New Patient Consultation
The Holistic Dentistry Approach

Initial Holistic Dentistry Visit

A Comprehensive Oral Examination

One of the most common questions asked is: "What is holistic dentistry?"

Holistic dentistry recognises we are dealing with a whole person. Each person has a health history that may have links to their oral health, and these connections are often surprising.

Your first appointment is an opportunity for us to get a detailed history — connecting your general health concerns to particular oral health conditions.

What We Explore at Your First Visit

Pain

This is important and should not be ignored, although the vast majority of dental infections have little or no pain associated with them.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are a sign of inflammation and are not normal. The links between periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk factors are well established.

Tooth Sensitivity

Cold sensitivity often reflects an issue with your bite. Heat sensitivity reflects chronic inflammation within the tooth's nerve.

Existing Fillings

Metal mercury amalgam fillings corrode, expand and cause teeth to crack over time. We assess the state of all existing restorations.

Root Canal Treatments

We check whether there is any underlying dental infection using 3D cone beam X-rays, even if there is no pain.

Dental Anxiety

We take this issue very seriously, offering our patients a wide range of support to ensure their treatment is relaxed and comfortable.

The SHDC Approach

The Holistic Health Model

We live in a modern world where 'stress' is a problem affecting people's health. Research suggests 70% of people believe stress is affecting their mental and physical health.

We view stress as a combination of emotional, environmental, postural, nutritional and dental stresses. Our goal is to identify and reduce as many of those stressors as possible.

We continue to develop our holistic health understanding and work with a network of like-minded medical and allied health practitioners.

The Five Pillars of Health

To restore health and build resilience, we have identified five pillars of health to focus on:

Medical History Form

In preparation for your dental appointment, we will send you the Medical History Form, which will help us spend more productive time with you at your appointment.

Thorough Oral Examination

The Dentist will conduct a thorough oral examination, taking images and any necessary radiographs to fully understand your needs.

Tailored Treatment Plan

Once we understand your needs and requirements, the Dentist will present a tailored treatment plan (if necessary) and discuss it with you in detail.

Schedule Your Care

When you have considered the options and decided how you would like to proceed, we will then schedule the appropriate appointment.

What is Holistic Dentistry?

The human body is a perfect example of what it means to be 'holistic'… it does not work as one part separate from the other. As holistic dentists, we recognise that while the primary focus of our treatment is the oral cavity, we also consider the whole person. We regard the mouth as the gateway to the digestive tract, the gateway to the respiratory tract, and the site of the two most common infections — tooth decay and gum disease. The mouth is also the most sensitive part of the body, affecting the balance of muscles and joints throughout the body.

Why take dental x-rays? Are they safe?

We use digital radiography, which reduces radiation by a significant amount. In order to do a thorough and comprehensive examination, we need to check those areas we cannot see with our own eyes — between teeth, the root of the teeth, the bone supporting the teeth, the jaw bone, and the jaw joints. That is why we need to take dental x-rays.

Nothing hurts in my mouth, so why should I be concerned?

Pain is a very poor gauge as to whether there is a problem. In our collective experience, the vast majority of dental infections have NO PAIN associated with them. It often surprises us that one patient may only have a small cavity and be in a lot of pain while another may have extensive decay and infections and yet never had any pain.

I am scared of dental treatment. Can you help?

Welcome to the very big club of people who are anxious, scared or even terrified of dental treatment — we are committed to helping. We take this issue very seriously at SHDC. We are committed to delivering the highest standard of care, appropriate for each patient, in a pain-free, relaxed and comfortable environment. We do many things to help, and we can discuss the full range of options with you.

Does the first appointment include a teeth clean?

Our first appointment with you is a comprehensive assessment of your oral health and what any ongoing needs you might have. This takes time and it is important that together, we go through the issues relevant to you and outline treatment alternatives and costs. The initial consultation does not include a teeth clean. Your dental hygiene and therapy are an important part of your dental health — we have dedicated dental hygienists and oral health therapists that provide a thorough clean at your subsequent appointment.