Our Dentistry

After graduating from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1968, and practicing dentistry for over 30 years, I have had many adventures.  I now practice totally metal-free dentistry, have not placed a mercury amalgam filling since 1986, and not done a root canal since 1994. 

Professional organizations that I belong to are IAOMT, Holistic Dental Association, Consumers for Dental Choice, International Association of Mercury Free Dentists, DAMS, Environmental Dental Association, The International Academy of Biological Dentistry & Medicine, Mercury Free Now and Price-Pottenger Foundation. 

Knowing that some materials are better than others, we test everything that goes in a person's mouth, from fillings and crown materials, to bonding agents, cements and anesthetics. 

We have found that, for the most part, people do better with anesthesia that does not contain epinephrine (a vasoconstrictor that can cause heart palpitations).  As a result, we only use anesthesia that does not contain epinephrine.  We have 3 kinds of anesthesia that do not contain epinephrine; Carbocaine 3%, Citanest 4% and Polocaine 3%.  Each patient is tested to see which of these three is best for their body. 

We believe that most dentists use epinephrine for 2 reasons:

1)  Epinephrine causes blood vessels to constrict, which causes the anesthetic to stay in place longer.  We know that restricted blood supply can restrict oxygen getting to the cells, suffocate them, and actually cause them to die.  This has been presented as a theory as to the cause of cavitations. 

2)  Due to the blood vessel constriction, there tends to be less bleeding with the procedures.  We do not want to sacrifice cells for increased convenience. 

Many of our patients bring blood serum compatibility tests to us, either Clifford or Peak Performance, and ask us to use materials that they have tested well for.  What we have found is that there are a handful of materials that test well for almost everyone.  We have those sample materials in our office, and test the person for which of those are best for him.  So we are finding the best of the best for each individual person. 

We have found that one of the most bio-compatible (compatible for a living organism) filling materials that exist today is Diamond Crown.  But again, you will be tested to determine if this is best for you.  If it's not, other choices are APX and Estalite.   

We have found the most bio-compatible crown material is Sculpture FibreKor.  This can be used for single crowns, inlays, onlays or bridges.  This is a totally metal-free material which does NOT need a metal understructure (which can be seen as a dark margin around the gum line).  Many dentists are reluctant to do bridges without metal, as they feel they will break more easily.  We have done thousands of bridges of this material, and have had very little trouble.  Of course, our work is guaranteed and we will remake crowns or bridges until they are perfect.  Check out this case study of using Sculpture FibreKor.  For the techies out there, here is a review by a dentist, and additional data. 

Partials and Dentures - We use only biocompatible materials, such as Flexite Supreme or Valplast.  You can have partials made with no pink coloring for the gum area, which makes them even more biocompatible.   

For extractions - we don't use the "stand on your chest and pull" technique.  This can be quite traumatic, many people tell us that their worst dental experiences have been this type of extraction.  Dr. Behm does only surgical extractions.  The reasons for this are many; 1) it is far less traumatic; 2) this enables him to go into the extraction site and remove any necrotic (dead), infected bone.  This will ensure proper healing and prevent possible cavitations.  After removing all unsound bone, homeopathics are put in the site, and it is sewn up tightly.  This makes the extremely painful dry socket highly unlikely.

Ancient oriental healers mapped the energy channels in the body, called meridians.  Many of these channels go through the teeth, thus energetically connecting teeth with other organs in the body.  This meridian chart shows what organs are connected with which teeth.  We have another, more detailed, larger chart at our office.  Call 727 446-6747 or e-mail, and we will send one out to you.  Here is an interesting article about Dr. Rau of the Paracelsus Clinic and tooth meridians. 

I have been trained in kinesiology (muscle testing) as it applies to dental applications.  We know this is not for everyone, so it is an optional service that we provide. 

My Philosophy
by Ray G. Behm Jr, DDS

1.  Decide that YOU ARE responsible for your own health. In the final analysis, NO ONE else is. 

2.  Having a purpose is the key to living. Nothing is more pitiful than a person without a purpose, nothing is more powerful than a person with a purpose (even if his purpose is to get well and help others get well). Decide what your purpose is, and pursue it.   It will help create life within you.

Concentrate on survival (positives). Avoid negatives, they are killers. Use gradients as necessary to make the transition to more positives. Consider exactly what your physical needs are and how YOU can improve your situation.

3.  Nutrition, exercise and sleep are crucial for optimum health. Water and minerals (electrolytes) are the essence of the nutrients for cellular metabolism.

The body is based on flows to create maximal efficiency. Nutrients go in and toxins and waste goes out.  What we eat is broken down into utilizable minerals or toxic waste.  If your body is misshapen, overweight, etc. there is a problem with the flows. Motion is key, i.e. exercise.

The kind of water you drink determines if the body will either be hydrated or dehydrated. In other words, how big is the water molecule, can it fit through the cell membrane? This is the essence of the new water products on the market.

One way you can 'create' optimum water from tap water is to filter it by reverse osmosis, distill it, then add Microhydrin to create a much smaller water molecule (thus increase the ability of the water to go into your cells).

4.  The body is interconnected, mainly through meridian channels. This is the basis of biological or holistic dentistry.  Everything is connected to everything.  This is the foundation of ancient oriental medicine (did they know something that western medicine does not know)?

For example, the heart meridian runs right through the wisdom teeth sites. Is it a coincidence that many people have unhealed extraction sites where their wisdom teeth were removed, and heart disease is rampant?

Both the large and small intestines relate to the molars where many root canals are done.  Could there be a relationship between constipation and irritable bowel syndrome?  Chiropractors have shown me that there is a relationship between a person grinding his teeth at night and having parasites in the intestines.

5.  In healing, radiation is a hidden suppressor to life.  It can come from many sources; computer screens, cell phones, x-rays, the sun, medical applications, etc. There are many ways to eliminate accumulated radiation and the negative physical and emotional results it creates.

6.  Other hidden suppressors are molds, fungus, environmental toxins, negative people and conditions.  Avoid these!

7.  Dentistry, as well as any and all natural/mechanical sciences, has validity.  As the owner and custodian of your body, your job is to research the best way to enhance its survival while fully utilizing these natural/mechanical sciences.

The key way that Biological Dentistry can enhance physical health is to address the following areas that compromise the immune system:

....... • bacteria (gum-bone-tooth relationship)

....... • metals in the mouth (mercury, nickel)

....... • dead teeth, root canals

....... • unhealed extraction sites (cavitations)

....... • bite corrections/correct structure - the way teeth fit together

In summation, if you have a splinter in your body, get it out.  The same holds true if you have a dead organ or toxic metals in your mouth… get them out.  If the structure is not proper, you can't chew properly.  Change it so it will work properly.

The diagnostic procedures that we utilize are a thorough oral examination, panorex and detailed x-rays, kinesiology (muscle testing) and Cavitat scan.

Our approach is aimed specifically at connecting the dots with the rest of the body. The rest of the body is connected to the teeth.

Naturally, the items we use to restore the teeth back towards optimum health will never be as perfect as they were. But we are of the opinion -- and it is within our working experience, and that of other like-minded dentists over the last few years -- that there are blatant errors we can prevent by using this different paradigm of natural dentistry.

Natural, holistic, or biological dentistry is dentistry based on the theory that a whole organism is a more fruitful field of study than its parts or symptoms.

Biological: "bio" means life. Hence, "biological" means the study of life.

Ray G Behm Jr., DDS •  Natural Dentistry
127 No Garden Ave, Clearwater FL 33755  tel 727 446.6747