Dental Restorations and Fillings
Approach of holistic dentist aims for positive experience
By Lauri Epstein
BOULDER -- When it comes to dentistry, what some consider alternative, others are taking seriously.
Dr. Alan Green is a holistic dentist who uses a humanistic approach to ensure his patients a comfortable, positive dental experience while making sure he abides by the physician's oath to "do no harm."
Green strives to eliminate things in the body that are harmful, such as toxins on teeth, and assures patients that the treatments he offers will have no negative consequences. Green also focuses on his patients' overall heath to pinpoint causes of dental problems. He then works with them to change the aspects of their lives he thinks are causing harm, such as poor eating habits and high stress levels.
"Not one system of medicine can be considered," said Green.
Holistic medicine is explained as a total awareness of mind and body. Patient education is very important. Before Green proceeds with any treatment, he explains potential side effects and asks patients to make decisions.
"I won't work on anyone until they say it is what they want," said Green, who considers his patients to be pro-active in taking responsibility for their health care. "They question and care enough to know how to be healthy."
Modern medicine has become too narrow, Green said. With his botany degree as background, he said can help patients use effective Old World natural and herbal medicines.
And preventative care is a good way to take time and interest in one's heath problems, Green believes. He advises his patients to not only brush and floss because it removes plaque from their teeth, but because it involves actively thinking about one's overall health.
"Brushing is an act of self love," said Green
Holistic dentists do not work with any materials they feel may have toxic effects. One example is amalgam fillings that contain about 50 percent mercury, a known toxin, Green explained. Amalgam fillings also contain roughly 35 percent silver and various other metals such as copper, zinc and tin, according to the Center For Dental Wellness in Colorado Springs. Holistic dentists also reject fluoride and nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, because they are deemed poisonous to the body.
Green has done only one amalgam filling in his career because it was required to receive a Colorado dental license. He removed the filling immediately after he put it in. Green believes dentists who still use amalgam fillings are not acting maliciously, but have difficulty changing the practices they have used their entire careers.
Janet Oestrich is a dental hygienist who chooses a holistic dentist for her own dental care. Her doctor said she might be experiencing "misfiring and malfunctioning of the brain stem because she has two different metals in her mouth."
But Jim Towle, assistant executive director of the Colorado Dental Association, said there are no valid studies that indicate amalgam fillings are dangerous, and he is not convinced dentists should avoid using them.
"Dentists have been using amalgam for 150 years," he said. "If it was poisonous there would be an epidemic, and it's not happening, is it?"
Scientific testing has shown that the amount of mercury absorbed from fillings is insignificant. The amount is a small fraction of the average amount of mercury that is received from daily food intake. And in 1992, the U. S. Public Health Service concluded it was not appropriate to restrict the use of amalgam.
Many dentists are switching to non-mercury fillings because patients request them for cosmetic reasons, Green said. Towle believes even though gold fillings would bring more profit, dentists are not using them because they are more expensive and more inconvenient than amalgam fillings.
Green believes that there will always be a place for holistic dentistry, no matter what kind of fillings patients decide on. He bases his practice on the premise that, "It is the greatest sense of accomplish to make people comfortable with their teeth. They look good, they feel good, and they smile more."
Republished with Permission of The Boulder County Business Report
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