Although holistic dentist Dr. Owen Allison is helping to pioneer a movement toward healthier dentistry for all, he doesn’t really think of himself as anything but a dentist doing what he does best—creating healthy smiles. To him, it boils down to three things—providing a healthy office environment, using safe dental materials and educating his patients about healthy habits.

At Susquehanna Dental Arts, Allison accomplishes his goals by providing a safe, mercury-free office. He is one of the few dentists in Central Pennsylvania that offers the safe removal and replacement of mercury fillings, and is an accredited member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).

Allison has also gravitated toward a fluoride-free office, as well. “Fluoride is considered the holy grail of mainstream dentistry,” he shares. “The concern that holistic dentists have is that we are all being exposed to too much fluoride. Fluoride isn’t the magical cure for tooth decay. The magic lies in good oral hygiene, good nutrition and frequent dental checkups.”

Allison says that good oral hygiene starts early. “Get your kids used to brushing when they’re infants. Even just rubbing their gums will get them accustomed to brushing at an early age.” And when it comes to nutrition, he encourages feeding children nutrient-dense foods. “Sure, it’s easy to feed our kids fast food, but it’s just as easy to feed them healthier alternatives,” he says. “These habits will last a lifetime. Good nutrition is the best medicine for every body.”

Visiting the dentist regularly rounds out the healthy smile trifecta. Susquehanna Dental Arts is a full-service general dentistry office that offers dental exams, cleanings, X-rays and teeth whitening for patients of all ages. In cases where cosmetic dentistry is needed, Allison opts for conservative treatments, using minimally invasive, yet aesthetically pleasing options. He likes to treat each tooth as its own organ and make treatment plans accordingly.

Allison offers a wide array of options that include mini-implants, crowns, veneers and bridges to help give his patients their best smiles. “There is nothing that you do in dentistry that is not cosmetic,” says Allison. “And the materials that have been developed in the past 20 years are so good; they can really make a person’s smile look and feel fantastic.”

At the end of the day, Allison runs his practice in a way that makes him feel the best—by offering better dentistry for better health.

Location: 100 S. 18th St., in the Columbia Shopping Center, Columbia, PA. For more information, call 717-684-3943 or 717-285-7033 or visit SusquehannaDentalArts.com and iaomt.org.

Erin Lehn Floresca is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings.