Are you aware that the oral cavity (teeth, gums, tissues, and cells in the mouth) is a window to the entire human body? In fact, research from the American Dental Association has found that over 90 percent of all systemic infectious diseases have oral manifestations.  

Therefore, it’s important to care for oral health through a lens that takes your well-being as a whole into account. After all, what occurs in your mouth has implications for your other organs, muscles, tissues, and systems. That’s where integrative dentistry comes in—for this month’s Community Spotlight, I chatted with Dr. Gregory Brandau at Integrative Dentistry of Sarasota to learn more about the long-term benefits of holistic modality.  

Natural Awakenings: Can you summarize the distinctions between traditional and integrative dentistry for anyone who might be unfamiliar?  

Dr. Gregory Brandau: The main difference that sets integrative dentistry apart from traditional dentistry is the emphasis on holistic wellness. Biocompatible, toxic-free materials and natural remedies are the foundational elements of an integrative dental practice.  

More traditional dental practices treat the oral cavity as an isolated structure. A patient’s overall health or desire to be toxin-free is not their focus because most dental insurance companies only cover the basic conventional procedures.  

Traditional dentistry is not open to new methods or innovations. This modality clings to its “safe and effective” taglines when faced with the question of whether or not chemicals like fluoride and mercury are harmful to patients’ well-being.  

Integrative dentistry focuses on offering the best quality procedures and materials, but this modality also takes into account how those procedures and materials affect other organ systems in the long-term. Toxins build up in various parts of the body over time, so just because a person might not exhibit chemical-related symptoms now, this does not mean they won’t suffer from a serious medical concern in the future.   

NA: What drew you to practice integrative dentistry, and what would you tell someone who is curious about switching over to this modality?  

Dr. Brandau: I was researching less invasive modalities to incorporate into my practice when I came across some literature on lasers in dentistry. I then found a seminar in Gainesville that explored the use of the Er: YAG and Nd:YAG lasers, and I was blown away the more I learned what was possible with this technology. The benefits of these lasers are not merely limited to the oral cavity, but extend to the whole body.  

In its simplest form a laser is light energy—no fancy pharmaceuticals, just light. This realization became the catalyst for my exploration of integrative dentistry. The doctors I met at the conference were further along in their own transformations to integrative dentistry.  I learned about ozone therapies and phase contrast microscopes. I also learned why knowing which bacteria are currently present in the mouth is a far superior methodology for the diagnosis of periodontal disease than more traditional methods.  

Periodontal disease is often over-diagnosed in corporate dental settings. Many patients, who see me after visiting a traditional practice, come with extensive treatment plans for scaling and root planing when they don’t have periodontal disease in the first place. 

The main reason I was drawn to integrative dentistry is because the methods are far more effective and safer for the health of my patients. To give an example, Ozone works 3,000 times faster than chlorine, and it’s 150 times stronger than chlorine as well.  

If you were to bleach the hepatitis B virus on a hard surface, it can live for 5–7 more days, whereas ozonated water kills it immediately. The byproducts of ozone are oxygen and water, while the bleach byproducts are toxic. Ozone is unique because it carries a negative charge, and all the harmful microbes are positively charged. When they encounter each other, the ozone immediately breaks down to one oxygen ion, which pierces the microbes and cleans the infected sites. This makes it a powerful, non-invasive way to disinfect the mouth. 

Integrative dentistry is for anyone smart enough to realize that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body. The material a dentist uses is crucial in that it will impact your holistic well-being.  If you want to work with someone who prioritizes this—and goes the extra mile for the safest possible treatment—integrative dentistry is for you!  

NA: There tends to be conflicting information about mercury and fluoride in dental care—what do you want folks to understand about these chemicals?  

Dr. Brandau: Fluoride is an industrial chemical that can cause developmental neurotoxicity in humans. The exposure to this chemical has increased since the 1940s, and it’s currently in dental hygiene products, water, food, pharmaceuticals and more.  

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authorizes the EPA to prohibit chemicals that pose an unreasonable health risk to the public, and a recent court ruling stated that fluoride poses an unnecessary risk due to its neurotoxic effects.  

During this trial, the EPA was asked what it initially based its claim of “safe fluoride levels” on. The EPA’s response was that, as long as someone doesn’t have skeletal fluorosis (a chronic bone disease caused by excessive fluoride accumulation), they have not been harmed by this chemical. This is unacceptable and overlooks the harm that fluoride can inflict gradually over time. There should be no trace of fluoride in our water.  

Mercury is another dangerous chemical to be aware of. In traditional dentistry, terms like “amalgam” and “silver” fillings are extremely misleading since they contain about 50 percent mercury by weight. This chemical is a potent neurotoxic substance that causes brain neuron degeneration. Mercury is just as harmful, whether it is inhaled or ingested. The vapor from this neurotoxin produces lesions on the brain that show up in Alzheimer’s patients.   

All mercury fillings leak substantial toxins in response to any kind of oral stimulation, (which takes place constantly in the mouth). This mercury absorbs into the body and often shows up concentrated in the jaw, stomach, liver, and kidneys. Along with mercury, other chemicals such as lead or cadmium are often in fillings, too. The combined effect of these heavy metals is synergistic in their toxic load accumulation.   

As harmful as the mercury fillings are, the mercury vapor released when it makes contact with a drill is even more dangerous. Fillings must be removed in the most cautious manner. The Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) protocol from the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology is a terrific method to follow.  

Integrative dentistry takes utmost precautions to ensure a patient will not ingest or inhale mercury during the process, whereas more traditional methodologies are less concerned  with the safe removal of a toxic material they deem “safe and effective.”    

NA: Are there any holistic lifestyle changes or oral hygiene practices that you recommend implementing for better dental health overall?  

Dr. Brandau: An ideal place to start is with a thorough examination to see if you have failed root canals or mercury fillings, both of which can be a major source of toxins. Cavitations in the maxilla and the mandible are a serious area of concern since they often harbor mold, bacteria, or virus build-up that can lead to chronic illness.   

In my dental practice, we can perform a microbial evaluation as to which microbes are present in your mouth. Then, we’ll customize a hygiene schedule to meet your specific health needs—rather than some corporate “cookie-cutter” methodology that’s based on a P&L statement, not rooted in biological science. I also advise choosing a toothpaste that is free of fluoride, as well as avoiding any fluoridated water.    

Dr. Gregory Brandau is an integrative dentist and holistic dentist who owns Integrative Dentistry of Sarasota. His practice is located 7129 Curtiss Avenue, Suite 1, Sarasota. To learn more about his safe, non-invasive methodologies or to schedule an appointment, call 941-921-0300, email [email protected] or visit https://holisticdentistsarasota.com/