may even be converted to methylmercury.




4. Mercury turns your mouth into a battery. When teeth are filled with different metals, your saliva acts as a conductor between the two and creates a galvanic reaction. It creates a battery in your mouth. This can cause pain, a persistent metallic taste, headaches, and skin irritation. In some cases, research has shown, it can affect immune levels or trigger trigeminal neuralgia.




5. Mercury must be handled as toxic waste. Unless, that is, it’s in your mouth. Before and after removal, both the EPA and our State Department of Ecology have strict regulations for handling dental mercury. Even in its amalgamated form, these agencies consider your old fillings to be dangerous toxic waste.

Image by Rob!, via Flickr

Originally posted at the Queen of Dental Hygiene.

Checklists, protocols, even the humble honey-do list – whether they’re on our phones, on our fridges, or in a handy-dandy notebook, we’ve all got them. We know the value in making and following lists if only because the simple act of creating a list gives you a much better shot at remembering what to do, what to get, maybe even what to avoid. (We guess that’d be called the honey-don’t list . . . )

A paper in this month’s Journal of the California Dental Association makes the case that they have a place in dentistry, as well, for improving patient safety. And, indeed, they can do just that.

But what if the checklists promote procedures that may, themselves, pose a risk to patient health?

One of the reasons folks choose to visit a biological practice like ours is because they know that biological dentists are aware that whatever happens or is done to the mouth can have effects throughout the body. Evidence abounds that certain dental situations can become physical, mental, and energetic burdens.

Take mercury, for instance. This is the main component of the “silver” amalgam fillings that about half of all American dentists continue to place, despite the fact that mercury is one of the most toxic elements around. That mercury does not stay locked in the filling either. Any pressure – from biting, chewing, swallowing, grinding, brushing – releases mercury vapor from the restoration.

From there, it’s a quick path to the lungs and into the general circulation. While some may be excreted, some also gravitates toward fatty organs such as the kidneys, liver, and brain.

More than 250 symptoms have been attributed to mercury toxicity. The IAOMT provides an excellent overview of the key health issues here.

Mercury’s dangers are why we keep our office mercury-free and mercury-safe. Biocompatibility testing is available to make sure whichever dental materials we use for your dental work are safe with respect to your unique biochemistry.

For similar reasons, we keep our office fluoride-free, as well. Like mercury, fluoride is a known neurotoxin that can interfere especially with healthy brain development. Other documented health effects include thyroid problems, endocrine disruption, kidney disease, arthritis, and more.

Other procedures bring their own risks to systemic health. For instance, if the periodontal ligament is left behind and the supporting bone isn’t cleaned properly after a tooth is extracted, a cavitation can form at the surgical site. This is a kind of hidden infection, where diseased tissue dies and decays below the healthy new tissue that grows over the surgical site.

Toxins from the site are free to migrate to other areas of the body and may ultimately help compromise overall health. Immune issues related to cavitations are common, and enigmatic conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and multiple chemical sensitivities may likewise be fueled by the toxins at cavitation sites.

This is why we’re extra careful about how we clean and treat each surgical site before suturing, including laser disinfection and the use of platelet-rich fibrin to encourage the growth of healthy new tissue.

Many of the conditions associated with cavitations have also been associated with residual infection in root canal teeth. As we noted a while back, it’s common for harmful bacteria and other microbes to get sealed into root canal teeth, where they can ultimately become a systemic burden. Because of this, we generally don’t recommend them and, when the pulp is at risk of dying, favor regenerative endodontics instead. (Much more about that at the previous link!)

But it’s not all about what we don’t do that makes a biological dental office special. There’s plenty that we do, as well.

For one, we talk much more before we treat. We need to hear your story, your challenges, and your concerns. You may have felt dismissed by doctors or dentists before. You may have felt like your healthcare practitioner thought your health issues were “all in your head,” and you’re discouraged about ever finding your way to wellness. You can talk to us and trust us. We’re different.

