pathway.jpg

MY JOURNEY TO A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DENTISTRY- SMILE RANCH DENTISTRY

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” Galileo Galilei

My journey began about five years ago. I married my husband prior to starting my last year of dental school. We wanted to conceive during that year so that we could enjoy our family as I began my career. We struggled for three, incredibly difficult years. After a year of trying naturally, I underwent fertility testing, fertility drugs and treatment for a year. I didn’t understand why it was so difficult for us to conceive, especially when we were told our tests returned with normal outcomes. The experience of fertility treatment caused an incredible amount of stress and placed me on a roller coaster of emotions each month. Weary from driving and fearful from the harmful effects of fertility drugs, my husband and I decided to allow God to do His work that no man can do. We prayed and believed.

We were on year three and still not pregnant. I was willing to try alternative remedies. One of my dear friends who is very “crunchy” introduced me to essential oils. I started using essential oils and learning about the science behind them. My mind began to open to possibilities of therapies that are not harmful and toxic to my body.

Around the same time, I began to see patients from an amazing clinician next door to my office, Dr. John Gonino. Many of his patients refused fluoride and some of them asked about removing their amalgam fillings. One of these patients directed me to the IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) and informed me that the only way she would allow me to remove her amalgam fillings was if I followed their protocol. So I did. I also felt an obligation as a doctor, to educate myself on the issues my patients were expressing to me. Admittedly, I thought they were a little “different”, but I still had an obligation to educate and decide for myself.

During this season of my life, one of my colleagues who was my age died from stage four colon cancer. She left behind a four year old with Down’s syndrome and a one year old. She was an amazing, brilliant dentist, her faith strong and a devout mother and wife. Her death affected me such that I lay awake at night wondering why? Why is there an increasing number of people in our country dying at young ages from cancer? Why are so many born with birth defects? Why do so many couples struggle with infertility?

I am, by nature, a truth-seeker. I decided that I had to change the way with which I treat my patients and my family. We changed our diets and immediately stopped using fluoride. My practice evolved into a biological approach to dentistry as well. My moral compass required that I do what is best for my patients and my family. “Docere” means that I am a teacher and healer. It is my belief that the body is uniquely designed by our Creator and is a gift. At Smile Ranch Family Dentistry, we believe we are whole beings and the mouth is connected to the head, neck and entire body. Treating the individual goes far beyond the teeth. Our treatment philosophy is holistic and we prefer natural, minimalistic remedies.

I am on a journey as we all are, to do good and to give back to mankind. I am on a journey, which will never end in my quest to bring healing and disseminate truth.

Oh and by the way, we are so in love with our beautiful, healthy one year old daughter Alexa who was conceived naturally by the grace of our Almighty Father.