How to Become a Holistic Dentist: My Personal Roadmap to a Whole-Body Dental Career

Table of Contents

What is a Holistic Dentist? My First Encounter

When I first heard about “holistic dentistry,” I doubted it. I thought dentists only cared for teeth. But really, it’s about much more. A holistic dentist—also called a biological or natural dentist—sees the mouth as a big part of your whole health. We don’t just fix cavities; we ask, “What’s going on in your body that could be hurting your mouth?” And, “Is your mouth upsetting the rest of your body?”

Holistic dentistry connects the mouth to the rest of the body—this is called the oral-systemic link. For example, if your gums are swollen, this might also hurt your heart or immune system. We pick safe dental stuff like mercury-free fillings, skip things like extra fluoride, and push for healthier choices. While regular dentists are good at fixing teeth, holistic dentists look deeper. They focus more on helping before problems start, using safer materials, and picking treatments that help the whole person.

The first time I saw a mentor talk about the little “bacteria world” in our mouths, I learned: this isn’t just about not having cavities—it’s about helping people be healthy in general.

Why I Chose a Career in Holistic Dentistry

Why go down this different path? It came down to two big reasons: the way I wanted to help people, and how I wanted to feel about my job.

Patient-Focused Help: I wanted to do more than fix teeth. I wanted to find and fix the real reasons people got sick, not just the symptoms. In holistic dentistry, I get to ask about food, toxins, and stress, not just how well people brush.

Job Happiness: I met others like me through the Holistic Dental Association (HDA) and the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT)—people really trying to help by connecting mouth problems to the rest of the body. This was my crowd.

More Interest: Every year, more people want natural, less-harsh healthcare. Holistic dentistry fits this trend—people want kinder, safer answers.

Step 1: Building the Foundation—Undergraduate Education

Prerequisites for Dental School

I started in college. If you want to be a holistic dentist, you start just like anyone wanting to be a dentist:

• Pick a Science Major: Stuff like biology or chemistry is good. I took classes in chemistry, physics, and anatomy.
• Keep Good Grades: Dental schools are tough to get into. You need good scores.
• Get Experience: I watched dentists at work, volunteered at clinics, and joined health clubs. These things helped me learn in real life, not just from books.

This first step is just about learning basics. Looking back, I would have tried helping out at health clinics focused on natural care, or gone to talks about eating healthy or treating the whole body. It really helps to see natural health early on.

Step 2: Earning My Dental Degree (DDS or DMD)

Applying to Dental School

After college, I ran into my first big hurdle—the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). It’s got questions on science, math, reading, and puzzle-like stuff. I studied for months, often late at night.

The dental school application is hard. You need good references, personal essays, and you practice for interviews. It takes time and hard work.

Dental School Classes

Once you’re in, dental school is four more years. The first part is heavy on science—human biology, mouth anatomy, disease. The last part is actually treating people and learning how to talk to and care for patients.

Here’s something important: most dental schools don’t have a “holistic” program. But that’s okay. I learned all the main dental skills. I also looked for classes or projects about health, diet, or safe dental stuff when I could.

If you find a teacher who cares about whole-body dental health, stick with them. Good mentors can make a big difference later.

Step 3: Specializing—Training & Certification in Holistic Dentistry

Even after I earned my DDS, I found out the “holistic” part doesn’t come printed on your diploma. The journey starts here.

Extra Training & Courses

I checked out more training. Some holistic dentists do advanced training; others start working and just do extra courses about holistic topics over time. I did a mix:

• Workshops and Conferences: The IAOMT, IABDM (International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine), and HDA have great meetings. That’s when I found out about things like ozone therapy, how to safely take out mercury fillings, and natural pain care.
• Certifications: After some years of practice, I got board certified in biological dentistry by the IABDM. I had to pass tests, show real patient cases, and learn a lot on the job.

Groups & Certifications Worth Knowing

Here are the big ones you’ll want to look at:

• IAOMT: Their SMART training is tops for safely taking out mercury.
• IABDM: Gives board certification plus classes about detox, jaw problems, and connections between mouth and body.
• HDA: Great for meeting others and learning.
• AAIOH (American Association of Integrative Oral Health): Shares helpful care plans and info.

Continuing Education (CE)

Holistic dentistry always changes. Every year, I sign up for workshops on new stuff like better materials, dental ceramics, nutrition, or ways to lower toxins. You never stop learning in this field, whether by going to classes, doing courses online, or reading.

Step 4: Mastering Holistic Dental Principles and Practices

Here’s where things get really interesting. Regular training had me fixing cavities and gum problems, but holistic dentistry made me look at the whole picture.

Safe Dental Materials

At my office, I stay away from mercury fillings, use less fluoride, and avoid plastics with BPA. I pick things like zirconia or ceramic, or safe composite fillings that work well with the body. To do this, I’ll partner with a careful dental ceramics lab for custom stuff.

