Integrative Dentistry: Where Healing Begins

Your dental health is not isolated from the rest of your body; it is an essential part of your total wellness. For us, successful dental care is not just about fixing a problem; it is about ensuring that the materials and methods we use actively support your body’s overall health and well-being. This commitment defines our practice of Integrative Dentistry (sometimes called holistic or biological dentistry).

When dental treatments are necessary, especially surgical procedures like extractions or placing dental implants, our goal is twofold: a precise, successful procedure, and a recovery that is as fast, healthy, and comfortable as possible. This is where advanced biological therapies come into play, blending the best modern clinical practices with complementary healing approaches.

Our team leverages specialized techniques, namely Platelet Rich Plasma and Ozone Therapy, to dramatically enhance healing outcomes, reduce pain, and minimize the risk of infection. We want you to heal faster, recover better, and return to your optimally healthy life quickly.

The Body’s Super-Healer: Platelet Rich Plasma

One of the most revolutionary advances in surgical recovery is harnessing your body’s own natural healing power through Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

Imagine undergoing a necessary dental surgery, perhaps the placement of a permanent dental implant or the removal of a troubled tooth, and recovering with significantly less pain, less swelling, and much faster results. PRP makes this possible.

What is PRP?

PRP is a powerful concentration of growth factors created using a small sample of your own blood. A small vial of blood is drawn, spun in a centrifuge, and this process separates the plasma, creating a high concentration of the platelets that naturally initiate healing throughout your body.

When these concentrated growth factors are applied directly to the surgical site, they essentially send a super-charged signal to the body to accelerate the repair process. The results are compelling: research has shown that patients treated with PRP can heal as much as six times faster than those who go without it. By maximizing your body’s natural recovery mechanisms, we not only achieve safer outcomes but also significantly reduce post-operative discomfort and downtime.

PRP is a critical tool in our holistic practice, reinforcing our dedication to health-conscious solutions that prioritize your long-term vitality.

Ozone Therapy: Nature’s Effective Disinfectant

Infection and the presence of harmful bacteria are often the biggest threats to successful surgical outcomes and healthy recovery. In a traditional setting, powerful chemicals or antibiotics might be used, but at Smiles by Shields, we prefer solutions that are safe, effective, and align with our Fluoride-Free commitment to low-toxicity care.

This is why we integrate Ozone Therapy into many of our procedures.

How Ozone Supports Oral Health

Ozone therapy is a safe and effective way to eliminate harmful bacteria from the mouth. Ozone, which is simply three atoms of oxygen (O3), is a powerful natural oxidant. When applied to a treatment site, it specifically targets and eradicates harmful pathogens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses without causing harm to healthy tissues.

This non-invasive treatment offers comprehensive benefits that span various aspects of integrative dentistry:

1. Accelerating Post-Surgical Healing: By thoroughly disinfecting a surgical area (such as an extraction socket or implant site), ozone reduces the microbial load that could lead to post-operative infection, speeding recovery.
2. Fighting Gum Disease: Ozone helps fight infection stemming from periodontal disease and tooth decay. It can be used as part of deep cleaning protocols to eliminate bacteria far below the gum line, supporting the health of the tissues that support your teeth.
3. Preventative Care: Utilizing ozone helps us maintain an environment in your mouth that actively resists the formation of tooth decay and gum disease, supporting our commitment to preventative health.

By combining advanced biological treatments like PRP and Ozone Therapy, we ensure that the foundation of your recovery is strong, natural, and protected.

The Pillars of Minimally Invasive, Low-Toxin Care

Our commitment to a patient’s comfort and total body wellness extends into every technological and philosophical choice we make. The healing therapies discussed above are part of a broader practice standard we call minimally invasive dentistry.

1. Protecting the Tooth’s Inner Life

Minimally invasive dentistry assures that you only receive the treatment you absolutely need. Why is this so vital? Every time a tooth is drilled and worked on, it causes trauma to its inner layers, particularly the living pulp. The less trauma your teeth undergo, the healthier they can be in the long term. Our approach is focused on preserving your natural tooth structure for the longest, healthiest possible life.

When restorations are necessary to prevent further decay or tooth loss, we only use biocompatible materials like BPA-free and fluoride-free composites or ceramics.

2. Radiation Reduction: Digital Imaging and Homeopathic Support

Even necessary diagnostic tools, like X-rays, must be approached through a holistic lens. A visual exam only tells us so much about the state of your teeth, bone, and supporting tissues. When X-rays are required, to look for decay, bone loss, or infection, we use only digital imaging.

We choose this technology deliberately because digital imaging minimizes your exposure to harmful radiation. Some studies suggest that this technology uses up to 90% less radiation than older conventional film X-rays. Furthermore, because we consider every aspect of your systemic health, we offer a homeopathic remedy available to counteract the effects of any radiation exposure you may experience. This dedication to minimizing systemic burden is a cornerstone of integrative care.

3. Addressing Anxiety with Compassionate Care

We understand that anxiety and fear toward dental procedures are common. The path to total wellness cannot be achieved if the patient is suffering from stress and fear. The staff at Smiles by Shields is dedicated to making patients feel comfortable and relaxed.

If anxiety is a concern, we can discuss options like sedation dentistry. Sedation allows your necessary procedures, whether extensive oral surgery or general treatments, to be completed comfortably and safely, eliminating the stress often associated with dental appointments.

A Partner in Your Total Wellness Journey

Choosing an integrative family dentistry practice like Smiles by Shields means choosing a partner committed to your entire health journey. We recognize that many patients come to us not just for cleanings and fillings, but often because they are dealing with chronic illnesses that they suspect may have roots in previously undiagnosed dental conditions.

Our comprehensive services reflect this deep connection between oral and systemic health:

• Solving Hidden Pain: Chronic headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain often have dental causes. When this is the case, seeking an integrated dental solution with us makes far more sense than continually treating the symptoms with painkillers or other therapies.
• Sleep Solutions: We diagnose and treat serious conditions like snoring and sleep apnea. Snoring is more than an annoyance; it is a serious condition that can raise the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and memory problems. We utilize advanced technologies like the Fotona Laser for non-invasive treatments to help reduce or eliminate snoring.
• Collaborative Care: We are happy to work collaboratively with your physicians and other caregivers. We coordinate treatments and share information to help create positive health outcomes for complex or chronic conditions.

Our passion is to serve patients who value a health-conscious lifestyle and want a dental team focused on prevention and total body support. Dr. Shields is a fellow with the IAOMT and accredited by the IABDM, providing deep expertise in biological and holistic methods.

Achieving Your Health Goals

Good oral health truly begins at home with good hygiene, a nutrient-rich diet, physical activity, quality sleep, and stress management. Our role at Smiles by Shields is to equip you with the best professional care, technology, and guidance so you can achieve your health goals.

If you are ready to transition to a truly health-conscious dental practice that utilizes advanced biological therapies like PRP and Ozone to ensure the safest, fastest healing possible, we invite you to request an appointment today.

You can reach Smiles by Shields at (904) 731-0777 or visit us at 3940 San Jose Park Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32217. We look forward to welcoming you and partnering with you on your lifelong journey toward total wellness.