303.732.8989 |13701 W.  JEWELL AVE ,  SUITE 101 ,  LAKEWOOD ,  CO |BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Functional Dentistry:

Your Whole Health Matters at Balanced Dental Studio in Lakewood, CO

Functional Dentistry focuses on finding the cause of an issue in order to prevent additional problems in the future vs simply fixing the problem. 

A traditional dentist is more narrowly focused on brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and visiting the dentist for cleanings. While these are all important for dental hygiene, we examine your whole health to get the full picture.

At Balanced Dental Studio, we take into account your overall health and well-being. Your oral health is directly tied to your overall health and our goal is to provide you with prevention first so you can live a happier, healthier life. 

During your Lakewood, CO dental clinic visit, we will talk about what you eat, your lifestyle, and the quality of your sleep. Where other dentists might spend a few minutes at your chair, Dr. Turner takes the time to get to know each individual patient to listen and evaluate your unique needs.

As a functional dentistry practice, it is our goal to not only save you money from preventing future dental procedures but also directly improve the quality of your life. 

How we help patients with their connection to oral and

overall health

Practice to Heal Your Teeth

Certain dental treatments have been linked to chronic diseases. We focus on avoiding these procedures and other toxic materials and practices to heal your teeth. Here are a few examples:

We are a mercury-free dental office

We provide procedures to remove mercury fillings


We use and recommend fluoride-free products


We use digital x-rays instead of film


Sleep Apnea

Dr. Turner uses a unique approach to assess for your individual risks of sleep-disordered breathing, ranging all the way from mouth breathing and snoring to obstructive sleep apnea.

Teeth Grinding

We can make you a nightguard to help you with your grinding, but we can also talk to you about the root cause of why you may be doing it to help stop it completely.

Oral hygiene education for Pediatric Patients

Based on a recommendation from the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, every child should see a pediatric dentist when their first tooth appears, or no later than his/her first birthday. Educating parents and kids on how to best care for their teeth is the first step to setting up good dental health for life!


Tongue and lip tie procedures

A tongue-tie or lip-tie can impact feeding, speaking, sleeping, chronic pain, and a whole host of other issues! We assess these in all ages if symptoms are present, from infancy to adulthood.

Nutrition

There are certain types of foods that cause cavities along with types of foods that can prevent and even heal cavities. Your diet impacts every part of your body - including your oral health.

My 5-year-old son and I had our first visits today at Fox Point and with Dr Turner. She was absolutely amazing with my son and had him giggling the whole time he was getting checked out. Then she spent a ton of time with me explaining our options for his teeth grinding. I am truly amazed at how thorough she was and I can’t wait for our next visit to keep working through this issue.

She also spent a bunch of time with me helping me understand how I can get better sleep and stop my own teeth grinding.

I will be sending my parents here to meet with her as well because they share the same grinding issues as my son and I. If that doesn’t tell you how great of an experience we had then nothing can!

JOEL HUBBART

FAQ About Functional Dentistry

Q: What is functional dentistry and how is it different from traditional dentistry?

A: Functional dentistry focuses on finding the root cause of dental issues to prevent future problems, rather than just treating symptoms. While traditional dentistry emphasizes brushing, flossing, and cleanings, functional dentistry examines your whole health including diet, sleep quality, and lifestyle factors. This comprehensive approach helps identify connections between oral health and overall wellness.

Q: What can I expect during a Whole Health Dental Assessment at Balanced Dental Studio?

A: During your assessment, Dr. Turner will discuss your diet, lifestyle habits, and sleep quality. Unlike typical dental visits that may last just a few minutes, she takes time to understand your unique health needs. The assessment includes evaluating risks for sleep-disordered breathing, teeth grinding causes, and nutritional factors affecting your oral health. 

Q: How does mercury-free dentistry benefit my overall health?

A: Mercury-free dentistry eliminates exposure to potentially harmful materials. At Balanced Dental Studio, we not only avoid using mercury fillings but also safely remove existing mercury fillings. We use biocompatible materials and digital x-rays instead of traditional film to minimize any toxic exposure. 

Q: Can nutrition really prevent or heal cavities?

A: Yes! Certain foods can contribute to cavity formation while others can help prevent and even reverse early cavity damage. During your Whole Health Dental Assessment, we provide personalized nutritional counseling to help you make dietary choices that support optimal oral health. 

Q: How are sleep issues connected to dental health?

A: Sleep disorders like sleep apnea and teeth grinding are often linked to oral health issues. Dr. Turner uses specialized assessments to identify sleep-disordered breathing risks, from mouth breathing to obstructive sleep apnea. We can provide custom nightguards and sleep apnea appliances while addressing root causes.

Q: At what age should children have their first functional dentistry assessment?

A: Following American Board of Pediatric Dentistry recommendations, children should see a dentist when their first tooth appears or by their first birthday. Early assessments help identify issues like tongue and lip ties that can impact feeding, speaking, and sleeping. 

Q: How do tongue and lip ties affect overall health?

A: Tongue and lip ties can impact multiple aspects of health including feeding difficulties, speech problems, sleep quality, and chronic pain. We assess and treat these conditions in patients of all ages, from infants to adults, addressing the full range of symptoms. 

Q: What makes Balanced Dental Studio's approach unique in Lakewood, CO?

A: Our functional dentistry approach combines traditional dental care with comprehensive health evaluation. We're mercury-free, use digital technology, and focus on prevention through nutrition, sleep assessment, and addressing root causes of dental issues. This whole-health approach aims to improve your quality of life while preventing future dental problems.

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Are you ready to smile more, breathe freely, and live better?

We are, too! Give us a call or complete the form to schedule an appointment! We'd love to sit down and discuss how you can achieve better oral health and a beautiful, healthy smile!

Please call 303.989.3192 or use the form to request to schedule an appointment. The Balanced Dental Studio Team will then call you to confirm a date and time.