Biological dentistry looks at the mouth as part of the whole body, rather than treating it as an isolated system.

We still practice dentistry - preventing disease, restoring teeth, treating infection, and helping patients maintain healthy function - but we also consider factors such as inflammation, the oral microbiome, dental materials, airway health, previous dental treatment, and the body’s ability to heal.

The terms are sometimes used interchangeable, but they don’t necessarily mean the same thing.

“Holistic” can describe a broad philosophy of considering the whole person. Our biological approach is intended to translate that philosophy into specific clinical decisions: how we evaluate infection and inflammation, which materials we use, how mercury fillings are removed, how surgical sites are treated, how we support healing, and how airway and oral function are considered.

For us, biological dentistry isn’t simply conventional dentistry with more natural products. It’s a different lens through which we evaluate dental health.

Not at all.

Our patients come from many different backgrounds are are at very different places in their wellness journeys. Some are looking for excellent dental care using thoughtful materials and having toxic materials removed. Others have been referred by a physician or functional medicine provider, or are investigating whether something occurring in their mouth could be contributing to a larger health concern.

We simply want you to understand your options and feel comfortable making decisions that align with your priorities.

The mouth is not separate from the body. Oral bacteria, inflammation, breathing, sleep, nutrition, and immune function all interact with systems beyond the teeth themselves. Periodontal disease and chronic oral inflammation, for example, have been studied in connection with a number of systemic conditions.

That doesn’t mean every health problem begins in the mouth. It does mean that oral health deserves to be considered as one part of your systemic health.

We do not use any fluoride products in our practice. Our practice takes an individualized approach to preventive care. Rather than relying on a single strategy for every patient, we focus heavily on nutrition, breathing patterns, oral hygiene, the oral microbiome, saliva, remineralization, and understanding why decay is occurring in the first place.

We can discuss fluoride and non-fluoride options so that you understand the benefits, limitations and alternatives available.

Anything placed in the mouth becomes part of your oral environment.

Because of this, we consider the composition and biological compatibility of the products and materials we use for fillings, crowns, implants, bone regeneration, and other restorations. We recommend biocompatibility testing for all patients to evaluate potential sensitivities to dental products. Go to https://biocomplabs.com for more information.

Our goal is to use durable, functional materials, while minimizing unnecessary biological burden.

Yes. When removal is appropriate, we use protocols designed to reduce exposure to mercury vapor and particles during the procedure.

Our office follows the principles of the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique, or SMART, developed by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. Go to https://iaomt.org/for-patients/safe-amalgam-removal/ for more information.

We evaluate the condition of the tooth, existing restoration, your health history, and your personal health goals before recommending treatment.

Root canal therapy is a widely accepted dental treatment used to retain a tooth after the pulp has become infected or irrervisbly damaged.
From a biological perspective, we recognize that a root canal-treated tooth is no longer vital and that persistent or recurrent infection can sometimes occur around these teeth. The tooth structure, and often more importantly, the surrounding bone becomes infected and can be a burden on the body.

Our role is not to tell every patient that a root canal treated tooth should be removed. We evaluate the individual tooth, surrounding bone, symptoms, two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, and the patient’s overall circumstances before discussing options for care.

Root canals are not completed at Kansas City Dental Works. Our biological philosophy is to carefully evaluate all treatment options and discuss them all with our patients, giving them ownership over their health decisions.

Each root canal-treated tooth should be evaluated individually. We look for symptoms, changes in the surrounding bone, signs of infection, structural problems with the tooth, and other clinical and radiographic findings. Using a 3D-CBCT image is an important part of the evaluation process. We also consider the tooth meridian chart to look at potential tooth-body connections.

Oftentimes we can, but not always from a traditional two-dimensional dental x-ray alone.

Depending on the situation, we use clinical testing and three-dimensional CBCT imaging to evaluate the tooth and surrounding bone more thoroughly.

Even advanced imaging has limitations, so findings must always be interpreted together with the patient’s history, symptoms, and clinical examination. We will often use an advanced imaging assessment, called Visiogenics for a thorough evaluation of root canal treated teeth and surrounding bone.

“Cavitation” is a term commonly used in biological dentistry to describe an area of abnormal or incompletely healed jawbone, associated with a previous extraction site.

