Central Park Dental Spa (formerly DentaSpa) improves on traditional dental practices in many ways, one of which is that she uses a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment.
Although most people have heard the term "holistic" – as in holistic medicine or holistic dentistry -- there are a lot of misconceptions about what "holistic" actually means.

Some of the biggest misconceptions are that holistic doctors or dentists don't use traditional methods like technology, pharmacology, surgery or even anesthesia; that practitioners only use "alternative" therapies like homeopathy, aroma therapy, or massage; and finally, that the holistic approach to healing is somehow "spiritual" or "woo-woo" and not at all logical or concrete.
But "holistic" doesn't actually mean any of these things. Dr. Ellis employs every traditional method of therapy and treatments. What holistic dentistry (sometimes called "natural dentistry") does is expand and improve on traditional dentistry in ways that are not only concrete, scientific and observable, but which can have dramatically improved results for the patient.

The primary way in which Dr. Elli's holistic approach expands on and improves traditional dentistry is that she doesn't view the teeth and gums as separate from the rest of the body or the life of the person. Rather, Dr. Ellis sees the teeth and gums as an integrated part of the body that is also very affected by the life and experiences of the person. In other words, whereas a traditional dentist looks at teeth and gums and treats them as if they existed in a vacuum, when a holistic dentist looks at teeth and gums, they also take into account the health and well-being of the body, and the experiences the person is having that is affecting them.

Why does this matter? It matters because the teeth and gums are linked in every possible way to both the body and the life of the person. For example, health problems a person may be facing are usually reflected in the health of the teeth and gums. Also, what a person eats, what medicine they take, and the amount of stress they are under can also have significant effects on oral health. The connections are endless, and Dr. Ellis takes them all into account when it comes to diagnosis and treatment.

So for example, if you, like many people, grind your teeth at night, you will eventually cause enough damage to the teeth, roots and gums to need a root canal. A traditional dentist only notices this problem once the damage is done. A holistic dentist such as Dr. Ellis will note the evidence of grinding before there is a problem, and prescribe a night guard that prevents damage and the need for a root canal. That's holistic dentistry.

Because holistic dentistry does so much more than just focus on the repair of dental disease and the resolution of periodontal problems it is preventative in nature, putting the emphasis on the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. The concrete result for Dr. Ellis' patients is fewer painful and invasive procedures.