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.

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.”