Today, it’s not uncommon for professional dental services to offer perks like cushy reclining chairs, aromatherapy and relaxing music and videos. But savvy individuals seek even more: biological dentists, whose holistic philosophy is based on the theory that the whole is more than the sum of its parts or symptoms. Armed with mounting evidence that supports the link between periodontal disease and heart disease, diabetes, pre-term births and miscarriages, growing numbers of dental patients are exploring safe and healthy treatment options and protocols with holistic dentists such as Dr. William E. Lovett, before taking a deep breath and opening wide.

“The majority of people who come to me for dental work have either been referred by physicians or have already done the research that helps them to make better, more health-conscious decisions,” says Lovett. Known for treating patients, rather than just the teeth in their mouth, he approaches dentistry from a whole-health perspective and spends  significant time with each patient, in order to learn about their lifestyle and health issues and educate them about the connection between their mouth and overall health. “The more my patients know, the more likely they are to take better care of their teeth and gums and to work at reducing the bacteria in their mouth, which is directly tied to the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes,” notes Lovett, who has practiced dentistry in Naples since 1988.

The belief that dental products and procedures affect the entire body is a shared premise of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), the Holistic Dental Association (HDA) and the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM). Representing a group that still comprises less than a half-percent of practicing dentists, these organizations have established training programs, scientific studies, strict biological treatment standards and yearly conferences for biological dentists.

Synchronizing dentistry with total body health requires providing the highest quality dental materials, which is why Lovett chooses to offer his patients a mercury-free dental practice. “Understanding the structure of a tooth enables one to further understand the importance of the teeth within total body health,” advises Lovett, who points out that every tooth is a living organ, with an outer layer of enamel and an inner layer of dentin. He explains that if the dentin is penetrated, the blood and nerve supply to the tooth is affected. “Mercury fillings always require penetration into the dentin, which means that the health of the ‘organ’ [tooth] and the whole body can be affected, as well.”

Lovett believes that mercury-free restorations—which include all-porcelain crowns, porcelain fused to metal (preferably gold) crowns, porcelain onlays or inlays and composite bonded restorations—should be an integral part of aligning oral health with whole body wellness. He says mercury fillings are banned in Sweden and Norway and notes that some states, such as California, require that any mercury removed from teeth be kept out of the water filtration system and labeled as bio-hazardous materials. “These mandates for handling mercury fillings speak for themselves,” he advises.

Lovett offers a free consultation for individuals who have high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood. CRP can rise in response to inflammation and periodontal disease, and recent research suggests that patients with elevated levels are at an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

William E. Lovett, D.D.S., Coventry Square, 111th Ave. N., Ste. 5, Naples 34108. Call 239-593-4911 or visit RestorativeDentist.com.