At Kansas City Dental Works, we use the term “CSR” or Covered Socket Residuum to describe these areas of either less dense bone or more dense bone that can occur in extraction sites. To assess and plan care recommendations for these areas, we always require a Visiogenics analysis of the 3D-CBCT image. This will give us a clear description of the bone and areas to be treated.

We evaluate the patient’s history, symptoms, three-dimensional imaging, and clinical findings before determining whether further investigation of treatment should be considered.

Removing the tooth is only one part of our surgical philosophy.

Once the tooth is removed, we carefully evaluate and deride the extraction site, remove diseased or inflammatory tissue. preserve healthy bone whenever possible, and use techniques intended to create an environment favorable for healing.

In most cases we will use dental ozone therapy and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to optimize the healing process.

The goal isn’t simply to “get the tooth out.” It’s to care for the tissue that remains behind and

The peridontal ligament is the tissue tha normally connects the tooth to the sourrounding bone. After extraction, our surgical approach may include careful removal of residual ligament, infected bone and pathologic tissue when clinically appropriate. The goal is to leave behind a clean, healthy surgical site while preserving as much viable bone as possible. How extensively a site should be cleaned depends upon the individual clinical situation and is determined with thoughtful planning prior to beginning any surgical care.

Platelet-rich fibrin, or PRF, is created from a small sample of your own blood. The blood is processed to concentrate platelets, fibrin, white blood cells, and naturally occuring signaling molecules into a liquid or fibrin matrix that can be used in a surgical site. We commonly use PRF during extractions and regenerative procedures as one tool to support the body’s natural healing process.

Ozone is an oxygen-based therapy we use as an adjunct during almost all of our procedures. In our practice, it may be used to help manage the microbial environment of a surgical site or treatment area. We view ozone as an adjunct - not a substitute for proper diagnosis, removal of diseased tissue, appropriate restorative care, or conventional infection management when those are needed.

Dental ozone itself is generally applied locally and treatment is typically brief. The experience depends more upon the dental procedure being performed than upon the ozone itself. Before any procedure, we’ll explain exactly what we’re planning to use and why.

Healing doesn’t end when you leave the office. We provide individualized postoperative instructions and will give recommendations regarding nutrition, oral hygiene, activity, and other factors that support recovery. Follow-up visits, allow us to evaluate how the tissue and bone are healing and determine the appropriate timing for future restorative treatment when needed.

The ceramic implants that we use at Kansas City Dental Works are made from high-quality white zirconia, a strong ceramic material that can be used as an alternative to traditional titanium implants. They combine a metal-free treatment concept, high material comparability, and natural aesthetics. For patientsseeking a metal-free restorative option, zirconia can be an excellent choice in appropriately selected cases.

Ceramic implants are the best alternative to more commonly used titanium options. Titanium can lead to intolerances and put metal strain on the patients system. Ceramic implants give us the option of immediate placement in some situations, where this is not typically an option with titanium. The aesthetics is optimal due to the natural tooth color, rather than the grey color of titanium implants. Biocompatibility testing is recommended to look at how each individual might respond to a long term restorative material. We consider bone quality, implant location, bite forces, tissue health, restorative needs, aesthetics, and patient preference when recommending an implant system.

This is an option in many situations. Each case needs an individualized approach. If an existing implant has inflammation, inflection, bone loss, mechanical problems, or other concerns, we can evaluate the site and discuss treatment options. If removal is appropriate, we can then determine whether ceramic implant replacement is possible.

A tongue tie is not diagnosed simply by looking under a baby’s tongue. What matters most is function. During an evaluation, we consider tongue mobility and oral function along with the feeding history and any related symptoms. Concerns can include painful nursing, difficulty maintaining a latch, poor milk transfer, unusually long feeds, clicking or loss of suction, leaking during bottle feeding, or difficulty coordinating the suck-swallow-breathe pattern. Because many feeding problems can look like a tongue tie, a careful funcational evaluation is important. We highly recommend a team approach to diagnosing and planning care. This team would likely include a functional provider, such as a qualified lactation consultant (IBCLC), an occupational therapist (OT), or a speech-language pathologist (SLP).

