What is a Holistic/Biologic Dentist exactly?  

This is an important question to ask. There isn’t a governing body regulating Holistic Dentists like the American Dental Association, ADA guides general dentists. 

Holistic dentists must maintain the regulations and standards of practice set out by the Board of Dentistry in each state, as do all dentists. Holistic dentists often go above the State Board’s standard care practices and get additional certifications and memberships.

In other words, almost all holistic dentists would meet the criteria of "above" the standard of care because they always need to meet the ADA regulations, and then they go above the standard by adding to it.

Standard of care within Holistic Dentistry

When looking for a holistic dentist, you want to ensure they are accredited and certified by the top associations. This way, you can know they are practicing evidence-based, high-quality care. 

Many dentists will say they are holistic when they have a widely varied scope of practice. For example, there are several dental offices that label themselves as holistic when all they do is provide white composite fillings instead of mercury fillings, with no concern for removing them safely when they need to be removed.

Training, credentialing, and certifications 

Our dentists are members of the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology), leaders in science-based biological/holistic dentistry. They are all certified with SMART certification for safe mercury amalgam removal. We have also obtained basic and advanced medical ozone certification. 

Make sure any holistic dentist is at least a member of the IAOMT and SMART certified. This would show If they ever take out mercury filling in somebody's mouth, they know a protocol that keeps the patient safe from exposure to unhealthy amounts of mercury vapor during the procedure. Being SMART certified means they have proven they have the correct equipment and understand the protocols.  

Studio Z Dental also has memberships in the HDA (Holistic Dental Association) and IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine). In addition to these highly respected association credentials, Dr. Tom Zyvoloski, our lead dentist, is Board Certified in Integrative Biologic Dental Medicine and Accredited but the IAOMT.

Ozone- an important aspect of holistic dentistry

We believe a vital ingredient to top-quality holistic dentistry is ozone. Look for a dentist with advanced training in ozone protocols, which have become the gold standard for treating the mouth. If ozone isn’t used, infections can linger in the mouth, causing problems down the road.

Some holistic dentists use medical-grade ozone in their offices to enhance every procedure they do to increase outcomes. For example, using ozone on a tooth with a deep cavity before filling it will increase the bond strength of the filling, decrease post-op sensitivity and dramatically lower the risk of that tooth dying down the road. Also, using ozone when an infected root canal tooth needs to be removed so that the body will heal more thoroughly.

Please call our office so we can answer your questions about holistic/biologic dentistry and set up an appointment to begin your care. Contact us.