Biologically Integrated Dentistry

Biologically integrated dentistry is a philosophy that recognizes that the teeth and associated structures are a part of the whole body. Any disease or treatment that takes place in or around the mouth has the potential for adversely or positively impacting the entire body. Biological dentistry embraces dentistry as a specialty of medicine.  The dentist is not just a technician, but a valuable member of the team of health care professionals helping the patient achieve their goal of optimum health.  This view requires more careful evaluation of each patient's individual needs, more careful diagnosis and treatment of oral infection, and the use of the least toxic, longest lasting and most bio-compatible dental materials. 

Facts about mercury filings
Because of our commitment to use the least toxic material possible for restorations, our office does not use mercury amalgam fillings. Mercury containing amalgam fillings are still the most common restorations placed in patients' mouths to restore decayed teeth. The American Dental Association states that these fillings are safe based on the fact that this material has been in use for 150 years. Many dental consumers are unconvinced of this reported safety based on the following:

• Amalgam fillings contain over 50% mercury, a heavy metal toxin.
• Amalgam is considered to be a toxic substance before it is placed in the mouth and after it is removed from the mouth. What makes it non-toxic while it is in the mouth?
• Even the ADA admits that mercury is released from dental amalgams after chewing and brushing.
• Dental amalgams have the capability of becoming miniature batteries when placed in the wet, acid environment of the mouth. These electrical currents produce movement and release of toxic metal ions from the filling.
• Mercury can be released from fillings in the form of mercury vapor, which has the ability to penetrate cell membranes and pass rapidly from the blood into body tissues.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that for fillings or mercury vapor "no threshold has been clearly established and the dose response relationship does not exhibit any clear threshold" .
• In October 1998 the FDA ruled that mercury and any products that contain mercury components are not recognized as safe and are to be eliminated from products sold over-the-counter. There is no explanation given how dental mercury is different from other mercury and escaped this ruling.
• In 2003, Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-CA) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) submitted a bill before the 108th congress.  H.R.1680 would have prohibited the use of mercury containing fillings after 2008.
• Since 2003, many states have adopted or are attempting to adopt bills that  would require informed consent for the placement of mercury containing fillings and limit their use in children and pregnant women.
• September 7, 2006  An advisory group of panelists consisting of physicians, dentists and scientists voted 13-7 that an FDA report concluding mercury amalgam fillings did not cause health problems was "not reasonable".  They stated that the authors of this FDA report did not review all available information or note areas where knowledge was lacking.

In January 2006, a poll of 1,216 likely voters conducted by Zogby International revealed:

• 76% did not know mercury is the primary component of amalgam fillings;
• 92% want to be informed of their choices with respect to mercury and non-mercury dental filling materials prior to dental treatment;
• 77% would choose higher-cost fillings that do not contain mercury if given the choice;
• 47% think mercury pollution poses a serious problem for the environment;
• In a sub-sample, 69% of New Englanders would support a ban on mercury amalgam fillings for children and pregnant women.

Based on these facts, many consumers of dental services are electing to have their mercury containing fillings removed. Others are having this recommendation made to them by their alternative medical care provider for a variety of health reasons. The majority of our patients are simply choosing to have their amalgams replaced on an as needed basis with a less toxic material. Above all, whatever the reason for replacement, you as the dental consumer have the right to know what material is being placed in your mouth and you have the right to request specific materials be used.

How We Can Help You

    Our office provides a safe environment for the removal of mercury fillings. We are equipped with the Swiss made IQ Air Filter System that removes mercury vapor rapidly away from the patient and the working area.  We have air filters, ionizing filters, and alternate air sources. We use a rubber dam, high speed evacuation and high volumes of water which help reduce exposure to mercury vapor released during the removal process.

    We are also cognizant of our duty to protect the environment. Long before mandates were even being considered, we placed traps on each dental unit to capture large pieces of mercury filling materials and separators at the point where waste water exits our building. This protects our environment and our water supplies. Our office has received Pierce County's 5-Star Envirostar rating in recognition of our environmentally responsible business practices.

