1. Introduction
When you visit a functional dentist near you, you should ask them questions that would allow you to compare their approach and recommendations to those of a traditional dentist. These questions will enable you to measure how closely their philosophy, background, dental practice, and treatment recommendations hew to the prevention-oriented paradigm in which functional dentists practice. You want them to have the knowledge base that puts them on even footing with traditional dentists.
When looking for a functional dentist near you, you should know that not all dentists are created equal. A traditional dentist repairs what’s broken – an abscessed tooth, a failed root canal, unhealthy or impacted wisdom teeth, or infected gums. While traditional dentists and functional dentists share many of the same professional degrees and credentials, their dental philosophies and their worlds can be very different. Almost anyone can practice the standard dental model of fixing your teeth after they’re broken. Fewer dentists attempt the subtle, often complex treatment decisions that characterize a functional dentist. Good dental health can be not just painless but pretty quick and easy if you follow the health program outlined by a functional dentist.
1.1. Importance of Finding a Functional Dentist
Even minor health problems can bring your life to a sudden, grinding halt for as long as they last. Overall health starts with a healthy mouth, and you can gain that healthy mouth by finding the right natural dentist near you.
If you live in or around the Leander, Texas area and are looking for a dentist near you, your search may be more complex than simply choosing one that takes your insurance. Instead of searching for a “dentist near me,” you may instead want to look for a Leander functional dentist. A functional dentist is one that uses biologically safe treatments and is trained in the effects of oral conditions and practices on the entire body, as well as in natural remedies and aids for creating and maintaining oral health. Your body’s health starts with the foods you eat, and the intake starts with your teeth and gums.
1.2. Purpose of the Blog
The purpose of this blog is to provide you with fundamental questions that you should ask if you are seeking a functional dentist. This list of questions is meant to guide you in asking focused inquiries to practitioners who are qualified to answer your questions. I will provide you with some references for trusted functional dentists at the end of the blog to help you in your search. The emphasis of the following inquiries is to choose dental professionals who take a holistic and comprehensive approach to consider overall health, who are interested in minimizing any dental interventions, and who work as conservatively as possible if and when any therapies are necessary. The desired goal is to build a long-term, collaborative working relationship with dental practitioners and specialists who are willing to think outside of the box, learn, mentor, and participate in both the teaching of the craft as well as being active researchers.
When it comes to patients who are looking for a functional dentist near me, they usually ask me the following questions: What is a functional dentist? How do I find a functional dentist near me? What should I be looking for when searching for a functional dentist near me? In this blog, let’s explore the last question.
2. Understanding Functional Dentistry
Functional dentistry is the future of dentistry. It is an awareness of the connection between oral health and entire-body health. It’s a comprehensive view of the role of oral health in preventing or predicting overall health. Functional dentistry recognizes that much of the time, and respectively, one-fifth of the entire body’s troubles can be discovered in the mouth first.
In short, patients don’t know what they don’t know. People don’t realize that there are innovative dentists out there providing different options than their traditional dentist, whose primary concern is usually just your teeth and gums. These other dentists use modern thinking, updated approaches and equipment, best-available technology, and, most importantly, they understand the connection between the mouth and the rest of the entire body. They don’t just drill-and-fill; they use the best items from their chest full of tools and methods to promote oral health, which translates to whole-body health.
Millions of people visit their dentists every year with the same complaints, many of which can actually be prevented! So why don’t more people see dentistry from a preventive point of view?
2.1. Definition and Principles
Functional dentistry follows the principle that natural is always best for the teeth or gums. They work against the use of metal, particularly mercury, in dental restorations. Also, it typically includes the non-use of fluoride because it is toxic. Furthermore, this type of dentistry usually advises the use of alternative materials that are not only in harmony with the body, but also the natural environment. Another principle that functional dentistry widely follows is the use of biocompatibility testing for dental materials before placement in a patient’s mouth. That is because individual mouths respond differently to dental materials. They tend to work on the basis of holistic and, unlike conventional dentistry, use holistic approaches in prevention and therapy, including non-toxic restorative materials.