In simpler terms, no. Finding a frenulum is not the same as finding a functional problem, or a symptomatic tongue tie. If a baby’s tongue movement is adequate and feeding is going well, treatment may not be necessary. Our goal is never to release a frenulum simply because one can be identified anatomically. We recommend treatment when the entire clinical picture suggests that restricted tongue mobility is meaningfully interferring with funcation and when the potential benefit of treatment outweights the risks.

Yes, but we must keep in mind that weight gain is only one piece of the feeding picture. Some babies compensate remarkably well despite restricted tongue movement. We also consider feeding efficiency, maternal comfort, milk transfer, latch, suction, feeding duration, bottle function, and other signs of oral dysfunction. Conversely, a baby can have a visibile frenulum and gain weight beautifully without needing treatment. That’s why we evaluate the baby - not simply the appearance of the frenulum.

Unfortunately, this is more common than many parents realize. There is not one universally accepted diagnostic system for infant tongue tie, and different professionals may emphasize different aspects of anatomy, feeding, or development. There is often a gap in training and knowledge about oral ties and the impact they can have on feeding and continued growth and development. Dr. Humphrey has invested heavily in his education and training to provide the highest level of care specific to infants with oral restrictions. We believe the best decisions are made with input from a collaborative care team, and ultimately by the family. Whenever possible, we want to work alongside your pediatrician, IBCLC (lactation consultant), occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, chiropractor, or other members of your baby's care team. When parents are fully educated they can make a decision that feels right for their family and should never be feared into treating or not treating.

In many cases, yes. Breastfeeding difficulties have many possible causes, and excellent lactation support can sometimes resolve them without surgery. For this reason, we value collaboration with lactation consultants and feeding professionals. If function improves without a release, that’s a good outcome. Our goal is better function and reduced symptoms, not performing a procedure.

If treatment is recommended and you choose to proceed, we’ll explain the procedure, pain control options, expected healing, possible risks, and postoperative care beforehand. Dr. Humphrey recommends the use of a custom-made topical anesthetic gel to reduce discomfort. The procedure itself is typically brief and involves the use of a CO2 laser to gently release the restrictive tissues. More importantly, the release is only one part of treatment. Feeding patterns and oral function may need time and support to adapt to the tongue’s new range of movement. We will teach you how to take care of the surgical sites at home and there will be stretches recommended and should be started the day after treatment and continue for four weeks.

Sometimes, but not always. Some families notice a difference quickly. Others see gradual changes as the baby learns to use the tongue differently. Feeding can occasionally be temporarily more challenging during the early healing period. This is one reason we encourage appropriate lactation or feeding support before and after treatment. A release creates mobility. The baby still has to learn how to use that mobility.

Temporary feeding changes can occur after any oral procedure, and every baby responds differently. We discuss expected postoperative behavior, pain management, feeding strategies, warning signs, and when to contact us before you leave the office. If feeding becomes significantly worse or your baby isn’t taking adequate nutrition, we want to know.

The instrument is less important than the diagnosis, technique, and clinical judgment of the provider. Both laser and surgical instruments can be used to release restrictive tissue. Current evidence has not established that one technique is universally superior for infants. Dr. Humphrey uses the technique he believes allows him to treat the restriction precisely while minimizing unnecessary tissue trauma.

The upper lip naturally has a frenulum, and its appearance alone doesn’t establish that treatment is necessary. We will not recommend a lip-tie release simply because the attachment looks prominent. A symptomatic lip tie will result in issues such as increased air intake during feeding, gassiness, milk leaking out of the mouth during feeding, and others. As with everything we do, function guides the conversation.

Buccal frenula are normal anatomical structures just like the lip and tongue frenula. Buccal ties can create functional challenges but tend to be less common. We do not believe that every visible attachment needs treatment and greatly value input from the functionalists in guiding our recommendations.

We don’t recommend infant tongue-tie release simply to prevent a hypothetical problem years in the future. Our treatment recommendations are based primarily on the functional problems that exist today. Tongue posture and mobility can be important considerations later in childhood, particularly when evaluating speech, swallowing, oral function, and airway development, but predicting those outcomes from an inftant frenulum isn’t recommended. Considering all the factors of the current status and the potential concerns of the future is a resonable approach as you’re navigating the decision making process.