Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Boyajian.
Hi AJ, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After graduation from dental school in May of 1999 from the University of Pennsylvania, I began to practice general, traditional dentistry. Fortunately, I have always retained a questioning side, and after about three years, I started having serious reservations about the practice of putting mercury amalgam fillings in people’s mouths. At first, it was the fact that amalgam expands and contracts more than tooth structure, which causes catastrophic structural failure of the tooth over time. Despite questioning the structural implications of amalgam, it wasn’t until 2011 that I definitively reconnected with the question of safety and mercury exposure. I put it all together and experienced a paradigm shift when the mercury touched my life personally. That year, my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD. There is no doubt that when something slaps us in the face personally, most of us take another look at our belief system. I did, and what I went on to discover rocked my world. Now in 2023, the research is clearer regarding the connection between mercury amalgam fillings and a myriad of diseases, including ADHD, autism, Parkinson’s and dementia.
First, I found a network of physicians, dentists and scientists dedicated to the scientific safety of dental and health care: the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), founded in 1984. The motto of this modest group is, “Show me the science.” Discussing what has come to be known as biological dentistry, the IAOMT states that biological dentistry represents “a thought process and an attitude that can apply to all facets of dental practice and to health care in general: to always seek the safest, least toxic way to accomplish the goals of modern dentistry and of contemporary healthcare.”
What I came to deeply realize is that mercury is toxic to every cell in the human body and is particularly toxic to the central nervous system.5 In fact, mercury is only slightly less toxic than radioactive uranium (plutonium). Dental amalgam’s convenient mixture of metals makes it a nice slow-release vehicle for mercury—the only metal that is liquid at room temperature. This slow release allows mercury to build up in the body, and especially in the central nervous system and organs because mercury is attracted to fatty protein-rich tissues. Unfortunately, the insidious release of mercury from amalgam makes it hard to draw a direct correlation to any specific dysfunction of the body. The fact that symptoms of toxicity are variable and nonspecific has helped perpetuate the debate over amalgam’s dangers.
Of course, it is not just the mercury in fillings that is poisoning human beings. The plastic in most “tooth colored fillings” contains BPAs or BHTs. These compounds are harmful in a different way when they off gas.
Lack of information on airway development in children is responsible for many problems we see both in childhood and adulthood. Studies have shown that an underdeveloped airway can be responsible for allergies, bedwetting, fatigue, ADHD and aggression in children. Obstructive sleep apnea due to the lack of an open airway can have devastating effects in the lives of children and adults.
My goal is to not just glance at a patient’s medical history, but study it in order to find any link between oral disease and its potential effects on the rest of the body.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has not been easy at all and there have been many challenges along the way. As a holistic dental practitioners, we are still pioneers. I have faced several struggles and challenges that come with being a trailblazer in a relatively new field. One of the main difficulties I have encountered is resistance from traditional dental practitioners and associations who may be skeptical of alternative approaches to dental care.
Another challenge I have faced is the limited acceptance of holistic dentistry by the general public. As a result, dental insurance companies often fail to recognize and cover holistic dental treatments that are the best for the patient.
Also, despite growing interest in holistic health and wellness, many people may not be aware of this approach to dental care or may be skeptical of its effectiveness, which can make it challenging to build a customer base and gain recognition.
I have also struggled with the lack of standardized training and regulation in holistic dentistry. Unlike traditional dentistry, there is no universally recognized accreditation or regulatory body in this field, which can make it challenging to ensure that practitioners are properly trained and adhere to the highest standards of care. But don’t get me wrong, that hasn’t stopped me from traveling around the globe to get the best training possible and teaching it to others in return.
In addition to these challenges, the cost of specialized equipment and materials required for holistic dentistry can be higher than those used in traditional dentistry, making it challenging to offer affordable services while maintaining the highest standards of care. We do not compromise on quality and sometimes that means our prices can be 20% higher, just like buying organic non-GMO products.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dental Wellness Arts. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
There are so many facets to our dental practice, it would be difficult to name them all. Starting with the safe removal of mercury amalgam fillings, using the patient’s own blood platelets to stimulate collagen for facial aesthetic treatments as well as restoring gum and bone, and restoring entire mouths and jaws.
But if I had to pick one element that our practice is centered around, it’s oxygen! Oxygen Ozone is incorporated into every aspect of our clinical treatments. From cleanings to dental surgeries, we find that ozone is the best natural antibiotic there is. And it’s so simple. That bacteria thrive in low-oxygen environments. When concentrated oxygen in the form of Ozone is introduced, the bad bacteria are destroyed. The bacterial cells literally blow up.
In short, I would like to think that we are a knowledgeable and compassionate biological dental practice focused on whole-body health. To that end, we are dedicated to the preservation of teeth and gums through the implementation of biocompatible materials.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love to create. As both a painter and sculptor, I find that there is no better existential release than having a thought or vision and making it appear on a canvas or in clay. Some of my art is displayed in my office and has been a talking point for nervous patients and art enthusiasts alike. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dentalwellnessarts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dds4smiles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dentalwellnessarts/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aj-boyajian-dmd-dental-wellness-arts-los-angeles-5?osq=dentalwellness+arts
