Holistic Dentist London

The word holistic means so many different things to different people. “I have always felt that it is important to work in a holistic way with each patient, rather than solely treating their teeth,” says Dr Hitesh Batavia of Ravenscourt Dental Practice: • A 360-degree view - establishing an understanding of each patient’s lifestyle, diet, general health and concerns; • How a Holistic Dentist can help with Amalgam removal – procedures & safety, the technical aspects of treatment, achieving clinical results the patient wants, the importance of keeping patients fully informed, working in partnership with complementary health practitioners to ensure the patient is fully supported nutritionally; • Preventative techniques to help people improve and maintain their general & oral health, to minimise the need for further invasive dental procedures. It certainly pays to prevent dental problems - over a lifetime, fewer trips to the dentist means less invasive procedures, less pain, less stress and much, much less cost; • Partnerships – By working holistically we are able to help with any long-standing issues by encouraging and guiding patients to seek help elsewhere – including naturopathy, dietary advice, relaxation techniques & osteopathy.

Our philosophy promotes your total dental health and wellbeing, putting you in charge. Our holistic approach to dentistry means we recognise the importance of treating our patients as individuals, not simply examining their teeth and gums.

With increasing evidence proving that various diseases which begin in the mouth, such as gum disease and abscesses, can cause illnesses elsewhere in the body, the holistic approach has never been more important.

This is why Dr Hitesh Batavia has incorporated his many years of experience to offer patients the widest possible range of dental treatments and care, supplemented by complementary homoeopathic remedies, whenever appropriate.

Watch a patient's review of their experience with Holistic Dentistry or read our blog How to Enjoy visiting the Dentist

Safe Amalgam removal One of the major reasons why people choose us is for the safe removal and replacement of Amalgam fillings. We follow a special protocol to minimise any impact on the body. The use of amalgam and substances like fluoride in dentistry are discussed with each individual patient to determine the right approach for each patient. Nervous patients The second largest group comprises of people who are very anxious or nervous about seeing the dentist! They usually all have the same issue - they have not been to a dentist for a very long time – often many years! By the time they pluck up the courage to see us, they tend to be suffering from long-standing dental and jaw problems. So it is vital we help them, and we can only do this once we have calmed their anxiety and established trust. This is one of the situations where homoeopathic remedies are useful as an adjunct to normal dentistry – along with relaxation aids, they help nervous patients undergo treatment. General dentistry Thirdly, there are the main general dentistry needs most people will have: Dental Decay, Gum Problems & Tooth Wear. A holistic dentist's approach can help with all general dental concerns. A lot of our work is focused on sharing ideas and resources with them on how to prevent these problems - ranging from oral hygiene techniques and information to an appropriate referral. We have a network of recommended and trusted complementary health practitioners, and working in a holistic way allows us to have a bespoke approach to each patient. Specialist treatments Lastly, a practice that offers access to a range of specialists and advanced treatments under one roof means patients have seamless continuity of care. For example, if someone needs braces, to help with their aesthetic and functional needs, the benefit is that this fits holistically into their treatment plan. Another example is our specialist in Gum Disease, who saves teeth with minimally invasive procedures. The patient comes first and then their dental health and teeth! We are not just technicians, it is really all about ensuring dental stability - by putting patients in charge of their dental health.

Dr Batavia shares how in his view a holistic dentist helps people “In my experience people feel nervous if they don‘t fully understand what is happening or why. In the same way, if patients don’t fully grasp the benefits and consequences of any treatment they will not feel in control of their health. Information puts patients in charge, they can then make the right decision for them.” He continues “It would be so easy to say you need 2 fillings and we can book you in to get them done. However, this does not address the bigger picture or the short, medium or long-term goals someone may have regarding their health and wellbeing.” We prefer to use what we call “Co-diagnosis and Co-treatment planning” rather than simply telling the patient what is needed and how and when it will be done. By discussing the findings and options available with the patient, exploring the pros and cons and making time to answer their questions, we help them to make the right decision. An additional benefit of this way of working is that when we draw conclusions we are also taking into account any other potential problems they may experience in the future. This results in a tailored service, with an actively engaged patient in control and fully informed at every stage. After treatment there is always the maintenance phase – once again the patient is in the driving seat - when we reinforce areas they need to keep an eye on and oral hygiene techniques they need to use. Dr Batavia concludes “All the added value – such as referrals to complementary health practitioners and information resources –result in so much more than just having a few dental problems being addressed until the next time they experience dental pain.” “As for all the fact-finding, well it helps in so many unforeseen ways. For example, we can give them breaks if the treatment is a long session – this particularly benefits someone who is nervous about seeing the dentist and goes a long way to ensuring their treatment is carried out successfully.”

