What is Functional Dentistry

Functional is a deeper understanding that the body is a complex system and how it relates to the mouth. As a two-way street, it also means that the mouth may give us clues to something happening in the rest of the body.

We dig deep. We address major concerns first, like pain, swelling, badly decayed teeth. Then the deeper/ root-cause layers come later.

It’s important to note that practicing this way doesn’t mean we ignore all things traditional dentistry has taught us. We actually value that knowledge and work in conjunction with it. With this balance in mind, the first line of recommendations are with the whole child in mind. We look into sleep, mouth breathing, gut health, microbiome support, mineral optimization, product choices, nutrition habits, oral pH, salivary health, and tongue health (just to name a few). First line therapies will always be the least invasive, least toxic when possible. After all, the best dentistry is no dentistry!

When treatment is needed, the plan will be individualized and thoughtful.

This is a “root-cause” model- we’re finding the answers by asking ‘why’; and by avoiding blanket recommendations that may not be the best fit for your child or your family at that time. Two children can have cavities and those two children can have very different reasons why and how those cavities formed.