What Are The Differences Between Holistic Dentistry And Traditional Dentistry?

Dentistry, also known as oral or dental medicine, deals with the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral organs. Dentistry is concerned with your dental health, which inadvertently affects your medical health. Therefore, dental medicine helps prevent dental infections and diseases, diagnose dental illnesses, and treat dental conditions. Some procedures under the branches of dentistry also help restore the situation to how they were naturally or the way they should be.

The most commonly known form of dentistry is traditional dentistry. Whenever you have a toothache, broken tooth, or need dental help, the chances are that the dentist whom you go to meet is a traditional dentist. Traditional dentistry is a form of dentistry in which the dentist is licensed to analyze and treat all teeth and jaw problems. Traditional dentistry focuses on three primary areas: basic care, major care, and preventive care.

Basic care in traditional dentistry involves the treatment of dental problems that require little care. It may also include diagnostic and preventive services like X-rays, fluoride application, and dental cleanings. Basic dental care can involve dental fillings and other cosmetic dental procedures.

Major care involves delicate, strenuous, and long-term procedures. The procedures involved in major dental care in traditional dentistry may require surgery. Examples of major dental care procedures are dental implants, dentures, dental crowns, dental bridges, surgical extraction, etc. It might also include orthodontic services like retainers, wires, space maintainers, braces, etc.

Preventive care offered in traditional dentistry aims to protect the teeth from damages, infections, and diseases. This is achieved through X-rays and dental examinations to assess the risks of diseases, fluoride treatment, dental sealants, and cleanings to prevent problems. Preventive dental care protects the teeth from tooth decay, cavities, and the need for reparative or therapeutic procedures.

The popularity and shared use of traditional dentistry notwithstanding, a distinctive form of dentistry is known as holistic dentistry. Holistic dentistry is used as an alternative to conventional dental care, and it focuses on an individual’s complete existence, including physical and emotional wellbeing. Rather than surgically improving the teeth, holistic dentistry focuses on good dental hygiene and nutritional care. This form of dentistry terms most of the procedures and materials used in traditional dentistry invasive and aims to provide non-invasive treatments to their patients.

Holistic dentists strive to use non-toxic materials and procedures to treat dental conditions, unlike traditional dentists whose materials and processes are based on years of science and research. Other names for holistic dentistry include:

• Natural dentistry.
• Unconventional dentistry.
• Alternative dentistry.
• Biocompatible dentistry.
• Biological dentistry.
• Integrative dentistry.
• Preventive dentistry.
• Progressive dentistry.

These names are all indications of what holistic dentistry is about.

Differences Between Holistic Dentistry And Traditional Dentistry.

Since traditional dentistry focuses on treating the problem with the teeth, gum, and other oral organs, and holistic dentistry deals with the overall wellbeing of an individual, the procedures used in both forms of dentistry are different. The differences between holistic dentistry and traditional dentistry procedures include:

• Fluoride treatment: Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, rock, and other natural resources. It is used to strengthen the teeth and bones and is well used in traditional dentistry as a preventive measure. However, holistic dentistry is not in support of the use of fluoride in most cases. This is because an overdose of fluoride can cause fluorosis and is toxic to the body.
• Root canal therapy: In traditional dentistry, root canal therapy is done to remove an infected or dead tooth pulp. However, holistic dentists rarely recommend this procedure because of the toxic chemicals used in sterilizing the tooth. Also, in holistic dentistry, it is believed that root canal therapy is not entirely effective and can cause more harm than good.
• Dental fillings: Mercury is a common metal in dental fillings used by traditional dentists. Mercury can be toxic and pose a danger to your dental health. Holistic dentists avoid it and instead use tooth-colored resin to fill cavities.
• X-ray: Holistic dentists use digital X-rays instead of traditional X-rays. This is because digital X-rays expose you to 80% less radiation than conventional X-rays.
• Biocompatible materials: Holistic dentists always make sure to test every material used in their dental procedures to prevent adverse reactions.