Functional dentistry, also referred to as holistic dentistry, biological dentistry, or biocompatible dentistry, applies natural health concepts to modern dental procedures. This is the type of dentistry in which the primary focus is on the effects that dental treatments have on the body as a whole, rather than strictly on the teeth, gums, jaws, or oral cavity. It considers how dental problems impact the health of a patient, particularly in regard to nutrition and overall body functioning. In functional dentistry, treatment protocol aims to create therapeutic changes on the health of one’s entire body.
3. Key Questions to Ask
You are giving the clinician the ability to inform you why you may or may not be a good fit for their office.
What does this practice’s ideal patient look like?
This equips you with a full understanding of the tools, resources, and tests that they have at their fingertips.
What can I expect from this office if we move forward and work together?
Having a variety of options is helpful when entering into a health and wellness journey.
What type of programs do you offer to new patients?
Looking for someone who understands that the patient has done preliminary research and vetting out the best person for them before setting up the consult.
What experience do you have working with informed patients?
When starting a new health journey or finding the right doctor, it is normal for you to have some anxiety or questions on how to fully prepare for your initial consult. No matter if you are an old pro at functional medicine or just getting started, we love working with new professionals and have access to tools and labs that they may not currently be aware of. Here is a list of questions to go over with a potential inquiring clinician that is wanting to know more before a consult.
3.1. 1. What is the Dentist’s Approach to Preventative Care?
Another factor that can help separate functional dentists from other dental professionals is training and understanding of periodontal care. Many dentists are still foggy on the link between gum disease, systemic illness, and how it affects the teeth. It is crucial for dentists to address these issues before the teeth are to be sealed. This can be done when deep cleaning the teeth. Additionally, with functional dental practices believing the mouth is the gateway to the body in terms of illness and disease, a functional dental professional should understand the mouth’s relation to the body, have experience with airway protocols, and be able to identify and address sleep apnea, CPAP intolerance, and nighttime grinding. They should understand the mechanics of how they all relate to one another and your oral health.
The approach that a dentist takes toward preventative care is one of the most important aspects of their practice. Many conventional dentists focus on treating problems as they arise, rather than focusing on preventing them in the first place. A truly functional dentist embraces a different philosophy. They understand the importance of overall health issues and the ramifications for dental health. They work closely with patients to help them understand the relationship between the body and the mouth. They use models and other visual aids to show patients how oral health issues develop and the impacts they can have on the body if left unaddressed for too long. These dentists create a plan of action with at-risk patients to work together to address concerns before they become significant problems.
3.2. 2. How Does the Dentist Address Holistic Health?
The dental expert should craft a dental setting founded on kindness and confidence to improve their patient’s oral health and overall wellness. Members seeking a dentist near you should develop trust and feel comfortable in an environment conducive to individuality and fostering a positive dental experience. The dental expert should approach each person as a valued patient with the utmost attention and concern for individuality and regard for personal dignity. The dental expert must pledge to deliver high-quality patient care to help their patients optimize their oral health and overall wellness. Individuals searching for a functional dentist near you should establish a relationship that is dependable and built on mutual respect and open communication.
Holistic health is the concern for each patient and their overall wellness, including the emotional and physical effects of dental treatments. Individuals who want to achieve holistic health should seek a dental expert who recognizes the link between oral health and overall health. The dentist’s approach should center on delivering quality patient care that acknowledges patients’ feelings, comforts, and any anxiety to guarantee a relaxing and comfortable dental experience.
3.3. 3. What Advanced Training or Certifications Does the Dentist Have?
Functional dentists are also likely to take on continued health challenges from patients. Common partnerships functional biological dentists may form are with healthcare providers like naturopathic doctors, integrative nutritionists, functional medicine doctors, chiropractors, and acupuncturists, to name a few. They may also offer pre- and post-care nutritional wisdom shared with patients visiting for dental restorations of any kind. As a holistic general practice doctor may examine your personal health challenges to heal the whole body, a holistic dental practitioner is contemplating the 1492-time connection between dental health and total body health.