We also try to answer as many of your questions as possible – maybe even questions you didn’t know to ask! What can we say? Patients are just more comfortable when they’re well-informed and feel like they’re part of the process. After all, it’s your mouth, your body, and your wellness we’re talking about!

At Green City, we’re part of a team, working with you and your family, as well as your other holistic healthcare providers. Whether it’s airway issues, safe amalgam removal and detox, nutrition counseling, or just a regular check-up and cleaning, we always take the holistic approach to stay on the same page as you walk your path to whole body wellness.

Hippocrates image by Raed Mansour, via Flickr

“Biological” dentistry is such a perfect name for what we do here at Green City Dental in Edmonds. “Bio,” after all, means life, and one of our main goals is to help our patients create their best, healthiest lives possible. Every procedure we do, every material we use is chosen for its ability to support life.

It is, after all, only logical. (Get it? Bio-LOGICAL!)

So it also seemed logical to Dr. T…why don’t we put in an organic garden here at the office? And that’s just what we did.

An office garden is something we’ve dreamt about for a long time now, but we were always so busy with accommodating patients and bringing on the right staff, we couldn’t quite make it happen.

Now, we’re finally in a place to support all of our dreams! We’ve put in a ton of herbs, as well as tomatoes, strawberries, kale, onions, peas, and more and look forward to enjoying the fruits (and veggies!) of our labor right here in the office, where all of us are committed to the healthy eating we advocate for our patients, as well.

Truly, there’s much to gain from cultivating your own garden – and not just having the freshest organic produce you can possibly get, and at a fraction of the cost you’d pay at many a local market.

The physical act of gardening is also fantastic for your health, both physically and mentally. One 2017 literature review analyzed results from 22 contemporary case studies of gardening’s impact on health, and found

a wide range of health outcomes [reported], such as reductions in depression, anxiety, and body mass index, as well as increases in life satisfaction, quality of life, and sense of community.

Even after adjusting for potential bias, significant positive effects remained clear.

This study has provided robust evidence for the positive effects of gardening on health. A regular dose of gardening can improve public health.

Need even more reasons? Check out this list.

And don’t think you need a lot of land to cultivate a personal or family garden. You’d be amazed by how much you can grow in a few modest planters in your yard or on a balcony or deck!

Never gardened before? Take a class! Sky Nursery in Shoreline, for instance, often offers gardening classes – along with tons of organic and locally-raised options for populating your own first garden.

There are also plenty of organic gardening guides online, such as this and this and this. Be sure to check out growing guides that are specific to our region, as well.

Another option? Get active in a local neighborhood garden. Snohomish County WSU Extension provides a guide that lists dozens of opportunities in our area, from gardens where you grow your own to others where the harvests are donated to food banks and others in need.

And, after all, helping others is great for your health and well-being, too!

If you still think that all those fluoride containing dental products endorsed with the American Dental Association (ADA) “seal of approval” indicate some level of product safety, you need to know, it’s a myth.

The truth is that fluoride is a known neurotoxin, a chemical that is poisonous and destructive to nerve tissue.

Its little known classification as a neurotoxin was highlighted not long ago in a review published in The Lancet, Neurology. Neurotoxic fluoride is in the same category as mercury, lead, PCBs, arsenic, and other industrial chemicals that can cause permanent brain injury during infancy and early childhood.

The review’s authors implicated fluoride and other industrial chemicals in the current pandemic of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants and children – disabilities that include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive impairments. Not only do these impairments affect millions of children worldwide now; statistics indicate these disorders are increasing in frequency.

With multiple studies indicating fluoride has a permanent effect on our children’s brain development, a time-sensitive petition has been launched so citizens can voice their support for a formal petition delivered to the EPA earlier this year by a coalition of environmental, medical, and health groups, urging an end to municipal water fluoridation. We encourage you to sign it and share it widely.

