Health

holistically minded:

NORTHWEST NATURAL DENTISTRY

Written by Dr. Cory Harker, DDS | Owner of Northwest Natural Dentistry

What is holistic dentistry? Holistic dentistry can mean many things and go by many names. Some of those names include: natural dentistry, biologic dentistry, integrative dentistry, preventive dentistry and biomimetic dentistry. While natural dentistry tends to focus on avoiding ingredients or procedures that may have toxic effects, any practice that goes by one of these names will incorporate the main tenet of holistic health: the whole body is much more than the sum of its parts, meaning that all the systems of our bodies work together synergistically. Essentially, the health of your mouth is connected to, and can have an effect on, your overall health.

One of the greatest links between your oral health and whole body health is inflammation! What if a wound on your arm was festering and oozing but in no pain? You’d probably still want to treat it immediately, right? A similar infected wound can be found hidden inside our mouths and just because you do not feel pain, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat it. Inflammation in the mouth is known as gingivitis or, in more severe cases, periodontitis. These diseases are characterized by unchecked infection of our oral tissues. This chronic inflammation has far-reaching effects when it comes to our health but it often goes untreated because the patient is not in pain and the signs of the infection are not readily noticeable.

At Northwest Natural Dentistry we believe that total body wellness starts in the mouth and we strive to use materials that are the most compatible with whole body health. We do not use metal in our crowns, opting instead for durable, aesthetic, and biocompatible ceramic crowns. We do not place metal amalgam fillings which contain mercury, a neurotoxin. We also have a series of protocols to safely remove amalgam fillings. Instead of flouride treatments, we offer high-quality, minimally invasive dental treatment that focuses on your whole body.

A few of our other services include the placement of ceramic dental implants to replace missing teeth, the use of platelet rich fibrinogen (PRF) which is derived and concentrated from a patient’s own blood to increase healing and decrease postoperative pain following extractions, and the use of ozone and ozonated water to treat infection in the mouth.

Holistic dentistry is growing exponentially across the U.S as our communities increasingly value both healthy living and longevity of life, for themselves and their children. Call us today and set up consultation so we can learn about you and your family’s unique vision of living healthy, and how we can support you in achieving that vision. w

--------------------------------------------------------------------------Dr. Cory Harker has been practicing holistic dentistry in the Coeur d’Alene area since 2012. He received his DDS degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2011 and has been a member of the International Academy of Oral and Medical Toxicology (IAOMT) since 2013. Outside of work, him and his wife and their four beautiful children love to explore the beautiful PNW!

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