by Edward Arana, DDS

Founding President, American Academy of Biological Dentistry

Biological Dentistry can be categorized as conscious dentistry. It is conscious of how treatments of the teeth and jaws affect the individual’s overall health. Will they be congruent and health-enhancing, or will they be health stressors?

In the past, only lip service was paid to the biocompatibility of dental materials. It was judged on a general basis, not the required individual basis. The most tragic result of this is conventional dentistry’s continued advocacy of the use of a known poison—MERCURY—in amalgam filling. And their reason for doing so? Because it’s been done for more than 150 years.

In maintaining this position, conventional dentistry has misled itself—and the public. Obscuring the truth that mercury does cause ill effects when implanted in the body, it denies that a filling inserted in a prepared tooth is even an implant! But the fact remains: mercury and other heavy metals from dental fillings contribute to all chronic disease states. So do multiple chemical-sensitizing exposures. Environmentally ill patients have provided clinical evidence that these conditions act synergistically to intoxicate and stress the patient, thus causing disease.

In the late 1970s, Biological Dentistry emerged as a new field of Probiotic (life-supporting) dental medicine. Developed in Germany, it is now taught and practiced throughout the world.

But what is Biological Dentistry exactly?

Above all, Biological Dentistry is aesthetic, relatively nontoxic and individually biocompatible. Its practitioners use physiologic and electronic means to locate chronic areas of disease that are difficult to locate with conventional clinical methods. It incorporates the time-proven healing methods of homeopathy, acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy and herbology, as well as the more modern sciences of neural therapy, hematology, immunology and electro-acupuncture. Such modalities complement the many scientific disciplines that encompass the field of clinical dentistry. The curative measures of Biological Dentistry are applied in accordance with each patient’s natural abilities of regulation, regeneration, adaptation and self-cure. Biological dental treatment removes the stress burdens that conventional treatment may induce.

There are several dental situations that especially concern the Biological Dentist. The first is the toxicity of metals used in dental materials and their release from fillings and replacement appliances (metal partials and crowns containing nickel). Dissociating from their masses, these metal ions diffuse, migrate and are absorbed by the tissues, altering the electrochemical character of the immune system. At the same time, they change the ratios and populations of the blood cells (decreased white count), as well as those of the immune system. These migrating metal ions also stop or alter the function of the body’s enzymes.

Another concern is the extent and character of the direct electrical currents generated by the mingling of dissimilar metals in electrolyte media (fluids and tissues of the human body). This is called oral galvanism. These currents carry disruptive metal ions to the opposite poles in what amount to oral galvanic batteries. How much oral galvanic power is necessary to change organic function and membrane permeability, to interfere with the power of thought of recall, or to initiate degenerative change? We still don’t know. But we do know that it changes the charge from electronegative to electropositive.

Is it possible that these metallic energy sinks act as blockades in the meridians, the bioenergetic circuits associated with the teeth? Indeed, it is. Can these blockades cause dysfunction in their respective organs, endocrine systems, vertebrae, muscles, nerves and nerve reflexes? Absolutely. Should we view current existing dental restorations as toxic scars? If mercury is involved, most definitely. With gold and other metals, or with composite cements? For a certain percentage of people, yes. With just about any restorative dental material, there will be blockades if the body’s immune system is still functional. This is because the tooth is an open and dynamic living organ.

Biological Dentistry is concerned with treatment and therapies that cause the least disturbance to the immune system.

A third area of concern is that of hidden or residual infection, including areas of necrosis (dead tissue) and chronic inflammation. Collectively, these areas are called Dental Interference Fields, or Foci. A focus is a diseased change in the soft connective tissue containing non-processable material that keeps the local and general defense reactions in a continuous state of active conflict. This can lead to abnormal distant effects far removed from the original source. It is most often chronic in nature. Ignoring this area as completely as it does, conventional dentistry misses out on the chance to make meaningful and effective therapeutic contributions in resolving chronic disease.

In seeking the least toxic reparative and restorative materials for each patient’s dental work, Biological Dentists use materials reactivity testing. This individualizes biocompatibility. The patient’s blood serum is used for this qualitative antigen-antibody precipitin observation test. Developed by W.J. Clifford, MS, the test indicates which materials may be suitable for the individual patient. Parallel test methods include electrodermal testing as advocated by Reinhold Voll, MD, and Fritz Kramer, DDS, and Applied Kinesiology muscle testing as developed by George Goodheart, DC.

Using all the knowledge and skills of Probiotic dental medicine, Biological Dentists strive to provide individual biocompatibility testing, and aesthetic, comfortable, functional and enduring dental replacements. Biological dental treatment has the possibility of stress reduction so great that the patient loses all or many of the distressing chronic disease symptoms, encompassing many pathological conditions.

Biological Dentistry is the great contribution that Sir William Osler meant when he said, “The next great advancement in medicine will come from the dentists.” Biological Dentistry will, out of necessity, become the dental medicine of the 21st Century.

This article originally appeared in modified form in the DAMS newsletter, Volume IV, Issue 2.