Alternative Dentistry Isn’t Merely an Ideal

Mainstream public tends to believe that alternative medicine (which, I’m sure you know, carries many derogatory nicknames) implies methods that are dirty, ineffective, or just plain weird. The public also sees alternative medicine as unreliable and dangerous because it “hasn’t been proven to cure disease” by conventional medicine. But don’t get me started on the politics behind this that keep the public in the dark about natural medicine. It is a controversial topic.

Anyway, people are generally skeptical of holistic options for their medical needs, believing that they are inferior to what the majority of doctors and professors practice. “Science” reigns over all, and any other options are swept under the rug. After all, conventional medicine is what everyone does. It is easily available, trusted, and constantly advocated by the media. So why bother with the effort and expenses of alternative medicine?

Conventional medicine (and when I say “medicine,” dentistry is included) generally relies on methods and materials that isolate a particular problem or symptom and treat it without considering its root cause. We’ll discuss what the root cause usually is later. In the holistic world, the ailment or disease itself is the “symptom” of something greater going on with the patient’s overall health. Going to the doctor or dentist and diagnosing/treating an ailment or disease is only half the battle. Holistic medicine sees beyond that and strives to bring the individual patient to his optimal condition of health and immunity, therefore healing from past vulnerabilities and avoiding all potential diseases, illness, or relapses in the future. Diseases don’t just happen; they develop gradually, culminating when the body can no longer handle the burden of resisting them. The best cure for degenerative disease is to avoid it in the first place.

That being said, this is why we practice holistic dentistry. Conventional dentistry alone just isn’t enough to restore oral health to a patient. In fact, the patient’s oral health is negatively impacted by conventional methods. So many other things must be considered when treating a part of the body, teeth included. The patient’s best interest is not taken into account unless his health and treatment are approached comprehensively.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com