Functional Pediatric Dentistry

Functional Pediatric Dentistry focuses on a child’s body as a whole and not just the child’s teeth and mouth. The goal of Functional Dentistry is to determine the root causes of the child’s dental issues and to work with families and other healthcare providers as a team for prevention and ultimate health.

Functional Pediatric Dentistry is a more biocompatible approach to oral health, as it looks far beyond the teeth to assess a child’s airway, myofunctional health, gut health, sleep hygiene, social and emotional health, and how issues in other parts of the body may be manifesting themselves in the mouth.

Other names for this approach may be: Holistic Dentistry, Integrative Dentistry, Biological Dentistry, or Naturopathic Dentistry, but ultimately all take a whole-child approach and look well beyond the tooth to achieve optimal health in their patients.

Functional Pediatric Dentistry

Functional Pediatric Dentistry has grown in popularity in recent years, as parents are looking for alternatives to traditional dentistry. While Functional Dentistry may begin with traditional, routine dental examinations and cleanings, Functional Dentists take the exam process a step further. They examine the root cause of any oral issue a child may be experiencing and offer functional treatment options to address any underlying conditions.

Functional Medicine Approach
to Oral Health

In a Functional Medicine approach to oral health, physicians concentrate on the root causes that underlie disease to help patients improve overall health. This includes systemic health as well as oral health, as everything in the body is connected. If your systemic health is good, then so is your oral health.

Mouth/Body Connection

The mouth and body connection is the link between the health of your mouth and your overall health. The mouth is the gateway into our bodies and is a direct reflection of our general systemic health.

The Power of the Oral Microbiome

The power of the oral microbiome lies within the bacterial biofilm coating the surfaces of the oral cavity. These biofilms form an ecosystem responsible for maintaining health in a state of equilibrium. However, pathogenic microbes can manifest whenever this ecosystem is out of balance, growing out of control and leading to oral and systemic disease. The oral microbiome is crucial to overall health. An unbalanced or dysbiotic oral microbiome can cause both oral and systemic diseases.

Doctor Staci’s Favorite Things is the perfect guide for you! Holistic Pediatric Dentist and Whole Body Health Coach, Doctor Staci Whitman, shares her favorite products for your family’s health and wellness, including exclusive savings, found only in this premium download.

Meet Doctor Staci

Doctor Staci Whitman is a Functional and Holistic Kids’ Dentist in North Portland, Oregon. She is the founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry, where she takes a whole-body, holistic, and functional approach with her patients. Her dentistry/practice is grounded by science and powered by love.

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