A Holistic Approach to Oral Health
 We
put patients first. We are completely committed to the ideals of
Integrated Dentistry. Integrated dentistry essentially means that
we utilize both traditional treatment modalities as well as "complementary"
treatments when indicated. We are focused on not only Optimal Health
and Aesthetics of your teeth, but provide that care in the context
of your whole body. Our Whole Body Approach, offers patients only
the use of the finest materials and biocompatible products available.
We are proud to offer mercury free products. We feel this approach
is the safest and most aesthetically pleasing way to maintain and
restore your oral health.
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TMJ
TMJ syndrome, or sometimes known as TMD, is simply a dramatic
extension of the classic tension headache. It is named for
the Temporomandibular Joint which is in front of the ear where
the lower jaw rests in the skull bone socket. Often related
to clenching and misaligned bite, over time the TMJ syndrome
can result in extreme spasms and trauma to the muscles not
only in the jaw, but down into the neck and shoulders. In
many cases, even the back muscles are affected. Between the
top of the lower jaw, called the condyle, and the skull, is
a cartilaginous disc. This serves as a cushion as the condyle
moves forward and down when the mouth is opening. If this
gets displaced slightly, there will occur a click or pop upon
opening the mouth; sometimes the jaw may even lock. Some symptoms
of TMJ include dizziness, headaches, migraines, facial pain,
tooth pain, pain down the arms into the fingers, lack of jaw
opening, pain upon jaw movement, ringing in the ears, grinding
of the teeth and chronic neck and backache.
Since the site of the Temporomandibular Joint is at the intersection
of three major energy meridians relating to the stomach, endocrine
system and small intestine, relief of TMJ can spark a tremendous
healing process in the whole body, relieving symptoms like
stomach problems, chest pains and cold extremities.
TMJ can require bite adjustment (reshaping of the tooth surfaces)
and sometimes braces to correct the misalignment. And because
TMJ causes so much trauma to the whole system and especially
the skeletal structure and muscles, we may recommend a homeopathic
remedy and bodywork to hasten the healing process during or
after the bite adjustment process.
Sometimes prior to the bite adjustment, or while treatment
is in progress, an appliance is needed. This goes over either
the upper or lower teeth, to reposition the jaw thereby alleviating
the muscle spasms. If you would like to learn more about TMJ
and how it might be affecting you or a loved one, please speak
with one of our highly trained staff members.
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Compatibility Testing
If you are ill, it is best to have compatibility testing prior
to treatment. This test, also called a Dental Materials Reactivity
Test, is performed by a special laboratory to determine which
materials your system will be least sensitive to. The test considers
metals as well as composites, cements, and other dental components
which can often cause immunological reactions.
Blood is drawn, and the serum which contains the white cells
- and hence the person's antibodies - are separated. Antibodies
are those complexes formed in response to something foreign
when the first line of defense has been breached and a more
systemic response is required. Placing the serum in a small
well which contains a minute amount of a dental material component,
i.e., silver, will cause an agglutination reaction or no reaction.
A reaction indicates that antibodies to the material are present.
This means the person's immune system has been sensitized to
the particular material and any further encounter with that
material may lead to autoimmune reactions or a whole host of
reaction symptoms, as seen with mercury toxicity. The challenge
of serum against over 150 components of dental materials is
done. All positive responses are fed into a computer, and cross-checked
against the ingredients in most brand-name products. The ensuing
printout will indicate by manufacturer's name what materials
are immunologically reactive and are to be avoided, as well
as those which may be used. |
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Diet Counseling
Good nutrition is an essential part of maintaining healthy gums
and teeth. Studies show some 30% of the population is genetically
susceptible to gum disease. You are at an increased risk if
you are nutritionally deficient in a number of vitamins and
minerals. For example, one study showed patients who consumed
less than the recommended daily allowed (RDA) of 60 mg per day
of Vitamin C were at nearly 1 ½ times the risk of developing
severe gingivitis compared to those consuming 3 times the RDA
(180mg). Research shows that young women who get less than 800
mg of calcium per day double their risk of periodontal disease.
