At our St. Louis dental office, we provide holistic, biologic dental care for both local patients and those who travel from across the Midwest and Upper South for the expert care we are able to provide. Our patients hail from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and even beyond!
Many seek us out for solutions to oral/systemic health problems that others have not been able to resolve. While we cant guarantee results, you can read some of our success stories that we have gathered over the last 20 years in our collection of patient experiences.
We work closely with a number of biological physicians, homeopaths, and other healing professionals in the greater St. Louis area and are always pleased to consult and coordinate your care with any other practitioners you may currently be seeing.
Dr. Mike received his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1983. About 10 years later, he made his practice mercury-free the first step on the unique journey toward developing his holistic, biologic practice in St. Louis.
Understanding the dynamic relationship between oral and whole body health, and how nutrition lays the foundation, Dr. Mike focused much of his continuing education toward earning his certification in clinical nutrition from the International & American Academy of Clinical Nutrition.
Dr. Mike is a Fellow of the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology an organization he has served as president, nutritional chair, and a member of various committees. He currently sits on the IAOMTs board of directors.
Dr. Mike is also a member of the International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine, the American Dental Association, the Missouri Dental Association, the Greater St. Louis Dental Society, and Dr. Hal Huggins Multi-Discipline Alliance.
Dr. Michael followed in his fathers footsteps, earning his dental degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2020. A 2011 graduate of DeSmet High School, he also holds a bachelors in health science with a minor in psychology from Mizzou, where he graduated with distinction (Magna Cum Laude).
Working in his fathers office from his high school years on, Dr. Michael saw first hand the difference that a whole body approach to dentistry can make. I had many conversations with my dad through dental school, he says, talking about his beliefs and what they were teaching in dental school. Through these conversations and my own research, I came to my own conclusion about how dentistry as a whole needs to understand the mechanical aspect of teeth but also consider the impact that procedures can have on the entire body.
My story begins back in 1994, when I was first introduced to the term biological dentistry. Sometimes, I think it was either a divine intervention for me or simply by chance that I found a book called Mercury Free by James Hardy at a local bookstore. It told the story of how mercury was officially introduced to the dental profession back in the 1830s. Dr. Hardy made some bold statements about the ill effects that mercury exposure could have on our patients health and wellness.
The first time I read this book, I was angry at the assumptions that this dentist was making! Theres nothing wrong with placing mercury in our patients mouths right? Through my four years of dental school and the first eleven years of my practice, I had never heard of any controversy about mercury. So I threw the book down and dismissed this as a ridiculous theory presented by a very misinformed individual.
But sometimes life throws you a curveball, and you soon realize that there are two sides to every story. The only question I needed to answer for myself was if I could honestly look at a controversial issue with an unbiased opinion to discover the truth about mercury.
I decided to read Mercury Free again with an open mind, and this time, I discovered that Dr. Hardys statements were supported with references and scientific research that seemed difficult to refute. I began my own personal quest to find out all the pros and cons about mercury so that I could decide once and for all the best course of action for my patients well-being.
Conclusion: Mercury is considered the second most toxic material known to humankind (plutonium is first), and once placed in a patients tooth, mercury vapor continues to be released from the restoration. Not only is it inhaled through the lungs; it can cross the blood/brain barrier, as well.
My mind was made up. The best course of action for my practice was to eliminate the use of mercury once and for all. After making this decision, I soon realized that my personal life and dental career would never be the same, and for good reason.
As I look back over the years, my concept of dental health has evolved as Ive incorporated an holistic perspective in treating my patients. Keep it safe Keep it simple is our mantra in the office now.
As dentistry continues to service our patients into the 21st century, we must remember that the mechanical benefits of restoring the mouth go hand in hand with the biological effects that these procedures may cause to the rest of the body. In other words, the tooth/body connection must be considered when treating our patients. We must use dental materials that lend themselves to wellness. We must evaluate treatments such as root canals and implants, and recognize how these procedures may compromise our biological health and well being.
At our dental office in St. Louis, we practice holistic dentistry because we believe it is the best dental treatment for our patients. We believe that we must consider the biological effects that dentistry has on the entire body. It is imperative that we use dental materials that are compatible with wellness. It is crucial that we evaluate dental treatments such as extractions, root canals, and implants and recognize how these procedures may compromise our biological health and well being.