Taking Out Mercury Fillings Safely (SMART Method)

Learning the SMART method changed how I think about keeping everyone safe. It means using safety gear, strong suction systems, and careful clean up. This keeps my patients and team safe—not just good skill, it’s good sense.

Looking at the Whole Body

Once, a patient had constant swelling and felt very tired. I didn’t just fix their gums; I worked with their doctor. We found out problems in their mouth were affecting their stomach and immune system. Years ago I never would have believed this, but now it’s my new normal.

Talking About Food & Lifestyle

I ask patients about food, sugar, drinking water, vitamins, and even stress. Sometimes it’s about more than just brushing. Because I learned about nutrition and teeth, I can ask these questions.

Other Helpful Treatments

Some of my favorite work uses ozone therapy for tough infections, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to help healing, or light therapy for pain. I’ve told patients about oil pulling, herbal rinses, and acupuncture for feeling calm at the dentist. There’s a lot of new, friendly tools in this field.

Step 5: Licensure and Setting Up a Holistic Practice

Getting Licensed

All holistic dentists need to pass their state board tests—both written and hands-on. There’s no way around it. I studied a lot for these, but it was worth it to be my own boss.

Starting Your Holistic Office

I had three options: buy into a practice, join as an employee, or open my own. I went with starting my own, so I had to learn about business paperwork, insurance, safety rules, and how to get the word out about my office.

Mentors I met through the IAOMT and HDA really helped me not to mess up—like not buying stuff I wouldn’t use or copying someone else’s office hours.

Telling people about holistic dentistry is different. I focused on teaching patients in person and online. I shared about the body-mouth connection, why I use safer stuff, and how natural prevention works. That helped me reach people who cared about the same things.

Legal and honesty rules are big in holistic dentistry. I make sure what I say is true and my work matches the rules of the dental board. Being honest and open helps people see why I do things a little differently.

On big cases, like crowns, implants, or bridges, I work closely with a really careful crown and bridge lab and a trusted partner implant dental laboratory.

Career Outlook & Earnings: Is It Worth It?

Like any healthcare job, it’s tough but can pay off.

Job Market

The push for natural health and wellness is making more people look for holistic dentists. People want options like mercury-free fillings, safe removal, and ways to stay healthy before problems start. Google Trends back this up.

Pay

The average dentist makes around $163,220 a year, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Holistic dentists sometimes earn more because they do special treatments and may charge more if not taking standard insurance. It really depends on how much you know, your reputation, and where you work.

School Costs

This part isn’t easy. Dental school is pricey. For both college and dental school, I spent more than $250,000. Extra certificates and courses add a few thousand more. It’s a big step, but the freedom and seeing people get truly better were worth it for me.

Challenges and Rewards in Holistic Dental Life

Tough Parts

• Different from Others: Holistic dentistry is still a small group. Some other dentists doubted what I was doing. I had to back up my choices with facts.
• Teaching Patients: A lot of patients have no idea what “holistic” dentistry means. Most days, I explain things like safe mercury removal or holistic care.
• Extra Time & Money: Running a holistic clinic takes more money and longer learning. You buy extras and go to more training.

The Good Stuff

• Changing Lives: Helping someone fix a longtime health problem—even one others missed—is amazing.
• Being My Own Boss: I can make decisions my way, not how a big company tells me.
• Always Learning: There’s always new research or new tools—so I never get bored.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How long does it take to become a holistic dentist?

From high school, plan for about 8–11 years: 4 years of college, 4 years of dental school, then 1–3 years of more training, depending how far you want to go.

Q: Is holistic dentistry official?

All dentists—holistic or regular—have to get a license in their state. Training from groups like the IAOMT or IABDM is respected but not needed for a state license.

Q: What’s the difference between biological and holistic dentist?

They usually mean the same thing. Both care about the body-mouth link and use safer materials.

Q: Do holistic dentists take insurance?

Some do, some don’t. Many holistic treatments—like special mercury removal or testing—are elective and not usually covered by insurance.

Q: Can regular dentists become holistic dentists?

Yes! I know several who switched. It takes extra classes, more certificates, and an open mind to update how you treat patients.

Final Thoughts: Embracing a Purpose-Driven Dental Future

If you’re thinking about holistic dentistry, it’s a tough but really rewarding journey. You’ll need patience, curiosity, and always want to learn. My advice? Learn your basics—get good at science, get really good with patients, and then find mentors in groups like IAOMT or HDA.

Want better results for your patients? Work with a dental ceramics lab or an implant dental laboratory that specializes in safe, body-friendly options. When you do teeth repairs, the right crown and bridge lab can make a real difference.

In the end, holistic dentistry is more than fixing teeth. It’s about helping people live better. If this feels like your path, the field needs caring, positive people just like you. Get started, and keep asking, “How can I really help my patients feel better, inside and out?”