Summary
In this podcast, Dr. Nammy Patel explains the benefits of working with a biological dentist. She admits that they cost more but explains how their care is more thorough and long lasting than the traditional approach to dentistry.
John Maher: Hi, I am John Maher. I’m here today with Dr. Nammy Patel, founder of Green Dentistry in San Francisco, California, helping patients recognize the vital connection between dental health and whole body health. And author of the bestselling books, Age With Style: Your Guide To A Youthful Smile and Healthy Living, and Total Wellness: Understanding the Link Between Your Teeth and Your Health. Today, our topic is the benefits of biological dentistry, costs, and what to Expect. Welcome Dr. Nammy.
Dr. Nammy Patel: Thanks, John. Thank you for having me.
What Is a Biological Dentist?
John: Sure. So Dr. Nammy, what are some of the benefits of being treated by a biological dentist? And maybe you can explain what a biological dentist is.
Dr. Nammy: Sure. So John, a biological dentist is a dentist who’s going to stimulate your biology and really look at how do I mimic the natural form and function of our natural bodies so that we’re not using synthetic materials or synthetic things to fix ourselves. And the whole purpose of biology is God has done an amazing job making our bodies work very properly. And so how can we restore it to proper performance and function so that it can be working normally as it should?
And that is a whole focus of a biological dentist is how can we save natural tooth structure? How can we use materials that are almost like our tooth structure and how can we make them last so that your body can work better on its own for a long period of time? That’s really what we’re looking at.
Benefits of Working With a Biological Dentist
John: Okay. And so what are the overall benefits of seeing a biological dentist?
Dr. Nammy: The purpose of seeing a biological dentist is really, number one, our body is designed to function, it is the most amazing computer system on this planet. I get really excited when I see … We found another earth-like planet and all these wonderful things because of human inventions, we’ve still not not cracked the code when it comes to our body, the way that it heals, the way that it works really well. We have figured out some tools of biohacking, but there’s still so much about our bodies we don’t understand or we don’t know how to optimize.
And the whole purpose of biological dentistry or being biological is really figuring that out. And with the information that we know, how can we use the fundamentals of making our bodies work well on its own? How can we do that and how can we do that naturally without adding a ton of pills? How can we do that without adding a ton of synthetic materials or anything like that so that we can get our bodies to proper form and function, and to fix itself really?
How Much Does Biological Dentistry Cost?
John: So what’s the cost of a biological dentist? Is it more expensive than a traditional dentist?
Dr. Nammy: I would say the cost of a biological dentist would be a little bit more, yes, and it’s because of what you’re getting. For example, when you go to a traditional dentist if there’s a hole, they’re going to put a filling on or they’re going to put a crown at it and say, “See ya.” Versus when you go to a biological dentist, they’re going to say, “Oh my gosh, there’s a hole here. Let’s figure out what’s going on. Something in your body is not working properly, either you’re grinding so much that you’re breaking your teeth and it needs treatment. Or, “Hey, you may not be sleeping really well and you are having acid reflux that’s dissolving your teeth and causing decay.”
So a biological dentist absolutely does cost more, but is definitely well worth it because you’re going to get better service and you’re also not just going to get something like a hole that’s plugged. You’re going to get to the root cause of diseases, and you’re going to be able to prevent that in the future, which is worth so much more in life than anything else. Because it’s kind of like when you’re fixing your house. If you fix your house, and for example, there’s a leak. If you fix a leak in a small little patch and say, “Okay, fine, see you later. There’s a leak here, we fixed it, and we’ll see you later and it costs you $100.”
Versus you have somebody else comes and says, “Oh, it’s going to cost you a thousand dollars because the leak is actually coming from your skylight. The skylight is really old and it needs to be resealed again so that you don’t have this happen every year. So what I would like to do is fix the leak where it is, but also fix the skylight and seal it so that way you are set for another 10 years.”
And so when we look at is the initial cost of biological dentistry a little bit more, the answer is yes, but in the long run it ends up being cheaper because you end up saving so much time, effort, energy, havoc, stress and pain, you don’t have to deal with the headaches over and over and over again.
