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Complementary Dentistry

By: Peter Jacobsen, PhD, DDS and Helen Lawson Alderson, DDS, ND

March 23, 2026

The different types of approaches that some describe as “alternatives” to the dental health treatments

Natural dentistry, holistic and wholistic dentistry, alternative dentistry, biological dentistry and integrative dentistry are just some of the names we use to describe the different types of approaches that some describe as “alternatives” to the dental health treatments we learned in Dental and Hygiene school and that we all practice.

But a more appropriate term would be Complementary Dentistry. These practices are the same as in Complementary Medicine. The intention of choosing the word, Complementary, to describe the various, less conventional medical and dental treatment practices is that they complement the accepted and commonly practiced modes of Western Dentistry; they are not intended as a replacement for them.

As clinicians, we should also keep in mind that what we call Western Medicine is the “alternative medicine” to the accepted medical practices in China, India, and many other countries with long-standing civilizations and cultures. What we call Western or Modern Dentistry is simply our way of understanding dental health and healthcare, and our role in it.

The Holistic Dental Association  is dedicated to the many modalities of complementary dentistry, in which practitioners can come together for additional study and collaborative learning.

A variety of complementary modalities are available to manage a range of problems and pathologies in dentistry. The most common problems in dentistry that are amendable to complementary dental treatments are:

Anxiety

Inflammation

Microbial Infections

Almost all the complementary therapies are supportive of the accepted dental therapies and medications we all learned in dental and hygiene school and use every day in our practices.

It should be kept in mind that complementary dental modalities in Dentistry, available at this point, cannot effectively manage:

Hard Tissue pathologies such as dental decay or cracked teeth

Periodontal Disease and the removal of calculus,

Advanced systemic and isolated bacterial infections.

The management of cavities and the above types of oral problems is still only, though sometimes stubbornly, amenable to conventional dental therapies that we use every day.

But patients' demands and, in general, modern society’s attitudes see complementary dental therapies in a positive light, just like they often prefer complementary medical therapies. Based on that, patients need to be respectfully and actively listened to, and, when it is appropriate, to suggest/consider complementary therapies that you feel would best fit their needs.

As noted, things like management of anxiety, pain, inflammation, and overall comfort, all of which are important to patients, can be managed using complementary dentistry modalities. The most common complementary medicine modalities used in dentistry include:

1. HOMEOPATHIC DENTISTRY.   

This health practice is based on the premise that "like cures like." They use highly diluted natural substances (plants, minerals, animal tissue) that can cause disease-related symptoms in healthy people to treat similar symptoms in sick individuals.

Arnica (bruising, swelling)

Hypericum (nerve discomfort)

Though the compounds in homeopathic preparations are extremely dilute and therefore could be considered ineffective, how the body manages problems such as pain and inflammation remains a mystery. There is no doubt that our mind is an exceptionally powerful tool relative to pain control and an amazing number of other physiological pathologies. There’s substantial evidence that many patients respond well to homeopathic remedies, particularly for pain management and inflammatory responses.

2. AYURVEDIC DENTISTRY 

AYURVEDIC DENTISTRY is based on an ancient, holistic Indian system of medicine focusing on balancing the body, mind, and spirit using diet, herbs, lifestyle changes (like yoga/meditation), massage, and detoxification to promote overall health, prevent disease, and address imbalances, viewing health as a unique interplay of life forces (doshas).

Oil pulling is an oral care process where the patient vigorously rinses with a seed or nut oil for 15 to 20 minutes, as it " pulls " the disease, plaque, and other organisms out from between and around their teeth and gums. (I always felt that if we could get a patient to do anything to take care of their teeth for 20 minutes a day, we (and they) would be way ahead of the game. Thought my preference would be that they use toothpaste and a toothbrush for just 2 minutes. But if oil pulling  is working for the patient and they have healthy gums, then it works for me.

3. NATUROPATHIC OR HERBAL DENTISTRY

Naturopathic or Herbal Dentistry is the practice of using natural remedies and herbal medications, including natural oils, vitamin supplementation, and probiotics. Many of these treatments make a lot of sense, given that the essential oils in oral rinses such as Listerine are known to be effective in killing oral organisms.  Also, vitamins, such as Vitamin C, are crucial for healthy gums. Plus, emerging research indicates that specific organisms (probiotics) are instrumental in maintaining oral health. 

4. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) 

TCM is an ancient healing system, over 5,000 years old, focused on balancing the body’s vital energy (Qi) through opposing forces (Yin/Yang) using practices like acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, diet, and mind-body exercises (Tai Chi, Qigong) to restore health and manage stress.

5.  AROMATHERAPY, MEDICAL AROMATHERAPY, OR CLINICAL AROMATHERAPY,

Aromatherapy, Medical aromatherapy, or clinical aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of concentrated plant extracts (essential oils) to support physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, often as a complementary therapy alongside standard care for symptom management like anxiety, pain, nausea, and insomnia, using inhalation or topical application to influence the brain's limbic system and promote relaxation or stimulation. 

6. MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS (hypnosis, yoga, biofeedback) 

Mind-body interactions in dentistry, refer to the intricate, two-way relationship between an individual's mental, emotional, and psychological state and their oral and physical health. This connection suggests that a person's thoughts, feelings, and stress levels can influence their oral health, and conversely, the condition of their mouth can impact their psychological well-being.

7. OZONE THERAPY 

Ozone Therapy utilizes ozone delivered to the treatment site, whether it is a tooth surface or a periodontal pocket area, to neutralize the problematic bacteria and restore the environment back to health. The patient must maintain the healthy environment created by the ozone, or the problem will return, similar to all the treatment modalities we use, whether they fall into the Complementary Dentistry category or the traditional dentistry category. Efficacy of ozone therapy in dentistry with approach of healing, pain management, and therapeutic outcomes: a systematic review of clinical trials – PMC

All of the above Complementary dental therapies appear to be an alternative to much of what we learned in dental School or how we practice today. However, for many patients and a growing number of practitioners, these treatment modalities can support and even complement traditional dental treatments used to address many oral cavity and patient management problems we see every day. This is certainly true for patients who seek such therapies and value a dental office that is accepting of their perceptions and preferences regarding healthcare in general and oral healthcare in particular.

Many practitioners have learned that when they actively listen and are receptive to a patient's concerns and preferences regarding how they like to be treated, then the patient is more receptive to the recommendations offered by the dentist and hygienist.