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 Natural Awakenings Lancaster-Berks

David A. Schwartz, DDS, PC: A Whole-Body Perspective Toward Dentistry

Mar 31, 2021 09:31AM ● By Sheila Julson
David A. Schwartz, DDS, has been a practicing dentist for more than 30 years. He provides general dentistry—or “dentistry 101,” cleanings and treating cavities—as well as cosmetic dentistry, sleep dentistry, physiological-based orthodontics and other services for adults and children, all with a focus on the interconnections between the mouth and body.

With an approach toward education and prevention, Schwartz and his team strive to create a warm, welcoming ambiance. They thoroughly explain the “what, when, where and whys” behind treatments and procedures, while providing options that best suit each client’s needs.

Schwartz recently relocated the practice to a new, larger space, which can accommodate a dental cone-beam computed tomography system (CBCT), a sophisticated device that takes three-dimensional X-rays. “The CBCT system greatly helps us diagnose what’s going on, not just with a client’s mouth, but with foundational health,” he explains.

Because some people have adverse reactions to amalgams, or fillings, containing mercury, Schwartz has a mercury-safe protocol in place that goes beyond the minimum standard set by the American Dental Association to remove amalgam fillings. “Our standard protocol is very safe. If a client requests certain protocols to remove a filling, we will accommodate that whenever we can.”

Mercury fillings can be replaced with composite or ceramic fillings. For clients that claim increased sensitivities to their environments, Schwartz recommends Clifford Materials Reactivity Testing, a laboratory screening process that helps identify existing sensitivity problems to various chemical groups. Schwartz regularly uses materials that test safe for most people.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome can cause pain or tenderness in the jaw, as well as symptoms that extend well beyond the jaw joint. Schwartz adds that just because teeth look good, it’s possible they’re not in the right place structurally, which can cause pullback. During examinations, he thoroughly checks for wear patterns that could indicate future problems with TMJ. “The jaw is connected to the neck, which is connected to whole spinal cord,” he affirms. “A lot of structural issues within the body can result over time from a bad bite.”

Preventive oral health care for children can go a long way, Schwartz notes. “Nowadays, the cavity rate for children is low. We encourage teeth cleanings twice per year. The most important thing we do is look—we look at the growth of the jaw and the mouth; we look for tongue or lip ties; and we check if the child is a mouth-breather. We also look at the form of the mouth. If there’s any dysfunction, we want to fix it in the early stage and not wait until the child is an adolescent. We get nature back on course.”

Schwartz also offers solutions for sleep apnea, which can result from fatigued jaw muscles that can’t support the tongue. He points out that a common misconception is that snoring equates to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea tests can be done at a sleep center, or he can provide a home test that will monitor sleep and provide data. 

Although there have been a wide variety of oral appliances developed over the years to help sleep apnea, Schwartz notes he offers only a couple of newer styles that help treat mild to moderate sleep apnea without causing other issues to occur. He avoids the many oral appliances that can cause misalignment of the back teeth after a few months of use.

Schwartz concludes that routine dental cleanings and exams are of upmost importance, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Studies show that having an unhealthy mouth is a risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and other health issues. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The practice has COVID-19 safety measures in place, such as masks and social distancing for clients. Since the 1980s, Schwartz and his team have always followed standard precautions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The clinic team has recently added hand sanitizing stations, and they regularly wipe down surfaces and pens.

David A. Schwartz, D.D.S. is located at 701 Jefferson Blvd., in West Lawn. For more information, call 610-670-6910 or visit SchwartzFamilyDental.com.

Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines throughout the country.