Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine with complementary and alternative therapies, such as chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicines, meditation, or massage. Integrative medicine aims to promote wellness of the mind, body, and spirit by treating the person as a whole. This approach to care can be beneficial for people dealing with various conditions, from chronic pain to cancer. Some people choose to incorporate integrative medicine alongside conventional medications to find relief from their symptoms. Others may use holistic methods alone to manage their condition or prevent an illness. Talk to our dentist at Wesley Yemoto DDS, if you want to incorporate integrative medicine into your treatment plan. Our doctor can guide you on which therapy will best suit your needs.
The Benefits of Integrative Medicine
Some patients find that “alternative” treatments such as acupuncture and herbal remedies can help to relieve pain or discomfort and encourage natural healing. If you choose to incorporate alternative therapies into your treatment plan, consult your dentist before beginning any treatment. Your dentist may advise against specific remedies that could interact with medications prescribed by your oral surgeon or other procedures you plan to undergo. You may also want to discuss certain supplements with your dentist, as many of them can interfere with specific dental procedures, including teeth whitening. For example, some forms of vitamin C may cause the teeth to become more sensitive to whitening products.
What Conditions Can Be Treated with Integrative Medicine Techniques?
As holistic dentistry professionals, our dentists can provide several treatment options to help manage oral health. Some of these options may include nonsurgical periodontal therapy or laser gum treatment. If your gums are infected, we can recommend the best treatment for you. Other treatments include cosmetic dentistry and dental implants as solutions for missing teeth.
If you suffer from chronic headaches, fatigue, and anxiety, we can suggest alternative health techniques and supplements help alleviate those symptoms. Headaches and migraines are often caused by tension in the jaw muscles. By releasing the stress from your jaw muscles and teaching you how to relax more, you can experience fewer headaches and better overall relaxation.
Dental pain can also be related to stress. When your body is in a constant state of stress, your immune system works overtime to try to protect you. This can cause inflammation in the body, which can increase pain levels. Holistic dental treatments may help you find relief from chronic pain by working to decrease the levels of stress hormones in your system. This may alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with some chronic conditions.
When you come in for your appointment with one of our dentists, they will work with you to identify the root cause of your condition and create a customized treatment plan to improve your health and quality of life. Visit Wesley Yemoto DDS at 4860 Cherry Avenue #F, San Jose, CA 95118, or call (408) 266-9957 to schedule an appointment.