A dentist is a dentist is a dentist…right? Spoiler alert, no.

Biological dentistry takes a holistic and integrative approach to dental materials, techniques, and procedures. That is to say, biological dentists, periodontists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and pedodontist consider the effects of their treatment on the body as a whole, rather than isolating just the mouth. 

A Brief History of Biological Dentistry 

Biological dentistry began as the synthesis of alternative methodologies by Dr. Gary M. Verigin and Dr. Ed Arana. These methodologies included energy medicine, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicines. In 1984, both dentists enrolled in a series called Fundamentals of Electroacupuncture According to Poll (EAV) which was taught by Andreas Marx, a German naturopath, and designed by Walter Sturm, founder of Occidental Institute.

The Occidental Institute specialized in the works of Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg who pioneered the field of Homotoxicology (the study of toxins and how they affect the human organism). Reckeweg demonstrated that any illness developed predictability across six stages. He went on to show how that process can be reversed through nutrition, homeopathic treatment and other channels of elimination using the body’s natural processes.

Dr. Verigin and Dr. Arana sought to marry the principles of Reckeweg with dentistry and created the American Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine.

More on the subject can be found on IABDM’s website.