Biological Dentistry With McGinty Dental Group
One of the biggest reasons why McGinty Dental Group is consistently the first choice for family dentistry in Littleton is our focus on whole patient health. Drs. McGinty, Schmidt, and team are committed to approaching dental care holistically and working with other health professionals to achieve optimal patient health.
Whole patient health
This brings us to biological dentistry. At McGinty Dental, we practice biological dentistry because this approach ensures patient safety and health– systemically, as well as orally.
What is biological dentistry? According to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), biological dentists recognize the impact of toxic materials and relate it to dental and physiological health.
Why is this important? It’s been found that some of the materials used to address dental health concerns may have adverse effects on the rest of the body. Biological dentists believe that the whole patient’s health is just as critical as oral health, and seek to use dental care that is safe for the body.
Mercury is one such toxin
Dentists who practice biological dentistry are concerned about the mercury commonly found in fillings. Mercury is a potent toxin. It vaporizes at room temperature but goes unnoticed in our mouths because it is odorless, colorless, and tasteless– and it accumulates in the body. The “silver” amalgam fillings that most patients use can be composed of up to 50% mercury. According to the World Health Organization, people are exposed to more mercury from dental fillings than from any other source of the element combined.
Moreover, we know that mercury is associated with a wide range of health problems, including respiratory, urogenital, and neurological problems as well as placing unborn fetuses at risk for birth defects. We believe that this toxin should not be part of patient care.
Although most members of the scientific and medical community believe mercury should be banned from all medical products, mercury is still used in dental fillings in the US.
What can I do?
Because mercury fillings emit mercury vapors that slowly accumulate in the body, McGinty Dental Group believes they should be replaced with a nontoxic filling. Removing mercury fillings is an exact process that should only be attempted by biological dentists trained in carefully extracting the potentially harmful filling without exposing the patient to further levels of the toxin.
Our team– along with Drs. McGinty and Schmidt– has the experience and training necessary to safely and quickly remove mercury fillings and replace them with a nontoxic and safe alternative filling. We are committed to providing this service because we believe in the importance of whole patient health, and we want to see our patients thrive.
More questions?
The subject of mercury in dental fillings is a big topic. If you have any questions at all, or want to learn about our goals in practicing biological dentistry, please call or visit our office. Patient education is one of our highest priorities, and we’re happy to answer all your questions.
We look forward to seeing you at your next visit to McGinty Dental Group, your source for Biological Dentistry in Littleton!