You may have heard of a "holistic," "natural," or "biological" dentist but don't know what it means. This type of dentistry is more comprehensive of the whole body versus just focusing on the mouth. Holistic dentistry isn't a specialization; it's how we approach oral health, practice dental care, and meet our patient's specific needs and goals.
Dr. Gentry's journey into holistic dentistry began with her own health issue. She started developing hives all over her body for no apparent reason, and they worsened over the years. She saw many doctors and specialists and tried many medications––even a chemotherapy drug to reset her immune system––to eliminate the painful and itchy hives.
It wasn't until she began to research the cause of "idiopathic urticaria" that she found the source of her problems: chemicals and artificial colorings in food, among other toxins in the environment and food. As a result, Dr. Gentry completely changed her diet to all-natural foods with no preservatives or food colorings, and her five-year-long battle with chronic hives was finally over.
Dr. Gentry was astounded that doctors and specialists had not suggested anything but more medications and had never mentioned that her diet could be the problem. Since then, she has done hundreds of hours of independent research on toxins, the body's responses to these toxins, and how to heal yourself naturally.
Based on our knowledge, skills, and clinically-proven techniques in biologically-focused dentistry, we can help you attain your healthiest, most attractive smile yet.
This emotional story will show you that not only does the staff at Gentry Dental do amazing work, but the relationships they build with their clients are meaningful and long-lasting.
"We will continue to come here for the rest of our lives."
#1 Focus on Whole-Body Health and Wellness Holistic dentists focus on health and prevention and strive to find your problems' root cause. For example, many patients with a bruxing habit use a plastic night guard to protect their teeth from damage without further exploring why. However, Dr. Heather Gentry studies your unique situation more deeply to find and treat the underlying cause of concern and its symptoms.
Diet contributes to our oral and whole-body health and wellness. Dr. Gentry and our team also offer personalized nutritional counseling so we can help you maintain optimal oral health from the inside out.
Dr. Gentry uses the least toxic and most biocompatible materials available. She has a passion for helping her patients be as healthy as they can be, and for this reason, she has undergone extensive training to offer you the safest, least toxic dentistry possible.
Here's what we offer:
Gentry Dental uses the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) at our Charlotte dental office, which is a treatment that allows us to remove mercury-containing silver fillings safely.
Many studies show that blood levels of mercury increase after having silver fillings removed, mostly from vapor coming off the mercury filling.
We research and choose the least toxic materials to use for your dentistry. Surprisingly, many dental materials are not particularly biocompatible. Many white fillings contain BPA, and many metal materials contain nickel and other reactive metals.
At Gentry Dental, we are pleased to offer more biocompatible alternatives, such as:
We also offer supplements, such as activated charcoal and chlorella to help with detoxifying after mercury amalgam removal.
Among the many technologies we use are aerosol reducers. We use a Dental Mercury Vapor and Oral Aerosol Vacuum System designed to remove and filter potentially toxic vapors and microbiological contaminants away from the immediate breathing area of the patient, dentist, and assistant.
Ozone dental therapy is a holistic, minimally invasive treatment that eliminates oral bacteria and prevents tooth decay. Ultimately, it kills viruses, fungi, toxins, and other harmful organisms and debris in the mouth.
According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, ozone therapy can eliminate most cavity-related lesions and even heal teeth. Ozone is also highly effective for treating viral and fungal lesions.
Ozone therapy in dentistry can help with the following:
Holistic dentistry considers your overall wellness and concentrates on how oral health influences all body systems. A holistic dentist in Charlotte, NC, understands that issues like gum disease and ongoing infections are about more than your smile.
For example, gum disease is linked to severe health complications beyond tooth loss. Without early detection or treatment, gum disease can lead to:
Holistic dentistry concentrates on the link between dental and physical health, but it also considers treatment methods, using biocompatible and non-toxic materials and approaches to treatment whenever possible.
Holistic dentistry includes the materials used and avoids mercury, metal, and BPA. It concentrates on safely removing old amalgam fillings and replacing them with modern materials like composite (tooth-colored fillings).
At a holistic dental practice, you’re more likely to find laser dentistry for less invasive treatment, digital imaging for safer films, ozone therapy for less infection risk, biocompatibility testing, and an emphasis on nutrition and prevention.
Your holistic dentist wants you to enjoy a healthy smile and overall wellness.
Call us today to learn more or book your next checkup and teeth cleaning.
We are happy to accept third-party financing through CareCredit and LendingClub and offer an in-house savings plan for the uninsured.
Holistic dentistry is a biological or natural approach to your dental care. It considers the root cause of specific oral health issues and how they are linked to overall wellness. Holistic dentistry concentrates on the whole person instead of “treating and streeting.”