Our role is to carry this out in a safe manner:

• Carry out an initial assessment & prepare a personalised treatment plan
• Agree on a protocol, following certain steps to safeguard optimum health throughout the process
• Ensure safe removal of the amalgam filling & replacement restoration to fulfil your needs
• Work with your nutritionist or health practitioner to help you achieve optimum benefits
• Dr Hitesh Batavia is registered with the British Society for Mercury-Free Dentistry 

Watch a review from a patient who underwent Amalgam Removal

As a patient-focused practice, the goal of our holistic approach is to help you achieve and maintain a healthy mouth, in a relaxed and friendly environment.  We are very aware that some patients suffer real anxieties when visiting the dentist.  By taking the time to understand your anxieties, we can:

• Suggest a variety of techniques to relax you
• Incorporate homoeopathic remedies and music to help you stay relaxed through the treatment

Download our Smile Check and Nervous Patient questionnaires so that we can determine the best way to help you. Or ask the receptionist for the questionnaires when you get here!

Watch a review from a Nervous Patient and read our blog on How to Enjoy visiting the Dentist

Implants are now more readily available and affordable than ever before and have transformed the lives of many patients.

With advances in modern dentistry and technology, we are able to offer implants that could help you maintain a natural-looking and healthy smile.

As an alternative to traditional; crowns, bridges and dentures, dental implants can:

• Alleviate the pain of wearing a denture
• Allow you to return to a fully functioning bite and chew and eat confidently

Watch a review from a patient who had lost teeth due to Gum Disease 

Achieving a whiter, brighter, more confident smile in time for that special occasion or simply feeling good could not be easier with advances in Cosmetic dentistry!

One of the following treatments may be all you need to achieve the smile and confidence you are looking for:

• A visit to the hygienist
• Tooth whitening treatment
• Facial rejuvenation
• Restorative procedure

Download our Smile Check questionnaire so that we can determine the best way to help you, or ask the receptionist when you get here!

We all want our smiles to be attractive and welcoming, as well as to have the confidence to eat whatever we would like to.

The range of options is now vast and you can choose either conventional braces or "invisible" braces:

• Using the latest technology we are able to determine the very best cosmetic solutions
• You can see the potential results when using invisible braces
• You can choose your ideal smile

Download our Smile Check and Orthodontic questionnaires so that we can determine the best way to help you, or ask the receptionist when you get here!

Everything we eat or drink can affect the colour of our teeth including tea, coffee and red wine. Foods containing strong colourings can also stain and discolour our tooth enamel.

Also as we age the dentine below the tooth enamel changes colour and can become more yellow creating an overall ageing effect:

• Whitening your teeth is a safe procedure when carried out by a dentist
• An assessment is carried out to establish the nature of your tooth discolouration
• The dentist will discuss the options and the process of our whitening method
• The result will be a natural looking, happy and more confident smile.

Download our Smile Check questionnaire so that we can determine the best way to help you, or ask the receptionist when you get here!

Our patient's experience may help you Teeth Whitening

Teeth can become sensitive for a variety of reasons and the dentist will quickly be able to establish whether your sensitivity is due to an underlying dental problem, or whether we can help you manage your sensitivity with appropriate oral care and advice.

Download our Smile Check questionnaire so that we can determine the best way to help you, or ask the receptionist when you get here!

The benefits of regular visits to our hygienist will ensure you maintain a good oral hygiene regime, this will then help you control poor odour, as well as preserve your natural teeth for longer.
Our hygienist will show you how to:

• Minimise the damage caused by plaque formation
• Adopt and maintain appropriate brushing techniques
• Clean and maintain the spaces between your teeth
• Use a variety of inter-dental products
• Working closely with you our hygienist will recommend an oral hygiene programme that will meet your needs, and keep you motivated.