You deserve a healthcare provider who has continued their education past dental school to keep current on the best functional biological dentistry techniques. Ask if the dentist is trained by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, as that schooling is a great foundation for providing mercury-safe dental care, safely removing mercury fillings, and safely disposing of mercury waste. The Institute of Natural Dentistry trains team members in holistic dental concepts, and training from Dr. Hal Huggins is another certificate to watch for, as his protocols are used at numerous holistic dentistry locations in the U.S. (even after his passing).
3.4. 4. Does the Dentist Use Biocompatible Materials?
Since the introduction of medical and dental biocompatible materials (like titanium), the number of dental professionals implementing “metal dentistry” (which is the practice of inserting a metal screw—usually composed of titanium—directly into the jawbone) has tremendously increased. The use of metal dentistry and other dental surgeries are veterinarian-like since it provides the remedy in the same way that surgery repairs and/or replaces a defective part or function of the body. In order to preserve oral long-term health, we discourage the use of dental implants and Valencia dentures since these products are not biocompatible. Dental professionals are responsible to obtain a pre-implant biopsy 6-8 months following the surgical removal of a tooth. During this time, the bone will or will not regenerate to “full innocence” prior to the implantation of an acceptable tooth-replacement option.
Biocompatible materials used in dentistry should mimic the chemical and physical properties of body tissues. This will allow the compound to blend easily with the environment and won’t invoke a negative reaction from the recipient. The biocompatible materials used in dentistry typically have a porous surface that allows tissues to filter through the small cavities and affix themselves to the 3D substrate. Over time, cells will migrate through the pores of the biocompatible materials and maintain the vital functions they need (breathing, absorbing nutrients, expelling waste, etc.) to sustain the life of the natural tissue.
4.1. What are biocompatible materials? The American Dental Association has no definition of “biocompatible” in its publications. However, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology standards define it as “engineered so as to be naturally acceptable or innocuous to the recipient.” Therefore, biocompatible materials are defined as compounds that play well with natural dental tissues and the biological environment that they come into contact with. The site of application could be within any area of the oral cavity, such as the underlying jawbone, the mucous membrane of the mouth, etc.
3.5. 5. How Does the Dentist Handle Dental Emergencies?
Some individuals are comfortable calling an unfamiliar dental practice for help when they’re in agony, while others prefer to be treated by a dentist they already know. It’s also great to know the capabilities of a hospital in case you ever require same-day treatment. Is the office open later for regular patient shifts and are additional workers available to help in an emergency? Furthermore, does the office offer public holidays and vacation availability? Knowing the answers to these questions can provide the required knowledge to make the best decision for your dental health care needs.
Although most people might not consider handling a dental emergency when seeking a treatment dentist near me, a critical question to ask is how emergencies are handled. If the clinic only accepts emergencies within certain hours, they might be a good fit for regular dental care but wouldn’t be the earliest choice if you actually have a pressing dental emergency.
4. Researching and Selecting a Functional Dentist
These are usually, but not always, the key reasons warranting good research into who is going to assist with this suffering. Unfortunately, mouth condition generally deteriorates until a patient notices a sign, symptom, or externality that requires dental assistance, and at that time they look in the personal area for a health provider they have some confidence in… too often following advertising and biases other than obtaining the most appropriate healthcare. Community health and safety are strengthened when community members requiring healthcare demand healthcare services beyond that which is readily available and/or advertised. Optimum patient outcomes rarely, if ever, coincide with the most easily available or actively promoted care.
People opting for a more biological-type dental approach usually have spent many years, even decades, and considerable expense working on postural, back, muscle, nervous system, and other physical issues with osteopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, cranial osteopaths, yoga, pilates, and/or other methods of establishing better postural control to help themselves out of pain and discomfort and improve the body’s efficiency at performing its optimal work. There are normally important triggers that stimulate a person to begin considering dental input… preventing advanced dental infection when the signs and symptoms are apparent but not yet painful… remaining with one dentist who has looked after you from before these lesions occurred.
4.1. 1. Utilizing Online Resources
There is a demand for the services that can be provided by a functional dentist, and some listings on the internet may not be accurate or may contain outdated information. These listings might be part of an old website that has not been updated as often as it should be, and a dentist listed might no longer be in business or offering the service you need. If the internet search tells you where a dentist is and that they offer a holistic and/or functional approach to oral health, your search is not over. Before you schedule your first visit, you should interview the dentist or the staff members you can get in touch with.
