Ask the Dentist with Dr. Mark Burhenne

Episode #34: What's The Future of Functional Dentistry?

Nov 2, 2021

28:16

As a functional dentist, Dr. B is used to being asked what functional dentistry is. However, this week, this question comes with a twist as fans ask Dr. B what he is most excited about in functional dentistry. Tune in to discover Dr. B's journey to functional dentistry, from sleuthing as a child to setting up a directory globally for fellow functional dentists. Find out how functional dentistry ultimately saves lives and money, and why (despite this) the ADA doesn’t yet accept it as a specialization. We discuss diseases that functional dentistry can prevent, and Dr. B's book recommendations that cover functional topics. From nasal breathing to flat dental plates, Alzheimer’s disease to sleep apnoea, Dr. B takes us through his tips and research into the pathologies that he has applied to functional dentistry, to benefit his patients and family members. Join us to hear all this and more about the future of functional dentistry.

Key Points From This Episode:

Dr. B's weekend plans: why getting out from behind a screen post-vaccination is so important
Why most people ask what functional dentistry is
Today's question: what Dr. B is most excited about in functional dentistry
How Dr. Mark Hyman is an inspiration for functional practitioners
What motivated Dr. B to become a functional dentist
Working upstream: how functional dentistry ultimately saves lives and money
How the body compensating causes pathology and why it’s important to intercept these compensations early on
Recognizing functional dentists: one patient and one practitioner at a time
Teaching functional dentistry: learning beyond your official education
The systems that interact to affect your dental health
Becoming a practitioner of the oral-microbiome
Dr. B's "aha" moment about sleep apnea and prevention through dentistry
The oral-systemic connection: what happens in the mouth affects the body
How root cause thinking can save the entire healthcare system
The importance of promoting nasal breathing
Understanding the P. gingivalis bug and its link to Alzheimer’s disease
Why the future of dentistry is functional
Functional dentistry throughout the world: From Brazil to Japan