FAQ

Some people think you have to have a certain lifestyle, beliefs and behaviours to visit a holistic dentist but this simply isn’t true! ANYONE can visit our holistic dentist and health practitioners and a customised health plan will be created for you based on a number of factors.

All you need to do is attend your scheduled appointment and we’ll do the rest! If you have more questions please give us a call on 07 5644 6000 and we’d be happy to explain it all to you in depth.

We care about making sure you get the best dental treatment you deserve which is why we offer different payment plan options – Zip Money, Zip Pay and Afterpay

Read more about our payment plan options online or contact us to ask one of our friendly team members about payment plans today.

Yes, we do offer full-holistic-treatment packages that incorporate all our services including dental care, massage packages, infrared sauna, and shiatsu.

The most common time all these services are used for one patient is during the amalgam removal process including a full detoxification of the body. However, packages are available to anyone and can be tailored exactly to your needs.

Call 07 5644 6000 to book an appointment with our integrative health practitioner to discuss your options.

Holistic Dentistry is an approach to dentistry that considers not just your dental health, but also your physical and emotional health. It recognises that your oral health greatly impacts your general health, and vice versa. It looks at treating the five main causes of ill health, which are toxins, infections, allergens, poor diet and stress. With a holistic dental approach, we use the most biocompatible materials available to minimise any adverse impact on the body. Learn more on our Holistic Dentistry page.

We are still a fully operational dental clinic offering all your standard procedures. Our passion is to ensure our patients leave our clinic feeling happy and satisfied with their treatments and we are committed to making you look and feel your best.

Holistic dentistry is comparable to a visit to your regular dentist. However, some visits may be more expensive as our Holistic Dentist and Integrative Health Practitioner will want to spend more time with you to better understand your health situation and history and develop the best plan for your needs.

Some treatment plans may require additional costs for nutritional supplements, extensive tests and specialised equipment to ensure the safest, most effective healing.

No matter what, your treatment options and costs will be presented to you upfront so you can make an informed decision about your health. We will take your situation and budgetary needs into account to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan you are truly happy with.

Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals, consisting of liquid (elemental) mercury and a powdered alloy composed of silver, tin, and copper. Approximately 50% of dental amalgam is elemental mercury by weight. Dental amalgam fillings are also known as “silver fillings” because of their silver-like appearance. Despite the name, “silver fillings” do contain elemental mercury.

Yes. However, a removal of silver amalgam fillings without safety measures can potentially result in a mercury exposure of everyone in the dental room that exceeds the safety limit. At Gold Coast Holistic Dental Care, we follow all safety measures for removal of amalgam fillings.

Amalgam fillings are usually removed in quadrants, which means we remove all the amalgams in a quarter of the mouth at a time. The following link discusses the safe amalgam removal procedures that we follow for every amalgam removal: https://iaomt.org/safe-removal-amalgam-fillings/

The actual removal of the amalgam filling is similar to having a regular filling or cavity treated (along with all the safety protocols). Local anaesthesia is used to anaesthetize the teeth so no pain is involved.

Removing an amalgam filling and replacing it with a safer material is comparable in price to a regular filling. A small increase in fee is to allow for the cost of the safety protocols we need to follow to protect you and the dental team from mercury exposure.

Most quadrant appointments are around 60-90 minutes in duration.

Mercury is a chemical element with symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is commonly known as quicksilver. It is a heavy metal similar to Cadmium and Lead. Mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure. Mercury is toxic.

All humans are generally exposed to some level on mercury which can occur via inhalation, ingestion or dermal contact. One common exposure is the consumption of fish and shellfish which have been contaminated with methyl mercury. Another potential exposure are industrial processes and sites where workers may inhale elemental mercury vapours. It can also happen when people come in contact with mercury from contaminated sites and dental amalgam.

Health effects do not always have to occur, but it depends on factors such as the dose of mercury inhaled/consumed, its chemical form and the developmental stage of the person who was exposed. Other influence factors on health effects are the duration of exposure and whether mercury was inhaled, ingested, or contacted dermally.

Source:

Elemental and methylmercury are toxic to the central and peripheral nervous systems. The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, lungs and kidneys – and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract. They may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

Neurological and behavioural disorders are possibly to be observed after inhalation, ingestion or dermal exposure of different mercury compounds. Symptoms include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular effects, headaches, and cognitive as well as motor dysfunction. Mild, subclinical signs of central nervous system toxicity can be seen in workers exposed to an elemental mercury level in the air of 20 μg/m3 or more for several years. Kidney effects have been reported, ranging from increased protein in the urine to kidney failure.

Avoiding having anymore amalgam fillings, and safely removing existing ones is one way to reduce mercury exposure. In addition, limiting or eliminating seafood consumption as well as avoiding vaccinations containing mercury.

Mercury can not only be present in food and beverages such as tuna (canned or fresh), lobster, salt water fish, carrots and lettuce (unless organic), grains, and seaweeds but also in cosmetics (hair dyes, mascara, skin lightening creams), medications (Preparation H, contact lens solutions, recycled toilet paper, body powders) or even in latex and solvent thinned paints, fabric softener, floor waxes, air conditioner filters, and tattoos. To avoid the consumption of mercury exposed products, read the labels to ensure that no ingredient has the letters MER in the name.

Unfortunately, we don’t recommend having an infrared sauna while you are pregnant. Minimising the movement of toxins through the body when you are pregnant is highly important to your developing baby.