While few people like going to the dentist, an increasing number of people do understand the importance of good dental health. Many dentists are beginning to have a holistic view of both dental and overall health and may refer to themselves as functional dentists. With the implementation and ongoing popularity of the internet, it has become increasingly easy to find the right practitioners for a specialized need. To determine if there are any functional dentists in your area, perform a simple search in your preferred search engine by typing “functional dentists in my area.” You may need to explore some local directories of healthcare providers and filter results to determine if there is such a dental professional located near you.
4.2. 2. Asking for Recommendations
Second, use the information given to you from the recommendations you get. It is a known and common fact that the World Wide Web can contain a wealth of tools and information. It describes a vast range of dental professionals near you, and most of which will be known and good as they want to advertise their services for the masses. Some websites have not-so-knowledgeable dentists since simply paying the charge includes them. Other sites have dentist pledges, and these somewhat guarantee a respected practice. However, even a well-maintained website does not carry a lawyer’s eye.
First, start by asking your family members, friends, or colleagues about their dentist. Their testimonials are valuable and will get you results quicker than not. If the feedback is negative, take note of it.
After you have become open to the idea of functional dentistry and what it entails, you might feel that it can be an exciting journey to take part in. Now, how do you search for a functional dentist? It is normal for questions of any form that a person is seeking to resolve to arise, let alone one as intricate as in what way to locate a functional dentist. Below are some useful ways that would almost guarantee you a great one in your locale.
4.3. 3. Scheduling a Consultation
Therefore, taking into consideration all these different factors when choosing a functional dentist, whose changes are designed to affect your health first, you need to remember that you need to schedule an appointment to visit the dentist. If you’re only searching for a cosmetic result, that’s okay too. However, you’re not looking for a functional dentist. If you’re thinking about getting braces or changing restorations, make sure you have all the data needed and understand that these changes will affect your body as a whole before getting to the desired cosmetic results.
First, I want to clarify that getting to speak to someone with extensive experience in recognizing and treating dental dysfunctions is extremely important because a full mouth rehabilitation or functional orthodontics are big commitments that you should take into consideration very deeply. Nobody should treat diseases that they’re not fully knowledgeable about. By talking to such a specialist, you will be able to get a clearer idea of how beneficial their hands are. At the end of the day, once all is said and done, the job that is going to affect your personal relationships shall be the cosmetic part of everything. You can have the nicest smile ever, but what’s the point if you can’t eat a sandwich or hold a phone?
5. Conclusion
Now you know the most important questions to ask of any functional dentist you’re considering. When done correctly, a functional dentist works with you to keep your whole body well, including weight management, diabetes management, arthritis prevention, and many other health issues stemming from poor dental health. Most of the things a functional dentist will recommend to keep your teeth healthy will also improve your overall well-being. As part of the “holistic treatment model,” functional dentists are also good for your emotional well-being. Their goal is to have you on the absolute best pain-free path to health. So who wouldn’t want to have a functional dentist in Palm Harbor treating all their dental hygiene needs?
Functional dentistry is all about personalized care. It can help you stave off problems with your teeth that you may not know you have. It’s pretty future thinking. You want to vet all potential health care providers, including a functional dentist, thoroughly, and on an interview basis. You can quickly assess if it’s money and time well invested.
5.1. Recap of Key Questions
Choose the functional dentist. How can a dental consultant assist me on this journey? A dental consultant provides information needed to make an informed choice by categorizing potential dentists and providing an extensive report. They use metrics including practice regimen and knowledge base to assess each dentist. Use clients’ feedback, research tips, and knowledge to help with a dentist when they notice a trend. Functional dentist advice garners satisfied individuals who know what to expect from the dentist in a meaningful dental health relationship. In-network and out-of-network functional dentists’ benefits with different delivery methods are accessible. A dental consultant offers various practical ideas to help accomplish immediate results. Obtain the assistance needed.