Proper nutrition improves your overall immune system making
you less susceptible to periodontal disease. If you have periodontal
disease good nutrition can improve healing following treatment.
If you require implants proper nutrition can increase the rate
of success. Drs. Rohrer will provide nutritional counseling
to help you prevent and successfully treat periodontal disease
and if you require tooth replacement optimize your chances of
implant success. He will help you develop a personal nutrition
program complete with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to
promote a healthy mouth and body. For those interested he will
also discuss homeopathic alternatives. Periodontal disease affects
your entire body. Systemic diseases related to your periodontal
health include Diabetes, Breathing Problems, Heart Problems,
Stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
For more about dental nutrional counseling click here |
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Natural Detoxification
After mercury amalgam removal, patients are advised to begin
a detoxification process to remove the toxins from their bodies
that have been accumulating for years. Every detoxification
program is customized for the individual patient’s needs.
Often we work in concert with the patient’s physician or complementary
health care provider. Nevertheless, a proper detoxification
protocol begins with a nutritional program and the necessary
supplementation. In general, high levels of sulfur-containing
foods, such as egg yolks, and supplements such as glutathione
and selenium, are critically important because these binding
agents are constantly lost in urine, bowel movements and sweat,
and must be replenished on a daily basis. Often a combination
of homeopathic remedies are used as a way to gently assist
the organs, especially the liver and kidneys, and for helping
to pull dental metals out of the tissues, and to help them
exit from the body. Additional herbs for proper detoxification
include Solidago, which is a good kidney herb, and Silymarin,
excellent for the liver. We tend to use food derived supplements
made by Standard Process.
These vitamins and minerals have been shown in the scientific
literature to be beneficial to the mercury toxic patient.
Some of these supplements and recommended dosages include:
| 1. Glutathione |
50 milligrams three times per
day |
| 2. N-acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) |
250mg two times per day |
| 3. Methionine |
1000 milligrams per day divided into two
or three doses. |
| 4. Vitamin B6 |
50 milligrams per day |
| 5. Vitamin C |
500 milligrams three times per day |
| 6. Zinc |
15-30 milligrams per day |
| 7. Magnesium |
200 milligrams per day |
| 8. Selenium |
50 micrograms per day |
| 9. Garlic |
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Heavy Metal Toxicity Testing
Whole-Body Dentistry uses a variety of tests if patients want
to consider the impact mercury and amalgam fillings may be
having on their health. A provocative urine test can reveal
how much saturation of mercury is in the tissues of the body.
We begin by having a physician take a baseline urine test
for mercury and other heavy metals. Then a chelating drug
which binds the metals is administered. When the urine is
retested, you can see if there is a substantial increase of
metals in the urine, compared to the baseline, indicating
a problem with a metal buildup in the tissues.
A dental materials compatibility test will tell immunologically
if you are reacting to components in the mercury filling.
Hair analysis is often another useful tool. Hair analysis
will screen for heavy metals, and often will reveal high lead
levels in both children and adults, which usually prompts
a referrals to a physician. However, hair analysis is not
particularly good for indicating a mercury problem. Many patients
who have high mercury on urine testing may not have high hair
mercury. Nevertheless, if mercury is high in the hair, there
is almost definitely a problem.
Hair analysis also tests for minerals, and in general, mineral
imbalance is more important than vitamin levels. What is important
on the hair analysis results are not so much the absolute
values of the hair minerals, but the ratios. Of course, the
absolute values cannot be far from optimal.
For instance, a normal ratio of calcium to magnesium in the
hair is about seven parts calcium to one part magnesium. A
very high ratio of calcium to magnesium, for example, 15 to
1 or greater, indicates a sensitivity to carbohydrates, and
this person will benefit from a high-protein, low-carbohydrate
diet. If the individual has not been on that kind of diet,
they usually will feel much better if they cut down their
consumption of carbohydrates. Another useful ratio is calcium
to potassium. If the calcium to potassium ratio is greater
than approximately five, it indicates an underactive thyroid;
the greater the ratio, the weaker the thyoid.
