Edward Arana, D.D.S.

(As written for the Holistic Dental Association's Web site) ,2005

Biological Dentistry can be categorized as dentistry with a conscious.

A consciousness of how the treatments of the teeth and jaws will affect the health of
the individual and how it will affect the immune system. Will it be congruent and
health enhancing or will the treatments be health stressors to the individual. In the
past only lip service was paid to the biocompatibility of materials used in dentistry.
The material's compatibility was judged on a general basis and not on an individual
basis that is required for biocompatibility.
Biological Dentistry is aesthetic, relatively nontoxic and individually biocompatible. It
utilizes physiologic and electronic methods to locate chronic areas of disease that
are difficult to locate by current standard methods. Incorporated in this field of
biological dental medicine are the time proven healing methods of homeopathy,
acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy and herbology. The more modern sciences
of neural therapy, hematology, immunology and electro-acupuncture are also
incorporated. These methods are in addition to the many scientific disciplines, which
encompass the field of clinical dentistry. The curative measures of biological dentistry
are applied in accordance with the patient's natural abilities of regulation,
regeneration, and adaptation and self-cure. Biological dental treatment removes the
stress burdens that conventional treatment may induce. The first area of concern in
biological dentistry is the toxicity of metals and their release from the fillings and
replacement appliances (metal partials and crowns that have nickel) used in
dentistry. These metal ions dissociate from their masses to diffuse, migrate and
become absorbed in the tissues altering the electrochemical character of the
immune system concomitantly changing the ratios and populations of the blood cells
(decreased while count) and the cells of the immune system. In addition, these
migrating metal ions stop or alter the function of the body's enzymes.
The next area of biological concern is the extent and character of the direct electrical
currents generated by the disassociation of dissimilar metals in an electrolyte media
(fluids and tissues of the human body). This is called "oral galvanism." These
currents carry disruptive metal ions to the opposite poles in these oral galvanic
batteries. How much oral galvanic power is necessary to change organic function, to
change membrane permeability, to interfere with the power of thought or recall, or to
initiate degenerative change? We just don't know! But we do know that it does
change from electronegative to electropositive.
Is it possible that these metallic energy sinks are acting as blockades in the
meridians or bioenergetic circuits associated with the teeth? Can these blockades
cause dysfunction in their respective organs, endocrine systems, vertebrae,
muscles, nerves and nerve reflexes? It is and it does! Should we view current
existing dental restorations as toxic scars? With mercury amalgam implanted in the
teeth, most definitely. With gold and other metal restorations for again a certain
percentage of people again most definitely and with composite cements on an
individual basis, again most definitely. With just about any restorative material used

in dentistry there will be blockades by the body if the immune system is still
functional because the tooth is an open and dynamic living organ. Biological
Dentistry is concerned with treatment and therapies that cause the least disturbance
to the immune system.
The next area of concern in Biological Dentistry is that of hidden or residual infection
to include areas of necrosis and chronic inflammation. Collectively these areas are
called "Dental Interference Fields or Foci." This is dentistry's most ignored area for
meaningful and effective therapeutic contributions in resolving chronic disease. A
focus or dental interference field is a diseased change in the soft connective tissue
containing un-processable material causing the local and general defense reactions
to be in a continuous state of active conflict. This can lead to abnormal distant effects
far removed from the original source and is most often chronic in nature.
Biological Dentists utilize materials reactivity testing to individualize the
biocompatibility of dental materials used in the reparative and restorative aspects of
dentistry. A materials reactivity test is made from the patient's blood serum. It is a
qualitative antigen-antibody precipitin observation type test. It indicates what
materials may be suitable for the patient to utilize in the restorative aspect of his
dental treatment. W.J. Clifford, M.S. developed this test. The other types of testing
for the individual biocompatibility assessment for suitable dental materials are
electrodermal testing as advocated by Reinhold Voll, M.D. and Fritz Kramer, D.D.S.
and Applied Kinesiology muscle testing as developed by George Goodheart, D.C.
Using all the knowledge and skills of probiotic dental medicine, biological dentists
strive to provide individual biocompatibility testing, aesthetic, comfortable, functional
and enduring dental artificial replacements. Biological dental treatment has the
possibility of a stress reduction so great the patient loses all or many of their
distressing chronic disease symptoms, which encompasses many pathological
conditions.
Biological Dentistry is the great contribution that Sir William Osler meant when he
said, "The next great advancement in medicine will come from the dentists."
Biological Dentistry will, out of necessity, become the dental medicine of the 21st
Century.