Holistic dentistry – The importance of teeth for the body as a whole
Dear Patients,
What do a tooth, digestion, the immune system and general wellbeing have to do with one another? At first glance, perhaps very little – but from the perspective of holistic dentistry, a great deal.
In regulatory medicine, we do not consider individual teeth and the oral cavity in isolation. Our focus is on the entire organism, because the body functions as a finely tuned system in which organs, nerves, fascia, the immune system and metabolism are interconnected. Symptoms can therefore occur far from the actual cause.
The mouth as a reflection of the entire body
The mouth as a reflection of the entire body
Modern dentistry enables the precise diagnosis and treatment of conditions in the oral cavity. At the same time, clinical experience and various complementary medicine concepts indicate that chronic burdens («interference fields») in the mouth can affect general health.
Possible foci and interference fields include:
- chronic inflammation of the teeth or jaw (e.g. periodontal disease)
- devitalised teeth
- amalgam or metals
- microbiome dysbiosis
- Covered socket residuum (CSR)
- burdensome scars in the oral and facial area
What is meant by a focus and an interference field?
A focus describes pathologically altered tissue – for example as a result of chronic inflammation, scarring or circulatory disorders. If these foci are located close to nerve endings or blood vessels, they are particularly significant. In this way, a focus can affect distant areas of the body; this is then referred to as an interference field.
Chronic stimuli can place a lasting burden on the organism and influence the body’s own regulatory processes. Following successful treatment of such interference fields, some patients report an improvement in their general wellbeing, resilience or recovery.
It is important to note that not every interference field causes symptoms – and not every illness originates in the mouth. Careful diagnostic assessment is therefore essential.
Diagnosis based on the functional circuits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
In TCM, teeth are assigned to specific functional circuits or meridians. These serve as control and regulation mechanisms.
The five functional circuits:
- Lung – large intestine
- Stomach – spleen / pancreas
- Liver – gallbladder
- Kidney – bladder
- Heart – small intestine
- Lung – large intestine
- Stomach – spleen / pancreas
- Liver – gallbladder
- Kidney – bladder
- Heart – small intestine
Within this model, the different groups of teeth are also assigned to these functional circuits:
In addition, each functional circuit is associated with a specific organ, sensory organ, endocrine gland/vascular system, joints and a specific area of the spine.
From a holistic perspective, abnormalities in a tooth can provide indications of burdens within the corresponding functional circuit. Likewise, chronic illnesses or functional disorders of an organ system can affect the oral cavity. These connections complement our approach.
Not all interference fields have a specific effect on a particular organ. However, they always place a burden on the immune system, which is then no longer able to attend to other «problem areas».
In our holistic diagnostic assessment, we focus on:
chronic inflammation and interference fields
temporomandibular joint function
general illnesses or medication
diet and nutrient balance
lifestyle and stress
individual environmental exposures
Only the interplay of this information makes truly individualised treatment possible.
Our aim is not merely to treat symptoms, but to identify possible causes and tailor therapies to the entire organism.
Our Understanding of dentistry
We combine modern dentistry with a holistic view of the individual.
This means:
- We do not treat the tooth alone.
- We consider the entire organism.
- We consider the individual as a whole.
- We include functional, biological and complementary medicine aspects, such as the TCM theory of meridians, in our considerations.
This results in an individual treatment concept tailored to your personal situation.
Our conclusion
Whether chronic inflammation, possible interference fields or the organ–tooth relationships described in Traditional Chinese Medicine – a holistic approach opens up additional perspectives on health and wellbeing. At the Alpstein Clinic, the focus is therefore not on individual teeth, but on the person as a whole.
We look forward to meeting you in person
We would be pleased to discuss in a personal consultation which findings and diagnostic steps are relevant to your situation.
