Many parents hear the word holistic and immediately think of so-called “alternative,” “natural,” or “non-traditional” treatments. The word “holistic” also carries the connotation of avoiding the use of artificial ingredients or man-made materials that raise concerns about bio-compatibility, toxicity, or long-term safety. Unfortunately (and mistakenly), holistic may also carry the negative connotation of “non-scientific” or “un-proven.” The truth is, in the context of health and dental care, the word holistic means different things to different people. Unfortunately, this situation can lead to misunderstanding and unfulfilled expectations.
In modern dental care, there is no one “right” way to treat every patient. Rather, the latest training and practice in dentistry, including pediatric dentistry, involves evaluating and choosing the optimal form of treatment based on the unique health history and developmental circumstances of each patient, viewed as a unique individual with unique needs. Today’s pediatric dentists are also highly attuned to parental concerns, preferences, and attitudes. For the pediatric dentist, this means being aware of and sensitive to what parents are looking for in the best interests of their children. The goal of the pediatric dentist is to balance parental wishes with the latest scientific knowledge, clinical data, professional experience, and treatment outcomes.
Stated another way, holistic dentistry is really “whole-istic dentistry”—taking the whole patient (and parent!) into account, from personal and family health history to unique preferences to special concerns.
Working with a holistic pediatric dentist in Los Angeles might just be the best way to ensure the oral health of your child.
Why “Holistic” Can Be Misunderstood
A holistic pediatric dentist does not eschew, or avoid, conventional, evidence-based practices. Instead, a holistic pediatric dentist seeks to build upon proven scientific knowledge and treatment approaches with a broader (one might say “global”), “whole-body” perspective. This method directly connects oral health to critical pediatric factors like sleep quality, proper airway breathing, craniofacial development, and childhood nutrition. In addition, a holistic pediatric dentist will consider available knowledge and favorable experience from traditional healing (use of medicinal plants and herbs, for example) and from experience in European or Asian healthcare practice.
The philosophy and practice of holistic dentistry are very much “in-sync” with modern dentistry in general, because modern dentistry is multi-disciplinary—drawing from the latest knowledge and evidence-based practices across the entire universe of healthcare—traditional, innovative, and also alternative.
A Proactive, Whole-Body (or, “Whole-istic!) Approach
The mouth functions as the crucial gateway to the rest of the body. By prioritizing whole-child pediatric dentistry, specialists look far beyond immediate symptoms to uncover potential underlying causes of disease or dysfunction. This comprehensive evaluation can include assessing possible functional restrictions, such as tongue-ties, habitual mouth breathing, or even poor head, neck, and body posture. The ultimate goal is to promote optimal systemic wellness, ensuring your child thrives both physically and developmentally.
Finding the Right Care for Your Child
Choosing this preventive focus means seeking personalized, gentle care tailored to your child’s unique developmental stage. If you are looking for a holistic (or whole-istic) pediatric dentist in Los Angeles, it is essential to find a professional who actively collaborates with pediatricians, airway specialists, orthodontists, speech-language pathologists, myofunctional therapists, and bodywork professionals. To experience this compassionate philosophy firsthand and support your child’s lifelong health, parents can explore resources and schedule an evaluation with specialists like Hila Robbins, DMD, Inc.