Though EPA scientists already recognize chemicals with human evidence of neurotoxicity as “gold standard” chemicals that warrant assessment priority, the coalition’s petition cites over 2,500 pages of supportive scientific documentation indicating that

the amount of fluoride now regularly consumed by millions of Americans in fluoridated areas exceeds the doses repeatedly linked to IQ loss and other neurotoxic effects.

We do not need more of the stuff but far, far less. And it’s not just children at risk. Adults, those with kidney impairment, and the elderly are also at-risk populations too. (For more, check out the sidebars.)

There are good reasons there’s a Poison Control Center warning on every tube of toothpaste. Fluoride is not designed to be swallowed. At all.

A nutritious diet, proper hydration, and improvement in oral home care can do far more good than fluoride – and with no harmful side effects.

It can be hard to ask for what you want when you know it probably won’t be covered. This can leave some folks feeling they’ve been overcharged for metal-free, biocompatible alternatives. But that hinges on you being unaware of some things your insurance company probably doesn’t want you to know.

For one, they don’t care that composite restorations are technique sensitive. Unlike mercury amalgam, tooth-colored composite must bond to the tooth. Otherwise, they won’t hold up over time. So there are three basic steps in creating a white filling: etch, prime, and bond. Each layer of the composite must be light-cured into its hardened state. All of this takes time.

In contrast, mercury is not particularly technique sensitive. Though mercury can be bonded, many dentists forgo this step. Mercury can be packed into the tooth without layering or creating a dry field. And since it can literally be placed underwater, a dentist who uses mercury can do these fillings much more quickly, fitting more patients and procedures into each work day. More production, more money for the dentist.

For mercury is also cheap, and insurance covers the least expensive treatment possible. Placing composite involves more materials and equipment, as well as time. This attention to technique and detail generally means composite will always go above what your insurance likes to call “usual and customary” benefits. Beware, though: “Usual and customary” is based on a filling considered the Civil War era “gold-standard.”

Finally, insurance companies falsely believe that composite is only a cosmetic choice – one that won’t hold up on heavy use teeth like molars. That may be the case if a dentist places the materially as carelessly as amalgam. If proper bonding technique isn’t used, of course the composites will fail. But done properly, most composite fillings should last just as long as the average mercury one.

Learn more about the role insurance companies play in maintaining the dental status quo.

In his research on nutrition and dental health among traditional cultures, Weston Price found that fat-soluble vitamins and good fats seemed to be the common denominator among the healthy.

But it’s impossible to get all the nutrients you need if your gut is unhealthy. And the acidifying standard American diet has a lot to do with a gut whose microbial community is out of whack – along with antibiotic use, pharmaceutical use, chronic stress, and other lifestyle factors.

Research continues to show that good physical and mental health alike depend on the health of your gut. For a person working to heal from chronic health problems, restoring gut health is often fundamental to long term healing.

• The GAPS Diet is a great way to heal the gut. The key is eliminating foods that are hard to digest and that damage gut flora, opting for more nutrient-dense foods instead.




• As we’ve mentioned before, Pharmax is a great oral probiotic. It supports good immune health and increases nutrient absorption, while creating an unfavorable environment for bad bacteria. Taking apple cider vinegar or HCL supplements with meals can also improve the breakdown of nutrients and increase their bioavailability.




• Neither a probiotic or prebiotic, Restore is a fantastic supplement to help rebalance gut flora on the healthy side, as well as improve immune function.




• Drink a cup of “gut tea” daily. Recipe: Boil 2 cups of water. Add 1 tablespoon each of fresh grated turmeric and ginger. Remove from heat and let seep for 5 minutes, Strain. Add the juice from half a lemon, a pinch each of cinnamon and black pepper, and stevia to taste.




• If you have mercury amalgam fillings, get them safely removed and replaced with biocompatible restorations. According to Dr. Chris Shade, a gut can’t be fully healed when mercury is still in the teeth. The vapor they release gets swallowed or ingested, causing inflammation in the gut.