Very high hair calcium level usually indicates the patient
will be slower in responding to treatment. The calcium is
a form not readily utilizable and blocks normal function.
In fact, these people are actually "starving" for
calcium.
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Periodontal Inflammatory Markers
Periodontal disease has practically become a national pastime.
Some estimates place more than 85% of the U.S. population over
the age of 30 with this disease. Periodontal disease comprises
a broad range of problems from gingivitis, a simple inflammation
of the gums, to full periodontitis, which involves loss of bone
around the teeth. Periodontal disease has consequences beyond
the mouth, recent science has found a link between heart disease,
stroke, and diabetes with periodontal disease.
There is ample evidence to suggest that bacteria cause periodontal
disease. If periodontal disease is found, there are many treatment
options available ranging from traditional medical options to
more all-natural choices. Recently antibiotic microspheres have
been developed which can be inserted into a periodontal pocket.
These microspheres slowly release small amounts of antibiotic
as it dissolves. Also, controlling the level of bacteria by
a combination of deep scaling and good homecare are of benefit.
While the presence of bacteria does play a role, the essential
element in whether a person will develop gum disease may actually
have much more to do with their general health. We all have
bacteria, not only in our mouths, but throughout our bodies.
One reason some people develop problems, while others do not,
is because the host's resistance is low, providing a prime environment
for bacteria to multiply. There are people who do not floss
or brush regularly and they have no problems. On the other hand,
there are people who are religious about their oral hygiene
and yet over time gum disease will continue to progress and
deteriorate the bone. Many patients come to us after they have
undergone periodontal surgery, spent thousands of dollars, had
their teeth cleaned every three months and still have not arrested
the disease.
If we find a generalized periodontal problem, we think more
in terms of a systemic problem like mercury toxicity, nutrition
and overall body chemistry. If the problem is just in certain
localized areas, it is more likely linked to a number of local
factors related to the tooth including a defective restoration
or crown margin, a bite problem,or, interference on its energetic
meridian relating to a specific organ. Proper bite and alignment
of the teeth impacts heavily on the health of the gums. Excessive
or improper pressure on the teeth, caused by bite problems,
can literally create an environment around the tooth that predisposes
it to a bacterial invasion and problems. Many dentists do not
have the specialized training to effectively perform this process
of bite adjustments. Dr. Rohrer learned to do proper bite adjustments
at the world-renowned Pankey Institute. If you are going to
have such work done, you should seek out a dentist who has taken
post graduate courses in this technique.
Other natural therapies to correct periodontal disease include
Vitamin C and Co-Enzyme Q-10 which have shown to be very helpful.
We also have our patients rinse and irrigate with Tooth &
Gum mouth wash – a natural antiseptic. |
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Oral Cancer Screening-Brush Biopsy and
Visilite
Dental professionals have always known that dental evaluations
lend themselves to detecting a multitude of systemic conditions
including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The early detection
of oral cancer is one condition that has the potential to save
thousands of lives. The survival rate for oral cancer has remained
at 57 percent in the last 40 years. Evidence indicates that
early detection can raise this metric to 81 percent or more.
This year in the U.S., 8,000 people will die from oral cancer
and over 30,000 new cases will be diagnosed.
The OralCDx brush biopsy is the newest tool in the early detection
of oral cancer or precancerous cells. With it, the dentist uses
a small brush to easily collect tissue cells and the sample
is sent to a laboratory for testing and diagnosis. This procedure
is indicated to evaluate those unexplained tiny white and red
lesions and has been approved by the American Dental Association.
While oral cancer is often associated with risk factors, studies
indicate that 25 percent of cases have no risk factors at all.
This technology can help differentiate a pre-cancer or early
cancerous spot from a benign one and save lives.
The software analyzing samples can spot a precancerous or cancerous
cell even if it is partially obscured by other cells. In fact,
the software was adapted from a program designed for the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI) or "Star Wars" system. This
brush biopsy represents a breakthrough in the fight against
oral cancer. Brush biopsy analysis method from OralCDx has been
extensively studied and is approved by the American Dental Association. |
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Deep Relaxation Integration
What to Expect
Deep relaxation can have the experience of daydreaming, while
in the dental chair. Though you feel relaxed, you are aware
of what is going on around you. You can hear your dentist's
voice, ask and answer questions, and follow instructions.