At Gentry Dental, we customize your dental care to meet your specific and unique needs, understanding that every patient is different.
We also look at the underlying factors contributing to diagnosed issues. Our well-rounded approach to your care may include nutrition counseling and conversations about lifestyle.
Additionally, we use natural or biologically safe methods to treat your smile. This includes mercury and BPA-free restorations and instruments.
Finally, we rely on technologies that are holistic in nature. For example:
Our holistic dentistry is designed to keep you healthy! Contact us today to learn more about this proven approach to dental care or to schedule an appointment.
Non-toxic dentistry means your dentist uses biocompatible materials and methods to care for your smile; this includes the least toxic and most natural materials available today. For example, a holistic dentist is more likely to use tooth-colored fillings than silver amalgam because white fillings do not contain mercury.
Studies have deemed the mercury in fillings safe, but some patients may react to this component. We recognize that mercury and silver are not necessary to treat tooth decay.
Holistic dentistry is the umbrella term for natural and safer dental treatments. It is also synonymous with a whole-body approach to dental care. In other words, a holistic dentist uses non-toxic materials and methods and understands how oral health contributes to overall wellness.
Regarding your dental treatment, we consider the whole person—today and in the future!
To schedule your next checkup and teeth cleaning or if you have questions for our team, call us today. Also, ask us about our in-house savings plan and third-party financing options!
Originally from Alabama, Dr. Gentry graduated with honors from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. After moving to Charlotte in 2008, she planted roots in the community and opened ...
We strive to maximize comfort, strength, durability, and esthetics while minimizing toxicity, immune reactivity, and stress. Some people are more reactive to toxins or irritants in the environment than others. Think of people with sensitivity to nickel in jewelry or tape on their skin or latex gloves- they may break out in rashes or hives to different materials. For highly reactive people, we have to be especially careful with the materials we use to clean and restore your teeth- we don't want to add any additional burdens to an already overwhelmed or sensitive system. At Gentry Dental, we offer Biocompatibility Testing to determine the risk of toxicity of a material or substance and its reactive potential in each patient. Before placing a dental material, we assess its compatibility with your body's unique chemistry, thus eliminating any guesswork.
We can provide you with a kit to take to a local lab to have a blood draw. This sample is sent off for comprehensive testing and the results are analyzed by Dr. Gentry to determine which materials are the safest to use for you personally.
This is more important for people with sensitivities already, but even non-reactive people can become reactive over time if enough burdens are added to their system. The effect is also cumulative- the more burdens over your lifetime, the more likely you are to develop sensitivities or hyper-reactions later in life. We are all exposed to toxins daily (air and water pollution, pesticides, artificial flavorings and colorings in foods, mercury in amalgam fillings, etc), and our bodies are good at filtering them out. However, the more toxins that are added and the less your body is able to process them as you age, the more likely you are to "over-burden" the system and start seeing symptoms of toxicity.
Please contact us today to schedule your next dental exam or treatment. Gentry Dental is pleased to serve the surrounding areas, including Charlotte, Southpark, Madison Park, Starmount, Beverly Woods, Barclay Downs, and Montford. And don't forget to ask us about our dental savings plan or CareCredit!
Have you heard of natural or holistic dentistry? Not sure what that means? Today, we're going to discuss how a natural dentist cares for your smile and your whole-body health. We'll also touch on how and why this type of dental care benefits you. Let's get started!
Dr. ...
Holistic dentistry is transforming the way families approach oral care. This discipline within dental science offers an alternative to traditional practices by focusing on the connection between oral health and overall well-being.
At Gentry Dental in Charlotte, Dr. Heather Gentry and our outstanding team provide a comprehensive range of holistic ...
Welcome to Charlotte, NC! We're proud of our vibrant city, which is known for its lush parks, friendly communities, and rapidly growing metropolitan area. As a newcomer, finding the right healthcare providers, including a holistic dentist, is important for settling in comfortably. Holistic dentistry focuses on comprehensive health, considering dental ...
We are certified by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology to provide safe mercury amalgam removal. We now know that mercury particles and vapors are released into the air when old silver fillings are removed, which can be detrimental to your health, dental personnel health, and the environment. Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality dental work in a safe environment, so we added new equipment and trained on specific protocols to ensure the greatest level of protection possible! 
Some specific items for performing this technique are:
Many people choose to remove metal restorations from their mouths not just for cosmetic reasons, but because they have sensitivities to non-precious metals such as nickel. Sometimes the gum tissue around a metal or porcelain fused to metal crown is very red, inflamed, and bleeds easily- all signs of a metal allergy.
Contact us for more information or schedule a consultation to discuss removing old metal restorations.