Once upon a time, if you had a cavity, a dentist would just drill and fill – usually with mercury amalgam. Dentists would call it “silver,” but that couldn’t whitewash the fact that a potent neurotoxin was being placed in the mouth, mere inches from the brain.

Not cool. Not good.

These days, there are more and better options for attending to decay-damaged teeth, especially if that decay is caught in the early stages. In fact, sometimes, we can help your tooth heal without doing any drilling at all.

For instance, ozone can keep decay from breaking through the enamel into the softer dentin within. This super-charged oxygen is a powerful disinfectant. Ozone plus rigorous home hygiene and a diet that supports natural tooth remineralization (see below) can be enough to nip early decay in the bud.

If the decay is more advanced, a new alternative called ICON can help. We just cover the decayed area with a mild acid to open up pores and clear out the decay. Then we fill the pores with a clear resin. The decay is no longer able to progress. No drill required.

Even better: With ICON, there’s no margin between the tooth and restoration, so there’s less opportunity for leaks. Where standard fillings need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years due to leaky seals that let bacteria get back into the tooth, ICON restorations may not need to be.

And when a traditional filling is needed? We use fluoride-free, BPA-free composite. This safer, nontoxic alternative to amalgam requires less drilling, as well. We can conserve a lot more natural tooth structure, so your teeth stay strong. And so do the fillings. The durability of current materials is impressive.

Of course, your best option for dealing with decay is to avoid getting it at all.

I had an excellent experience with Dr. Taylor today, as well as her staff. They were all very helpful and concerned about my needs to safely remove my mercury fillings. I drove 2 hours to get to the office, and it was worth it!

If you’ve spent any time browsing the websites of biological, holistic or “natural” dentists, you’ve probably noticed some similarities – and some differences. It can sometimes seem pretty confusing!

Here’s how the leading professional organization for biological dentists defines the approach in their Standards of Practice,

Biological dentistry is concerned with the whole body effects of all dental materials, techniques and procedures. It unites the best clinical practices and technologies of western dentistry and medicine with a wide array of modalities beyond the horizon of conventional practice. For biological dentistry acknowledges, appreciates and considers the complex and dynamic relationships between oral health and systemic health within the context of the whole person. These things are inseparable.

This approach is fundamentally “holistic.” Because the aim is to support the health of the whole individual – body, mind and spirit – and our inherent ability to self-regulate and heal, it is “natural,” as well. It humbly acknowledges that we can’t really improve upon nature, only affect it – for better or for worse.

There are a number of issues in dentistry today that bear directly on our ability to follow through on this philosophy. Here’s a quick summary of where we stand on some of the most important ones with respect to health. Our beliefs are expressed through our actions.

Biocompatibility Testing of Dental Materials
We encourage serum (blood) biocompatibility testing to determine the safest, healthiest choices of materials for restoring or replacing patients’ teeth.

Fluoride
We don’t use it. There are better and safer ways to protect teeth and prevent cavities.

Mercury Amalgam “Silver” Fillings
We don’t use them. When we must remove them, we follow strict safety protocols to minimize mercury exposure to patients, dental workers and the environment.

White/Tooth-Colored Composite Fillings
We use them. For most people, they’re an excellent option for repairing decayed or damaged teeth. We make sure that the ones we use are BPA-free, and where sensitivity is a concern, we do biocompatibility testing to identify materials that the patient is non-reactive to.

Metal Crowns & Bridges
We don’t use them – or any other restorations made of metal. No gold or other alloys. No stainless steel. No porcelain fused to metal.

Ceramic/Porcelain Crowns & Bridges
We use them. Like composite, these are an excellent choice and well-tolerated by most people. As with composites, there are many options available. Again, compatibility testing helps guide us to the ones best suited for you.

Titanium Dental Implants
Just as we don’t place metal restorations, we don’t place metal implants.