Numerous considerations need to be evaluated when searching for a functional dentist. The process can be overwhelming when you only focus on a few attributes. Everyone has their own reservations and needs, which are equally important. Remember, no question is excessive. Schedule a consultation visit. Interview your prospective dentist during this time. Write down the responses and perform some additional research. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for additional clarification. A professional dentist is willing to share any credible information needed about their field of expertise. The majority of the world has dental imperfections, so be proud to inquire about your personal needs for visiting them. Fulfilling a consultation with a functional dentist will allow prospective clients to obtain the support sought.
5.2. Final Thoughts on Finding the Right Functional Dentist
When it comes to our dental health, people always do extensive research before deciding on a dentist, given their particular requirements, budget, etc. Quite certainly, most patients choose a general dentist or specialists such as an orthodontist, pediatric dentist, implantologist, etc., mostly during regular dental check-up, filling, cleaning, or first visits for dental issues. If cared for during preventive care check-ups, additional dental issues can be minimized and avoided. But all too often, the priority is set aside over time until an emergency dental appointment is needed. And in some circumstances, not every dentist has the right diagnosis, therapy, and/or preventive strategies or therapeutic know-how that suits those needs. Some conditions linked to dental or oral health need to be assessed and handled by all dentists while others need to be dealt with, referred, or co-managed with specialists or medical doctors.
Now we have a better understanding of the approach, we can consider the following key questions to ask when looking for a functional dentist close to you. Hopefully, this piece would ultimately give you an idea of what to be aware of when using a functional dentist near you. If you are interested in visiting a functional dentist within a different or any particular specialty such as a pediatric functional dentist, airway focus functional orthodontist, TMD functional dentist, etc., please let us know. As pioneers in the field, we are involved in the functional dentistry training program and growing this area. We can also assist you in finding and contacting a functional dentist near you in this situation. We all know that we need a dentist because we have some kind of oral and dental issue or preventive treatment to perform, but we are not sure which dentist to see. Here’s all you need to know when researching a functional dentist near you.
Keen to discover marvels? Step inside and uncover what sets us apart!
References:
John, Mike T., et al. “Why patients visit dentists–a study in all world health organization regions.” Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice 20.3 (2020): 101459. nih.gov
Khusanovich, Khojimurodov Burkhan Ravshanovich Chaqqonov Fakhriddin. “Types and applications of dental compliments.” Journal of Modern Educational Achievements 5.5 (2023): 95-99. scopusacademia.org
Faccini, Melissa, et al. “Dental care during COVID-19 outbreak: A web-based survey.” European journal of dentistry 14.S 01 (2020): S14-S19. thieme-connect.com
Afrashtehfar, Kelvin I., Mansour KA Assery, and S. Ross Bryant. “Patient satisfaction in medicine and dentistry.” International journal of dentistry 2020.1 (2020): 6621848. wiley.com
Hajek, Andre, Benedikt Kretzler, and Hans-Helmut Koenig. Factors associated with dental service use based on the Andersen model: a systematic review.” International journal of environmental research and public health 18.5 (2021): 2491. mdpi.com
D’Addazio, Gianmaria, et al. “Access to dental care—A survey from dentists, people with disabilities and caregivers.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18.4 (2021): 1556. mdpi.com
Kranz, A. M., et al. Characteristics of US adults delaying dental care due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” JDR Clinical & Translational Research 6.1 (2021): 8-14. sagepub.com
Alshatrat, Sabha Mahmoud, Isra Abdelkarim Al-Bakri, and Wael Mousa Al-Omari. “Dental service utilization and barriers to dental Care for Individuals with autism Spectrum disorder in Jordan: a case‐control study.” International Journal of Dentistry 2020.1 (2020): 3035463. wiley.com
Falahchai, Mehran, Yasamin Babaee Hemmati, and Mahya Hasanzade. “Dental care management during the COVID‐19 outbreak.” Special Care in Dentistry 40.6 (2020): 539-548. nih.gov
Kengne Talla, Pascaline, et al. “Delivering dental care as we emerge from the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: teledentistry and face-to-face consultations in a new clinical world.” Quintessence International 51.8 (2020). [HTML]
