HOLISTIC DENTISTRY
What is Holistic Dentistry?
Holistic dentistry is where a patient’s dental health is seen as a part of their entire body, and how dental treatment affects the body as a whole. The use of materials such as mercury and BPS in dental fillings, or metals such as nickel and chromium in dental crowns and bridgework is discouraged and eliminated.
Acupuncture and Lasers...
Dr. Edward A Alvarez received his degree in Acupuncture from Harvard Medical School in 2010, and routinely integrates it into his practice. Being able to treat facial pain, TMJ pain, headaches, and other ailments without the use of drugs or medications is of extreme benefit to our patients. In addition to the use of acupuncture needles, Dr. Alvarez also uses a diode laser and low level light therapy to help treat pain.
What is Dr. Alvarez's philosophy?
Dr. Alvarez feels that the best dentistry is a combination of holistic and traditional techniques to achieve an excellent final outcome for our patients. Many times, “Holistic Dentists” can use unproven techniques and materials which will not be successful and will cause the patient additional pain, cost, and treatment. Dr. Alvarez will always use the best techniques and materials available to approach dentistry in the most holistic manner possible.
What are Dr. Alvarez's choices for a holistic approach?
Dr. Alvarez has never used silver mercury fillings since opening his practice in 2002.
Dr. Alvarez will remove existing silver mercury fillings using dual high speed suction, including isolation of the filling being removed, as well as oxygen being administered to the patient while doing so, at their request.
Dr. Alvarez is a leader in the use of CEREC technology, using it in his practice for over a decade to produce metal free crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, and dental bridges. CEREC allows Dr. Alvarez to make extremely strong, durable, and beautiful restorations out of biologically inert ceramic, porcelain, or zirconia. Traditional crowns that have metal in them can many times cause chronic inflammation of the gums, bleeding, and can lead to bone loss.
Dr. Alvarez proudly officers Admira Fusion®, which is the world’s first ceramic composite filling material. It is the only ceramic direct filling material without Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol A Glycidyl Methacrylate (BIS-GMA), Triethylene Glycol-Dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), or Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA).
Did you know that some dental crowns made in a lab contain harmful lead and other metals?
Some dentists send their crowns to be made in labs outside the United States, and when analyzed some of them have found to have levels of lead up to 200 times the "acceptable" amount allowed by the FDA. Some dentists send their crowns to be made in labs outside the United States, and when analyzed some of them have found to have levels of lead up to 200 times the "acceptable" amount allowed by the FDA.
Dr. Edward Alvarez makes all most all his crowns in his office with his CEREC system. Any dental lab work that cannot be completed in our office is sent to a lab in either New York or California.
All dental work in our office is certified to be 100% lead free.
BPA Free Dental Fillings
In our Midtown Manhattan New York City dental office, Dr. Alvarez uses Admira Fusion for your dental fillings.
What is Admira Fusion? Admira Fusion® is the world's first all-ceramic-based universal direct restorative material, developed by Voco. Admira Fusion® offers several remarkable advantages compared to traditional white composite filling materials, which include up to 50% lower polymerization shrinkage, as well as up to 50% lower shrinkage stress. That means your tooth will be stronger and your white filling will last longer. Additional physical properties include extremely high color stability, elevated esthetics in translucency and opacity that allow it to adapt and to blend with surrounding tooth structure.
The ormocer technology used in the manufacturing of Admira Fusion® makes it highly biocompatible, as it contains none of today's classic monomers, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol A Glycidyl Methacrylate (BIS-GMA), Triethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), Urethane Dimethacrylate (UDMA), and others.