Ceramic Dental Implants
These can be a good option for many people. The zirconium they’re made with is widely biocompatible. We place them when appropriate and desired.

Root Canal Treatment
We don’t do them. It’s important to us that our patients are educated on the pros and cons of this procedure so they can decide whether it’s right – or not – for them.

X-rays
To keep radiation exposure at an absolute minimum, we use only digital imaging.

Ozone
We use ozone in a variety of applications – from direct ozone therapy to disinfect and support healing to ozonated water in our operatories to eliminate biofilm and pathogens from the water supply we use while cleaning or working on your teeth.

Diet & Nutrition
These are as important to good oral health as they are to good overall health! We routinely encourage our patients to make healthful eating a habit.

Books

• Whole-Body Dentistry by Mark. A. Breiner, DDS
• Mouth Matters by Carol Vander Stoep, RDH
• The Roots of Disease by Robert Kulacz, DDS & Thomas E. Levy, MD
• Beyond Amalgam: The Hidden Health Hazard Posed by Jawbone Cavitations by Susan Stockton
• The Terrain Is Everything by Susan Stockton
• Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care by Hal Huggins, DDS & Thomas E. Levy, MD
• It’s All in Your Head: The Link Between Mercury Amalgams and Illness by Hal Huggins, DDS
• Root Canal Cover-Up by George E. Meining, DDS
• Tooth Truth by Frank J. Jerome, DDS
• Radical Medicine by Louisa Williams, MS, DC, ND
• Nutrhttps://www.rondeauseminars.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Early-Ortho-Treatment-2014.pdfition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price, DDS

Articles

• Association Between Periodontal Pathogens and Systemic Disease
• Establish Healthy TMJ Prior to Oral Appliance Therapy
• Snoring Is Not Just a Noise
• Temporomandibular Dysfunction: Stress or Structural?
• Early Orthodontic Treatment (2014)
• Early Orthodontic Treatment (2017)
• Early Orthodontic Treatment Key to Long Term Health
• Ortho-TMJ-Sleep Connection
• Why the Fabrication of Occlusal Night Guards May Be Detrimental to the Overall Health of Your Patient
• Dental Causes of Systemic Disease
• Safe Removal of Amalgam Fillings
• Mercury Dental Amalgams: The Controversy Continues
• A Primitive and Dangerous Dental Tool
• Is Dental Amalgam Safe for Humans? The Opinion of the Scientific Committee of the European Commission
• The Dangerousness of Mercury Vapor
• Neurological Effects of Mercury Exposure
• Cancer Connection to Mercury, Toxic Metals and Dental Cavitations
• Is Mercury Toxicity an Autoimmune Disorder?
• Dental/Cancer Connection
• The Relationship Between Root Canals and Cancer
• Root Canal Cover-Up Exposed
• Routine Dental Extractions Routinely Produce Cavitations
• Jawbone Disease Produces Many Ills
• Incidence Levels and Chronic Health Effects Related to Cavitations
• Trigeminal Neuralgia Atypical Facial Neuralgia: The Cavitation Connection
• Dental/Chronic Fatigue Connection (Case Report)
• Dental Implants: An Integrative Perspective

Here are just a few of the sites where you can learn more about biological dentistry and related issues. As this link library is ever-evolving, please check back with us often for updates.

• International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine (IABDM)
• International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT)
• Holistic Dental Association (HDA)
• TALK International
• Consumers for Dental Choice
• Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions (DAMS)
• Weston A. Price Foundation
• Price-Pottenger Foundation
• The Biodental Library
• TMJ & Facial Pain Center
• Maxillofacial Osteonecrosis & NICO
• Huggins Applied Healing
• Mercury Safe Dentists
• Dr. Mercola

Airway

Ozone

Oral Obstacles to Optimal Health

Mercury Amalgam “Silver” Fillings

Fluoride & Fluoridation

Root Canals, Cavitations & Other Oral Foci

Disease Causation: The Dental Connection

Metal-Free Zirconium Implants

1. We take the dread out of dental work .
   For many people, thoughts of seeing “The Dentist” can be unnerving. We know it doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why we’ve created a mellow, comfortable, spa-like environment for our patients. We aim to make each visit as relaxed and stress-free as possible.




