I’m wondering if holistic dentists are legit. I was considering seeing one because I’m more into natural options and treating my whole body, not just symptoms, but I read somewhere that there’s no such thing as a legit holistic dentist. The article put it on par with naturopathic doctors, and how many states don’t even recognize them as doctors. If they aren’t legit, how do they get away with calling themselves dentists at all? And, how can I make sure that the one I see has the right credentials if they are on the up and up? — Trina
Trina,
It sounds like you got a little bit of truth mixed in with a lot of misinformation in whatever you read. To start with, the only people who can legally call themselves “dentists” in the United States are those who have gone to dental school and earned a degree. Different universities have the option of naming their diploma something unique, so you’ll see the initials DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) and DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) used more or less interchangeably. Obviously, the doctor with the credentials won’t change, but you can see a DMD or a DDS and know that both of them had to go through the same coursework to earn their degree. It’s really hard to fake a dental diploma in the United States because so many agencies check up on doctors. If the doctor accepts any kind of reputable insurance, no doubt, the insurance company has checked his credentials, but you can cross-reference a doctor’s credentials with different professional organizations, like the ADA (American Dental Association) or the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), if he claims to be a member of one. Oftentimes, you can contact the school directly and ask as well.
As for the question of whether a holistic dentist is legit, yes, if he has a DDS or DMD, he is legit. However, the ADA only recognizes nine specialties, such as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pediatric Dentistry, and Periodontics. Holistic dentistry is not on that list, so it’s not an official specialty and the term is not regulated. You will still find lots of doctors who use the term because they genuinely share the same values as you. They look at how everything comes together, not just a single symptom, and they tend to avoid things like mercury fillings.
There haven’t been any reports of people pretending to be dentists who really aren’t, so it’s pretty safe to say that if you find a holistic dentist, he has the credentials necessary to practice and also operates in line with your values.
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