Natural Awakenings Twin Cities October 2022

healing ways
Conservative Dentistry
WHY LESS IS MORE IN TOOTH REPAIR
by Linda Sechrist
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Whether dentistry is described as being conservative,
biological or biomimetic, the description that precedes
such health care is extremely important. That
10- or 12-letter term signifies a specific type of dentistry that’s the
best option for both our teeth and the rest of our bodies, as Ann
Lee found out when the pieces to her dental puzzle fell together in
just the right order.
Lee, a naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist who
owns the Health for Life Clinic, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had
been experiencing problems with her sinuses for years. She had
been alerted to a potential problem with one of her teeth via a
preventive tool known as medical infrared thermograph screening.
But it wasn’t until after she read an interview with dentist
Blanche Grube in a naturopathic magazine about conservative
dentistry that she made the connection. She bought Grube’s book,
Chew on This But Don’t Swallow: A Must-Read Before Your Next
Dental Visit, and read it from cover to cover. Grube drew upon 46
years of clinical observation, continuing education conferences
and thousands of hours of study to analyze how the whole body
functions and what part teeth play in overall health.
Says Lee, “I had a capped tooth with metal underneath. Once
I got it removed, all the things connected to it resolved. My sinus
issues, post-nasal drippage, coughing, and even my trigeminal
neuralgia that I had for 10 years resolved.” Trigeminal neuralgia
affects the nerves running from the face to the brain, causing electrical
shock sensations to the jaw and face that can be triggered by
stress or certain movements.
Today, when Lee suspects a correlation between the physical
problems a patient has with the amount of metal in their mouth
such as fillings, crowns and permanent retainers, she relates their
physical problems to metal oxidation and inflammation that can
manifest in numerous ways, and suggests that the patient read Grube’s
book and consider any of the non-metal options now available.
Bernice Teplitsky, DDS, owner of Wrigleyville Dental, in
Chicago, interprets biological dentistry as dealing with the whole
person. “Both biological and conservative dentistry deal with
biocompatible materials, making sure that each is right for the
individual. Determining the compatibility of dental materials is
important for those who have existing allergies, because their
immune systems have already been compromised, and having to
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