2. When it comes to dentistry, less is more.
   Each of your teeth is a vital, living organ. The more “work” that’s done to them, the more trauma – and the weaker they become. That’s why we practice minimally invasive dentistry, where the drill is a last resort if gentler alternative therapies aren’t enough. Once natural tooth structure is gone, it’s gone. We want you to keep as much of yours as long as possible. This is why we focus heavily on prevention – and finding the source of any disease or dysfunction so we can address both cause and symptoms.




3. We know that your teeth are connected to the rest of your body.
   Dental conditions can have a big impact on your overall health and well-being. With every procedure, we consider its potential effect on the rest of your body. It’s why we encourage biocompatibility testing of dental materials and will not use known neurotoxins such as mercury amalgam to repair decayed or damaged teeth. It’s why we use tools such as pathogen testing, to provide more specific, targeted treatment of gum disease – a condition linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. We don’t just look at teeth. We look at the big picture.




4. You deserve to be treated in a healthy environment.
   Not only are we a mercury-free office, we are mercury-safe, meeting or exceeding IAOMT standards for the safe removal of amalgam. We are also fluoride-free and dedicated to maintaining an office that is both patient-friendly and planet-friendly. Most of the materials used in our building are recycled products. We try to be as paper-free as possible and minimize use of harsh chemicals for lab and cleaning processes . We even have our own organic, edible garden and compost on site, and keep an outdoor waiting area under the redwoods.




5. We treat causes, not symptoms; work with the body, not against it.
   We combine the best of modern science and clinical practice with traditional, holistic healingmethods, providing a truly transformative kind of dental care. And as Dr. Taylor is a constant student, she is continually refining and adding to her knowledge and skill toward her goal of helping you achieve optimal oral and systemic health.




6. You are in charge.
   We aim to provide you with the information you need to make the best and most informed choices about your oral health care. This includes both conventional and biological options – and the option of doing nothing at all. Only you can decide which treatment path makes most sense with respect to your needs, values, resources and beliefs. We would be honored to be a help to you along the path you ultimately choose.

What is biological dentistry?

As the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine states in their Standards of Practice, “Biological dentistry is concerned with the whole body effects of all dental materials, techniques and procedures. It unites the best clinical practices and technologies of western dentistry and medicine with a wide array of modalities beyond the horizon of conventional practice. For biological dentistry acknowledges, appreciates and considers the complex and dynamic relationships between oral health and systemic health within the context of the whole person. These things are inseparable.”

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What’s the difference between “mercury-free” and “mercury-safe”?

“Mercury-free” means only that a dentist does not place new mercury amalgam fillings – the so-called “silver” fillings that were first devised nearly 200 years ago. But even mercury-free practices must handle such fillings when they need to be removed and replaced. That’s where “mercury-safe” comes in. There are strict protocols that we follow to minimize both patient and staff exposure to mercury vapor and particulate – as well as to prevent mercury from polluting the broader environment. Read more about the kinds of safety practices we follow.

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Is your office metal-free?

Strictly speaking, there’s no such thing as metal-free dentistry. Even ceramic crowns contain some aluminum – not the dark, shiny kind used to make things like soda cans but a benign form no different from the aluminum in sand on a beach or in glass cookware. (Learn more)

That said, we do not use “metal metal” as in much conventional dentistry. We use only BPA-free composites and ceramics for fillings, crowns and bridges. The partials, full dentures and aligners we provide are all non-metallic. For those who opt for dental implants, we use only ceramic materials, never titanium.