Biological Dentistry Helps Your Whole Body
John: And you’re getting an overall checkup of your whole body too. And I’d imagine that it would be affecting and improving your overall health as well.
Dr. Nammy: Absolutely. You’re getting your overall health and you’re learning tools. And the best thing about it is that you’re not dependent on somebody, you’re not dependent on anybody’s mercy. For example, if you only fix the leak that costs you 100 bucks, next year it could be bigger. So instead of a $100, it could cost you a thousand dollars. And if the leak just continues to get bigger and bigger if you wait 10 years, your whole roof needs to get replaced, and that’s $30,000 or whatever it is to replace a roof.
So it’s really important to understand that you pay for what you get. If you’re being thorough and if the person’s being thorough, you can actually prevent a disease and dysfunction for a very long time. In fact, I have patients all the time when I have them. For example, I have a lot of patients who travel in from different countries and for gum disease treatment.
So we do the treatment and then they go back to their regular dentist, or if they’re seeking care there, they’ll be like, “Oh, I would’ve never thought you actually had gum disease or you had any sort of problems is because of the work we do.” We do such a great job that it looks so great that they never have any … Other dentists are like, “Oh my gosh, wow, I would’ve never thought you had a history of gum disease or you had a history of any of these problems in the past is because a work is done so well.”
What to Expect From a Biological Dentist
John: What else should I expect regarding my care from a biological dentist?
Dr. Nammy: The things you should expect is thoroughness. You should expect your questions to be answered, you’re not a bother, all your questions are answered, and that they’re willing to slow down with you. You will see that the doctors are going to take their time and if they need a little bit more time or if you have additional questions when you call in, the staff is going to be like, “Okay, great. Let’s schedule a Zoom call with the doctor so they can answer additional questions. Or let’s figure out you have more questions about materials, let’s get you the MSDS sheets.” Whatever you needs are, your questions are answered thoroughly, number one.
Number two, you’re just left. It’s something about you just feel good when you’re done. You are going to feel like you got a lot of information, you may need to digest it, but you know that you’re in the right place because the person is really giving you the information that’s true, and giving you the details that you really deserve.
Link Between Oral and Whole Body Health
John: Right. You’re not feeling like you’re just being rushed out the door, and then, “Okay, we’ll see you in six months and we’ll talk about it then,” something Like that.
Dr. Nammy: Yeah. And what you may hear is like, “Hey, there’s a lot of things going on. Let’s chunk it down for you so it’s not overwhelming. We’ve got a lot to deal with to begin with. Let’s start with phase one. This is what we’re going to focus on. Let’s get that accomplished, and then we’ll go to phase two, which is going to be this. And then we’ll go through phase three so that way we can support you in your journey. And so you don’t end up with analysis paralysis either.”
So it’s a fine balance. What you’ll find is that you’ll get the fine balance in between, “Hey, there are all these things going on,” because to realize there’s the link between your mouth and the rest of your body is huge. And to realize, “Oh my gosh, if I have gum disease, it can be linked to heart disease, it can lead to heart attacks, it can lead to diabetes, it can lead to cancer. Oh, this is too overwhelming for me.”
And so what actually can happen is let’s just focus on the cure first. Let’s get the gum disease eradicated, then what we can do is teach you how this is all related to the rest of the body. Then what we can do is make it a focus to focus on maybe one system at a time and really evaluate it. I have so many patients who have come back and said, “Thank you so much, because I didn’t realize the diagnosis of my gum disease really meant that I actually have liver disease, or that I have kidney cancer, or I have thyroid cancer, or whatnot.”
And it’s been a really great way to really educate the patients, eradicate the disease, and help them even further, and doing it slowly so it’s not done overnight. It’s done in a methodological way and it’s done in a way that really supports the patient throughout their journey.
Contact Us to Talk About Biological Dentistry
John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Dr. Nammy. Thanks again for speaking with me today.
Dr. Nammy: Awesome. Thank you, John.
John: And for more information about Green Dentistry, visit the website at sfgreendentist.com or call 415-433-0119.