The main difference between a traditional sauna and an infrared sauna is the heat involved while inside the unit. Traditional dry saunas use steam with temperatures as high as 100 degrees Celcius, which can overwhelm those who are more sensitive to the heat. Infrared saunas use a much milder temperature environment of between 65 and 70 degrees Celcius due to the fact that infrared energy is used instead of steam. However, because the heat of infrared saunas penetrates much deeper into the body, they are able to cause a more vigorous sweat at lower temperature.

Before a sauna you should ideally not have eaten for an hour or so, try not to have coffee close to a sauna as it dehydrates you. We recommend drinking a glass of water prior to entering the sauna to avoid dehydration.

After the sauna we recommend a shower immediately to wash off any toxins on the skin and we recommend not using soap or body lotion in the shower so as not to absorb them through your skin as your pores will be open larger than usual.

Adriana offers a personalized massage to suit each one individual need. The main therapy is Tuina, which is a Chinese based massage and it ranges from medium to firm massage to help the tired muscles to relax, to treat painful areas, and it also work with the body’s flow of energy making it a complete body work.

For the most relaxant therapy, gentle Tuina accompanied by Reiki gives an amazing relaxing experience, often a client will fall asleep during a Reiki session.

It would be desirable to have a massage when you can have the day off, to give your body time to take on all the benefits from the massage. It is recommended to drink extra water after a massage to help your body eliminating the toxins.

Osteopathy’s philosophy is to treat the entire person, not just the symptoms. Osteopaths focus on the relationship between the body’s structure and function, while recognizing the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It is a complementary manual therapy aimed at pain relief, using manipulative procedures on joints, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues. This approach is not just a technique but a comprehensive understanding of how to restore health and alleviate pain through hands-on treatment.

In Australia, all osteopaths must be registered with the Osteopathy Board of Australia, part of AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).

During your initial consultation your Osteopath will go over a full health history with you, as well as a thorough examination. Osteopathic treatments are tailored to the requirements of the individual patient, and techniques are selected which are appropriate to the patient’s needs.

It is important to note if you have any pre-existing injuries, and any current issues that you might be suffering from. Bring along any x-rays or scan that you might have relating to these issues.

Osteopathic treatment is typically not painful. Osteopaths use gentle, hands-on techniques to manipulate and treat the body, aiming to relieve pain and improve function. Some treatments might cause mild discomfort, especially if the area being treated is already sore or inflamed, but this is usually temporary. Osteopaths strive to make treatments as comfortable as possible and will adjust their techniques to suit the patient’s tolerance and needs. If you have concerns about pain during treatment, it’s important to communicate with your osteopath so they can modify their approach to suit your needs.

The practice of Osteopathy may also help to:

• decrease inflammation and discomfort from chronic conditions.
• improve respiration and breathing
• improve posture and flexibility
• improve circulation
• prevent injury
  – Help to decrease discomfort or pain during and after pregnancy

stress relief

Each Osteopathic treatment is tailored to the unique requirements of each individual patient, and techniques are selected which are appropriate to the patient’s needs, aiming to restore balance, improve function, and alleviate pain. Typically, Osteopaths use a variety of hands-on techniques such as:

• Massage and stretching techniques
• Articulation techniques – joints are mobilised by being passively taken through their range of motion
• Muscle energy techniques – releasing contracted muscles by working against resistance
• Counterstain techniques – counter stretching restricted joints and muscles whilst in position of comfort in order to achieve release
• Functional techniques – gentle joint mobilisation
• Manipulation – carried out using minimum force levels to maximise safety and minimise patient discomfort
• Visceral techniques – management of conditions affecting internal organs involving gentle and rhythmical stretching of the visceral areas
• Trigger point dry needling

Osteopathy promotes overall health and wellness, making it beneficial for individuals looking to maintain a healthy, balanced body. Osteopathic treatment is versatile and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each patient, making it a valuable option for a diverse range of people from all ages.

• People with Musculoskeletal Pain: Those experiencing back pain, neck pain, joint pain, or muscle strains can find relief through osteopathic techniques.
• Individuals with Chronic Conditions: Patients with conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome may benefit from osteopathic care.
• Athletes: Both professional and recreational athletes can use osteopathy to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and aid recovery from sports-related injuries.
• Pregnant Women: Osteopathy can help manage the physical changes and discomfort associated with pregnancy, as well as assist in postpartum recovery.
• Infants and Children: Paediatric osteopathy can address issues such as colic, sleep disturbances, and developmental concerns.
• Older Adults: Seniors can benefit from osteopathic treatments that improve mobility, alleviate arthritis symptoms, and enhance overall well-being.
• Individuals with Postural Problems: Those with poor posture or work-related strains can receive guidance and treatment to improve alignment and prevent further issues.
• People with Headaches or Migraines: Osteopathy can help reduce the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines through techniques that address tension and stress.

Osteopaths focus on the entire body’s health rather than just the injured or affected part. They look at how your skeleton, joints, muscles, nerves, circulatory system, connective tissue and internal organs function as a whole body and help improve its function by correcting the overall structure.

• Chiropractors tend to focus mainly on spinal alignment as the primary means of relieving pain by preventing any compromise of the nervous system. Their main tool of treatment is spinal joint manipulation.
• Physiotherapists focus heavily on exercise, movement, and rehabilitation, often following injury or surgery or when dealing with a physical disability. Their manual hands-on application is minimal.

Yes! However, each private health insurance policy is different, and some policies may not cover Osteopathy. We recommend checking with your health fund prior to your initial consultation to see if you have eligible benefits. If covered, your payment will be processed at the clinic on the day, and your rebate will be processed on the spot via HICAPS, leaving you with only “the gap” to payment on the day.