With relaxation comes a feeling of self control, confidence,
contentment, security, and well being.
Comfortable Dental Experience
Deep relaxation can enable you to relax completely and experience
comfort during your dental experience.
It's not magic. Deep relaxation is a set of scientifically proven
techniques to reprogram your mind and your nervous system to
respond in healthy ways. |
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Aromatherapy
We use Aromatherapy to:
- Enhance immune response
- Induce relaxation
- Not have the "dental office smell"
Aromatherapy research shows it can enhance immune response
and, in small doses, can alter brainwaves to induce relaxation.
All of these responses are beneficial in creating a relaxed
and anxiety-free experience while receiving dental care.
While all of our services are complimentary, they are also
optional. Please feel free to enjoy as much or as little as
you want.
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Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is a method of Complementary and alternative
medicine . A craniosacral therapy session involves the therapist
placing their hands on the patient, which allows them to tune
into the craniosacral system. By gently working with the spine,
the skull and its cranial sutures, diaphragms, and fascia, the
restrictions of nerve passages are eased, the movement of cerebrospinal
fluid through the spinal cord can be optimized, and misaligned
bones are restored to their proper position. Craniosacral therapists
use the therapy to treat mental stress, neck and back pain,
migraines, TMJ Syndrome, and for chronic pain conditions such
as fibromyalgia. |
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Safe Amalgam Removal
Many people are deciding they want to have their silver amalgam
(mercury) fillings removed, but this can cause a tremendous
amount of mercury to be absorbed by their body and potentially
make them ill. To help prevent this, safety precautions should
be used so the person won't swallow or breathe mercury vapor
while the fillings are being drilled out. To prevent this
from happening, we take the following safety precautions:
• Safety glasses are put over your eyes to protect them.
• We have you breathe pure oxygen through a nasal cannula
(tube). This will minimize your breathing the air right around
your face, which is full of mercury vapor. Your nose will
be covered with a dental mask to help keep the mercury vapor
from going into your nostrils.
• A rubber dam will be placed over your mouth. This is
a sheet of rubber that helps keep the mercury from going down
your throat.
• Copious amounts of cold water will be constantly squirted
on the filling as it's being drilled out, to keep the temperature
down. To decrease the amount of vapor, we section the fillings
out in chunks as opposed to grinding it out. We use an electric
drill for two reasons: First, because it cuts so much more
efficiently than an air turbine. Second, because it turns
at slower revolutions per minute, there is less heating of
the tooth and less mercury vapor.
• A High Volume Suction device will be used. This suction
pulls all particles away from the tooth as the filling is
being drilled out.
• Powdered charcoal and chlorella are placed in your
mouth under the rubber dam. Both these substances have the
ability to absorb mercury particles before they get absorbed
into your system.
• The fillings will be taken out with as little drilling
as possible, in as large chunks as possible, to minimize the
amount of mercury vapor released into the air.
• Dr. Rohrer uses 4x magnifiers to see minute details
in the tooth. This could include faint cracks and leaking
crowns or fillings. He can also make sure that the new crown
or filling fits perfectly. Trying to do this without magnification
makes it harder to get perfect results. Problems areas in
the gums are more visible under magnification than with the
naked eye.
• The treatment room has a powerful industrial air cleaning
system which reduces the amount of mercury vapors. The IQ
Air VOC Emissions and Infection Control Air Purifiers are
highly specialized air cleaning systems that are designed
to control Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and microbiological
contaminants and odors. It removes airborne particles from
less than 0.01 micron to over 250 micron in diameter. This
includes contaminants such as bacteria and spores, such as
E. Coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus thuringensis and
Staphylococcus aureus. Other particles such as pollens, dust,
smoke, hydrocarbons and vapors of heavy metals such as mercury
vapor are also effected by the IQ Air System.
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