    We use state of the art materials accompanied with an understanding of the meticulous techniques required for the placement of these restorations.  This enables our office to provide you with an esthetic, high quality restoration.  Biocompatible materials are selected using a unique form of Autonomic Response Testing.  Blood serum compatibility testing is also available upon request.

Our knowledge of nutrition and homeopathy enables us to work closely with your alternative health care provider to establish a nutritional program that will enhance the outcome of your dental treatment.  We also have more natural alternatives to fluoride in treating sensitive teeth and tooth decay.



Dental Infection and Your Health

Recent studies show a positive correlation between periodontal (gum) disease and cardiovascular disease, incidence of stroke, Alzheimer's disease and low birth weight babies.  Our office takes gum disease very seriously.  In addition to routine gum care, we are now using laser assisted gum treatment to aid in reducing inflammation and gum pockets around the teeth.  Combined with the use of Emdogain, a protein that encourages new collagen and bone formation, we are often able to eliminate periodontal disease without painful and expensive gum surgery.  

One of the most intriguing issues in dentistry today is the resurgence of the focal theory of infection, which was popular before the advent of antibiotics. This theory maintains that bacterial toxins from an infected focus can be responsible for symptoms exhibited at a site distant from the focus. There is a great deal of literature emerging that indicates that root canals, infected teeth and non-healed extraction sites are some of the most common foci of infection. These foci have been discovered as the reason for years of undiagnosed jaw pain in some patients. Careful diagnosis and appropriate treatment can successfully reduce the effect these foci of infection can have.

Your Bite and Your Health

Migraine headaches, shoulder pain, neck pain, tooth pain, temporo-mandibular joint pain, low back pain, ringing in the ears, and pressure behind the eyes are only some of the symptoms that can be experienced by patients with teeth that are not properly aligned in harmony with the cranial structures. The neuromuscular approach to bite problems used by our office can be quite beneficial to our patients.  Placing the jaw in a balanced and unstrained position can relax muscle spasms in the head and neck region, greatly reducing or even eliminating chronic pain for our patients.


Diagnosis and Treatment of Cavitation Lesions (The Volumetric CT Scan)

Many patients call our office inquiring about cavitation lesions and asking if we have a cavitat machine to aid in the diagnosis. This office does diagnose and appropriately treat these areas with great success. Dr. Hopkins, however, uses new technology to diagnose the presence of cavitation lesions and other jaw bone infection. The Volumetric CT Scan is allowing surgeons in all areas of medicine and dentistry to see things we have never seen before in the head and neck area. This technology was designed specifically for dentistry. Images are not distorted by the presence of dental work as in conventional CT Imaging.

The Volumetric CT Scan has many advantages:

1. This CT Scan can produce axial, cross sectional, panoramic and 3D images, plus it has computer software that can reconstruct the image at different angles, all from a single scan.
2. It gives us the ability to accurately locate anatomic structures, like the mandibular nerve canal and the sinuses.
3. There is no image distortion. All images are geometrically accurate on a 1:1 scale, with excellent image definition and resolution.
4. Patient radiation is 15 times lower than a normal CT Scan.
5. Data acquisition takes about 70 seconds, versus the laborious process of individually checking each tooth area with the cavitat.
6. The computer software can give us relative density of the tissue and bone in areas of interest confirming what we are seeing visually on the scan.
7. And the best part is the cost. The scan costs about $350 and may be covered by your insurance. Dentists that own cavitat units are charging $1200-$1600 to take readings of the entire mouth, obtaining much less information.

    The only disadvantage is that it is not a dental office procedure and we refer you to the closest imaging center which is Seattle at this time. However, considering the cost savings and the wealth of information we can gain from a single scan, most patients do not seem to mind this minor inconvenience.

    The key to success in treating cavitation lesions is not only in the diagnosis. Good surgical techniques must be employed and appropriate post-operative regimens must be followed, or healing will be compromised. Dr. Hopkins has been treating these lesions for 15 years with positive results. To schedule a scan or an evaluation of a scan, please call our office.

