Complementary Therapies in Dental Practice

This text looks at the various complementary therapies which can be used in dentistry, outlining the use of each in everyday dental practice and the times when a referral may be more appropriate. Therapies include: cranial osteopathy and acupuncture.

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Public interest in the use of complementary medicine continues to grow and patients are increasingly demanding a higher level of awareness of the holistic aspects of health care. In common with other health care professionals, dental practitioners are now referring patients to specialist alternative therapists to complement the more orthodox treatments they administer. Proven benefits have been found in the treatment of many conditions, for example, temporomandibular joint dysfunction and associated headaches (Cranial Osteopathy/Chiropractic) and pain (Acupuncture).