by Ellen Kershner

Holistic dentist and newly published author Dr. David Lerner remembers just how he felt holding the first published copy of his book, The Dental Connection: The Role of Holistic Dentistry in the Integrative Healing Paradigm.

“I felt proud and accomplished, with a sense of satisfaction,” says Lerner, owner of The Center for Holistic Dentistry in Yorktown Heights. “I understood what it’s like for a woman to go through nine months of effort and to then hold her newborn baby.”

That’s some analogy, and it reflects the effort and devotion he put into his recently published 143-page work.

A Long Time Coming

The book’s origins date back to when Lerner graduated dental school, as by then he had a general understanding of holistic healing. But he says it was later, after injuring his back, that he had a life-changing experience that ultimately changed his professional trajectory. He finally found a practitioner who could help him with his chronic pain, digestive problems and fatigue: It was a chiropractor, who helped him heal himself through applied kinesiology. Another career turning point was when Lerner worked with a dentist who was a renowned pioneer in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) treatment.

As one thing led to another, Lerner was drawn to other less-traditional therapies. Over time, he says, he developed an interest in understanding health and disease from an energetic perspective. He saw his patients’ symptoms as reflections of the imbalances affecting their body chemistry and physiology.

“Everything is energy,” he explains. “And as living beings, we’ve emerged from those energy fields that rule the universe.”

Bridging a Gap

Published last May, The Dental Connection explains how ancient healing traditions can complement modern dental technology. The book follows Lerner’s journey from traditional dentistry to his current holistic, biological and physiologic-oriented dental practice. It also explains how chronic diseases can be linked to biological dental problems, like poor jaw alignment, gum disease and tooth infections.

Readers with health issues are reminded that the mouth can contribute to health problems; the banner on the book’s front cover reads, “Is your mouth making you sick?”

“Like in all animals, our mouth is at the front end of the body. If something is out of balance, it affects the body from head to toe,” Lerner says. “An unhealthy mouth can lead to anxiety, heart complications, digestive problems and breathing issues like sleep apnea.”

 Some Dental History

In The Dental Connection, Lerner writes about ancient cultures, which understood that humans are part of the universe and that our well-being is tied to our environment. He explains that Western thinking attempts to separate us from our surroundings, breaking the universe down into its simplest components without trying to understand the whole.

Our ancient ancestors had fewer dental problems than we do, Lerner says, even though dentistry was rudimentary. He writes about Weston Price DDS, who studied non-industrialized peoples to determine causes of physical degeneration and tooth decay. Price found that they had less decay, gum disease and bite problems, and broader arch forms, than modern humans. He recognized that processed foods and sugar in the modern diet affect mouth development; increase mouth breathing and allergies; and lead to more oral bacteria, crooked teeth, and muscular imbalance in the mouth and jaw.

Another focus of Lerner’s book is the principle of Dental Somatic Integration, an approach to the treatment of TMJ and bite disorders. It integrates knowledge about the mouth and the body structure to correct the bite in a manner that balances the craniosacral system and acupuncture pathways. It also improves the posture and physiology of the body as a whole, he says.

Burning the Midnight Oil

Studious by nature, Lerner spent a lot of time on research before he began his book, and then stayed up late at night writing while his family was sleeping. He worked with a seasoned writing coach who advised him along the way, and editing took another year or so.

The Dental Connection covers a lot of territory. In just the first few chapters, Lerner discusses his background, anti-aging dentistry, his holistic philosophy, energy, the body’s biochemistry and physiology, and the mouth. He also explains how dental materials like mercury can be toxic, how dental plastics can act like estrogen or endocrine disrupters, and how hidden infections in the mouth affect the body.

A second edition of the book is already underway, he says. This edition will feature more clinical cases and even more insight into “the dental connection.” Lerner says his long-term goal is to empower people to be the best versions of themselves.

Dr. David Lerner is owner of the Center for Holistic Dentistry, located at 2649 Strang Blvd., Suite 201, Yorktown Heights, NY. To make an appointment or to learn more about The Dental Connection, call 914.245.4041 or visit DAVID L LERNER, DDS, CAC, FIND - Yorktown Heights, NY.