Digital X-rays

    We receive many calls asking if our office is equipped with digital x-ray technology.  At the current time, we are not, even though our x-ray units are digital ready units.  While we believe that digital x-rays are what every office will use in the near future, the technology is not yet producing x-rays comparable to standard radiographs.  Image quality is very important when diagnosing tooth decay and cavitation lesions in the jaw bones.

According to an article in a November 2005 issue of the Wall Street Journal, the American Dental Association states that approximately 20% of dental practices have switched to digital x-rays.  We have all seen the dental offices that advertise a 95% reduction in patient radiation with digital x-rays.  Digital sensors do include a material that essentially magnifies the x-rays, thus allowing for a lower dose of radiation to produce an image. However, makers of digital radiographic equipment, such as Kodak, say that claims of large reductions in radiation are exaggerated, and can depend greatly on what film-based method is used for comparison.  Since the x-ray machines used by Dr. Hopkins are newer machines, the radiation dose is already quite low.  It is simply a sales pitch by manufacturers to state that there is a 95% reduction in radiation using digital x-rays versus the machines used in our office.

Outside experts are also skeptical of these claims that such low doses are achieved in practice.  According to an article in the October 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, dosage depends on the settings used by the practitioner to achieve the desired image quality.   The article states "It should be clear that dose reduction for digital radiography is quite limited.  Because some sensors are bulky, it is hard to place them in the patient's mouth.  This can result in a  higher incidence of retakes with digital x-rays, which results in higher overall radiation doses to the patient.

Please be assured that we are very concerned about radiation doses to our patients.  We always evaluate the need for dental x-rays against any risks to the patient and only take x-rays when they are essential for an accurate diagnosis. And when the quality is where we need it to be for accurate diagnosis, we will own the technology.

 

Other Advances in Dentistry

     There are many new advances in dentistry that compliment our biological approach to treatment.  Invisalign Braces can help you have straight teeth and improve your smile without wires.  Teeth are moved with a sequence of patented clear plastic aligners.  There are no metals involved as with conventional braces.  The aligners are worn at all times except when eating.  And since the aligners are removable, brushing and flossing is easy.  The aligners are practically invisible when worn and the patient has the option to leave them out entirely for that important speaking engagement or that special evening out on the town.

    Lasers are one of the most exciting innovations in dentistry today.  Our office uses the state of the art  Waterlase MD. The  Waterlase MD has multiple uses, including cutting of tissue, bone and tooth structure.  Because Waterlase technology does not cause heat or vibration like the dental drill, dental procedures can be done with less anesthetic.  In many cases, needles can be eliminated all together.  The laser removes decay very precisely, maintaining more healthy tooth structure.  It decontaminates as it cuts reducing the chance for bacterial infection.  It prepares teeth in a way that maximizes the bonding of tooth colored fillings, allowing them to last longer.  The Waterlase MD can also be used to reduce tooth sensitivity and reduce the pain of herpetic ulcers and canker sores.

Advances in dental materials have also benefited biological dentistry.  3M ESPE Lava is a system that employs CAD/CAM technology using a zirconium oxide base to fabricate all ceramic crowns and bridges up to 4 units in length.  These restorations offer a beautiful cosmetic result, with a fit and durability that matches conventional porcelain to metal restorations.  Valplast is a nylon thermoplastic that can be used for removable partial dentures and full dentures to replace missing teeth.  Valplast partial dentures have no metal clasps or metal sub-structure and are very light weight.  The material is translucent, so the patient's own gums show through, giving a very natural appearance.  The material is also flexible, increasing patient comfort.  Valplast is also resistant to breakage unlike conventional denture material.  This material is an excellent option for people who are allergic to the acrylic found in other types of dentures. 

Our office continues to stay abreast of the latest technology offered in dentistry today.  We take well above the minimum of 21 hours of continuing education required by the State of Washington.  We have searched out dental laboratories that are complimentary to the work performed in our office. We also offer a wide range of services in our office to minimize referrals to other locations, so each patient can receive consistent care in a familiar environment.