Informative Facts

Below is a list of some frequently asked questions, but please feel free to call our office if you need additional information.  We are always pleased to assist you.

• What can I expect during the initial consultation?
• How important is the patient's input in a treatment plan?
• Can you provide sensible treatment plans for out-of-town clients?
• Is the quality of air in dental offices a health concern?
• What is holistic/biological dentistry?
• What do you do to ensure that your water supply is clean & bacteria free?
• Do you provide Cosmetic Dentistry?
• Are local anesthetics safe?
• Are "silver" fillings safe?
• Does removal / replacement of mercury-amalgam fillings cure disease?
• What other areas of dentistry may be causing harm to my body?
• How do I know if I need to have my previous dental work undone?
• Are dental x-rays harmful?
• Is it possible to make my teeth whiter?
• What are holistic approaches to Sports Dentistry?

What can I expect during the initial consultation? Our initial consultation provides us with the ability to evaluate your specific needs and to share our philosophies and belief system with you. After you have consumed and digested the information from your exam and consultation, you will decide on the treatment plan that suits you.

How important is the patient's input in a treatment plan? We believe that when people have an active role in their own care, they are more likely to get the results they want. Wherever possible we can accommodate our patient’s wishes when designing a treatment program. We will gladly provide guidance or opinions if required.

Can you provide sensible treatment plans for out-of-town clients? Absolutely! Over the past 13 years, we have treated patients from all over the country. Our convenient location in Port Jefferson, NY allows easy access via plane, train, automobile and passenger ferry (via Bridgeport, CT). For treatment requiring overnight stay, local accommodations will gladly be made.

Is the quality of air in dental offices a health concern? Yes, it can be! It is well documented that patients and staff have been known to suffer adverse health effects from the off-gassing of mercury amalgam fillings. It is for this reason that we employ the latest technologies and protocols to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff. For your safety and ours, our office is equipped with several air filtration systems. The operatories are further equipped with specially designed ion filters to remove and collect airborne metals. During the mercury/silver filling removal process, our patients are protected with a nose piece that delivers oxygen for them to breathe rather than the potentially mercury-contaminated air. Additionally, strategically located air curtains and exhaust fans contain the airborne particulates and vapors enhance capture and elimination of biohazards.

What is holistic/biological dentistry? This is an integrative approach to traditional dentistry, which takes into account many different considerations when determining a course of treatment. Whereas traditional dentistry is disease focused (fixing what is broken and devising tactics to keep a problem from recurring), Biological Dentistry is more health focused. By concentrating on the level of health that they want, patients can be given choices in dental materials and procedures, that can move them toward that ultimate goal of long-term health. Additionally, our philosophy regarding treatment options and planning respects the tooth-body connection. It is well documented that each tooth is connected to various parts of the body via bio-electric energy pathways, or meridians. These meridians are a two-way electrical street: Disease or imbalance at one end (tooth organ system) can be visualized or expressed at the other end. Biological/Holistic dentists do not view the oral cavity as the beginning and end of oral/dental health, but rather as a window into the body. This approach to dentistry is designed to educate our patients of the potential risks of routine dental materials and procedures and to provide more biocompatible options. This provides for dental treatment that has the least possible impact on the body, and to promote physical well-being.

What do you do to ensure that your water supply is clean & bacteria free? All water coming into our dental suite is filtered. Additionally, every water line in every dental unit in every treatment room is equipped with a micron filter to prevent potential contamination of the water by biofilm, bacteria and virus. During any metal removal procedure, copious volumes of water are directed to the site from the handpiece and from a water syringe. And although it is not yet REQUIRED by law, we have installed a mercury/amalgam separator in our evacuation waste line to capture mercury that will be disposed of by licenses waste carters. This insures that this dental facility will not contaminate our /the environment. Typically, dental offices constitute a major environmental threat because of the long term “dumping” of mercury-laden waste water into sewer systems, or worse cess pools. During surgical procedures, once any penetration of the gum tissue is made, only sterile saline is used.

Do you provide Cosmetic Dentistry? Yes. Biocompatible smile-makeovers are our specialty! All phases of cosmetic dentistry are available. These include: tooth-colored fillings, metal-free caps (crowns) and bridges, tooth whitening, and laminate veneers.

Are local anesthetics safe? Since 1993 we have endeavored to use only the highest quality materials and medicines which are regarded as the safest as well.  Local anesthetics are no exception.  We have limited our selection of local anesthetics to two: Carbocaine and Septocaine.  Carbocaine does not contain epinephrine, which acts as a vaso constrictor to diminish blood supply to the area of injection for a period of time.  Traditionally, this was thought to be a desirable effect since diminished blood flow will prolong the duration of anesthesia.  However, when anesthetizing teeth in the lower jaw this is cause for concern since blood supply there has only one way in and one way out.  If that supply is shut down, even temporarily, then the teeth and surrounding bone may die. As a matter of protocol, we now never use anything but carbocaine for lower jaw injections.

Are "silver" fillings safe? So-called "silver" fillings are composed primarily of Mercury, a known poison, followed by silver, tin, copper and other metals. Our office does NOT provide for these metal fillings. Typically, tooth-colored, resin-based fillings, called composite; are used. Other materials (gold alloys, ceramics) are available upon request.

	Does removal/replacement of mercury-amalgam fillings cure disease?
	In and of itself this procedure does not cure disease.  However, it can be an essential early step in clearing out the results of toxic and energetic "static" that may be causing a whole host of low level symptoms or syndromes.

What other areas of dentistry may be causing harm to my body? Depending upon one's individual dental and social history, fluoride exposure, root canal therapy and old extraction sites may be potentially harmful.

How do I know if I need to have my previous dental work undone? A thorough evaluation by a licensed physician, accupuncturist or naturopathic physician can help determine if dental toxicities are a factor in ones poor health.

Are dental x-rays harmful? No, our equipment is state of the art-digital x-rays. Which reduces patient exposure by 90%.  The office follows American Dental Association guidelines as to the frequency of radiographs.

Is it possible to make my teeth whiter? Yes, the office offers professional teeth whitening with zoom 2 and "take home" whitening

What are holistic approaches to Sports Dentistry? A multi-faceted consideration of dental and physical well-being for professional athletes and weekend warriors alike.  This is designed to improve athletic performance, aid in complementing rehabilitation, and maintenance of health.  This can include diagnosis and treatment of oral-medical toxicities, nutritional counseling, access / referral to alternative medical specialists and other therapies.