Most important is that the materials we use be biocompatible. Biocompatibility testing helps us ensure that the materials we use for a specific patient are not materials they will be reactive to, whether because of aluminum or some other constituent.

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What type of biocompatibility testing do you use?

We rely on the Clifford materials reactivity test, which analyzes a small sample of your blood to determine which of thousands of dental materials you may have a problem tolerating and which would be safest.

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What’s the best restoration material to use?

While there are a number of composites and ceramics that are broadly biocompatible, each person is biochemically and bioenergetically unique. Each of us has our own health history and health burdens, which can make us more reactive to some materials, less to others. Biocompatibility testing is critical for determining the safest materials to use, and the particular type of restoration to be done will help guide choices among those best options.

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Can you tell if mercury, root canals or cavitations are causing my health problems?

No. Dr. Taylor is not a physician and therefore cannot diagnose any systemic illness on the basis of dental conditions. She can refer you to an appropriate physician and is happy to work with your provider to coordinate your dental and medical care.

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Do you use latex?

No. Our office is completely latex-free.

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Do you offer any kind of sedation during dental procedures?

Yes, we have a couple options for patients who need help relaxing during treatment. One of these is Alpha-Stim, a small device that uses proven, safe and effective Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation to dramatically reduce anxiety symptoms. The waveform passes between two electrodes that clip on to your earlobes, sending a signal to your brain that helps to reduce anxiety.

We also have nitrous oxide available. This safe inhalant is administered by nosepiece, and its effects wear off quickly.

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Do I have to have x-rays taken?

All incoming patients need to have a full mouth set of x-rays done in order for us to have a proper understanding of their current dental conditions. However, if you’ve had a set taken within the last year, we may be able to use those. Please contact our office for further information.

For our ongoing patients, x-rays are never taken “routinely” – only when the situation warrants. X-rays are an important diagnostic tool and the only way we have of seeing what’s happening within your teeth and the health of the soft tissues around them and bone that supports them. To further minimize exposure to radiation, we take only digital x-rays, which reduce exposure by as much as 90%, compared to traditional film.

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How much does such-and-such a procedure cost?

Treatment plans can vary from patient to patient, depending on their particular dental health situation. We make a point of discussing treatment plan options and costs at length with you before we begin any procedure or course of treatment. If you have specific questions about costs before scheduling your first appointment, please call us at our office. We’d be happy to speak with you and answer any questions you have.

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Do you treat children?

Yes.

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Do you take insurance?

Although we’re not in network with any insurance companies, we never leave patients stranded to figure out their dental benefits alone. That’s why, at the time of treatment, we’ll provide you with a fully completed claim form for you to submit directly to your insurer for reimbursement.

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Do you offer any kind of payment plans?

Yes, we offer financing through Care Credit. For details or to discuss your options, just talk with our office manager. She’ll be glad to help you out!

Green City Dental provides minimally invasive, holistic dental care for the whole family in the north Seattle Metro area. Our office is fluoride-free, mercury-free and mercury-safe.

As a green office, we make every effort to minimize toxic chemical exposures. We use only digital x-rays, and only take them when necessary (never “routinely”).

We follow or exceed IAOMT standards for the safe removal of mercury amalgam fillings.

Eco-Friendly Biological Dentistry for Holistic Health & Wellness

Featured in Seattle Magazine

At Green City Dental, we understand that overall health depends on oral health. We love to help our patients achieve the best of both!

Dr. Rebecca Taylor practices biological, minimally invasive dentistry. She works closely with her patients, educating them and creating custom treatment plans that fit their specific needs and values. Dr. Taylor is trained in safe mercury amalgam removal, ozone therapy, neuromuscular dentistry, laser dentistry, tooth remineralization, non-invasive therapies for sleep apnea/snoring, Invisalign with PROPEL, and non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Our office is fluoride-free, and we use only biocompatible BPA-free materials. We strive to use sustainable products and minimize our environmental impact.

Contact us today to make your first appointment!