Holistic
dentistry
Metal-free, mercury-free, and built around the connection between your mouth and the rest of you.
What exactly is
holistic dentistry?
Holistic dentistry, sometimes called biological dentistry, treats your mouth as part of your whole body rather than a separate set of parts to be repaired. It uses biocompatible, metal-free materials, avoids mercury, preserves as much natural tooth as possible, and looks at nutrition, stress, sleep, and breathing as part of your dental health.
The practical difference shows up in the choices made at every visit. Which filling material. Whether a tooth can be rebuilt instead of crowned. Whether a recurring infection is being treated at its source or just cleared for now. Whether the night grinding is being managed or explained. A holistic dentist asks those questions as a matter of routine, and the answers shape the treatment.
It is not an alternative to good dentistry. It is good dentistry with a wider field of view. Dr. Bruce Vafa has practiced this way in Los Angeles since 2002, and it is the only way this office works.
Whole-body view
An infected tooth stresses the immune system. A blocked airway causes grinding. Gum inflammation is linked to heart health. We treat teeth with those connections in mind, because your mouth is not separate from the rest of you.
Biocompatible materials
No mercury amalgam. No metal in fillings, crowns, or implants. Every material we place is chosen for how well it works with your body, and for patients who need it, we test which materials suit them before treatment.
Prevention and preservation
The least invasive treatment that solves the problem is the right one. We remove as little tooth as possible, look for causes rather than symptoms, and would rather prevent the next problem than treat it.
What holistic dentistry looks like
in this office
The protocols we use
These are not add-ons. They are how care is delivered here, and each has its own page if you want the detail.
- Safe mercury amalgam removal (SMART protocol)Old silver fillings removed with isolation, high-volume suction, and protective barriers to minimize mercury exposure.
- Metal-free restorationsComposite fillings, ceramic crowns and bridges, no metal in the mouth.
- Zirconia (ceramic) implantsMetal-free implants for patients who want to avoid titanium.
- Ozone therapyOzone to reduce bacteria in gum disease, cavities, and infections without chemicals.
- Biomimetic dentistryRestorations that copy the structure of natural teeth, so more tooth is saved and fewer crowns are needed.
- Laser dentistryLess invasive treatment for gums and soft tissue, with faster healing.
- Non-surgical gum treatmentLaser, ozone, and deep cleaning to reverse early gum disease without surgery.
- Holistic pediatric careMetal-free, fluoride-free options, and attention to airway and jaw development in children.
Why patients choose
holistic dentistry
Most people find us because they have already decided something. They do not want mercury in their mouth. They want to know what a material is made of before it goes in. They have had the same problem fixed twice by a dentist who never asked why it kept coming back. Or they simply want a dentist who sees the whole person in the chair.
What they get is dentistry that takes those concerns seriously without being unscientific about it. Materials are chosen for compatibility and durability, not just cost. Treatment plans start with the least invasive option that works. Questions about diet, sleep, and stress are part of the exam, not a separate conversation. And every decision is explained before it is made.
If you are weighing a treatment somewhere else and want a second opinion from this point of view, that is a common reason for a first visit here.
Book nowWhy choose West Hollywood Holistic & Cosmetic Dental Care
This office has practiced holistic dentistry as its whole approach, not as a menu item, since it opened. Every filling is metal-free. Every mercury removal follows the SMART protocol. Every treatment plan starts with what preserves the most tooth. Patients in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hancock Park, Larchmont, and the Hollywood Hills come here specifically for that, and many have been coming for years.
The doctors
Dr. Bruce Vafa, DDS, MS earned his dental degree in 1984 and has practiced in Los Angeles since 2002. He holds a Master of Science in Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine from USC and completed a residency in pediatric dentistry, which is why jaw pain, airway, and children's care get particular attention here.
Dr. Ramtin Vafa, DDS is a graduate of NYU College of Dentistry and practices alongside his father. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he brought the same holistic approach back to the city he grew up in. Meet both doctors.
Your first visit
Your consultation with us is free. We take a full health history, examine your teeth, gums, bite, and jaw, take low-radiation digital X-rays only where they are needed, and talk through what we find and what your options are. You leave with a plan and a cost for it, and nothing starts until you decide.
We accept most major dental insurance and offer financing through CareCredit. Call (323) 654-2840 to check your coverage or book.
Holistic dentistry questions
What is the difference between holistic and biological dentistry?
In practice, very little. Both mean dentistry that considers the whole body, avoids mercury and other questionable materials, and prefers biocompatible options. "Biological" tends to emphasize the materials and the science of compatibility; "holistic" tends to emphasize the broader picture of nutrition, stress, sleep, and lifestyle. This office does both, and uses the terms interchangeably.
How is holistic dentistry different from what my current dentist does?
Your current dentist may already do some of it. The differences are usually in materials (no mercury, no metal), in how far the exam goes (bite, jaw, airway, and habits, not just teeth), and in the preference for treatments that keep more of the natural tooth. Ask any dentist what their fillings are made of and whether they can remove old amalgam safely; the answers tell you a lot.
What materials do you use for fillings and crowns? Are they safe?
Composite resin for fillings, zirconia or ceramic for crowns, bridges, and implants. No mercury amalgam and no metal. For patients with sensitivities or chronic health conditions, we can run biocompatibility testing to identify which materials suit them before any work is done.
Do you remove mercury fillings? Is it safe?
Yes. We follow the SMART protocol (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) developed by the IAOMT: isolation, high-volume suction, clean air, and protective barriers to keep mercury exposure as low as possible during removal. It is a specific procedure, not just drilling out a filling. More on mercury removal.
Is holistic dentistry more expensive?
Not necessarily. Some materials cost more up front, but treatment plans that preserve teeth and prevent problems tend to cost less over the years than repeated repairs. We give you a written cost before any treatment, and most dental insurance plans cover the same procedures here as anywhere else. Financing through CareCredit is available.
Do you treat children?
Yes. Dr. Bruce Vafa completed a residency in pediatric dentistry. Children's care here is metal-free, fluoride-free options are available, and we pay attention to jaw development and breathing, which affect how a child's teeth come in. Holistic pediatric dentistry.
What kinds of treatments will I find here that I will not find at most dental offices?
Ozone therapy for infections and gum disease, biocompatibility testing, biomimetic restorations, zirconia implants, SMART mercury removal, and an airway and sleep assessment as part of the exam. Each has its own page linked above.
What happens at my first appointment?
A free consultation: full health history, an exam of teeth, gums, bite, and jaw, digital X-rays only where needed, and a conversation about what we found and what your options are. You leave with a plan and its cost. Nothing starts until you decide.
What if I am anxious about dental visits?
Tell us when you book. We go at your pace, explain everything before it happens, and offer sedation options for patients who need them.
Do you take insurance?
We accept most major dental insurance plans. Call (323) 654-2840 with your plan name and we will check your coverage before your visit.
