After graduating from dental school in New Jersey in 1988, Dr. Michael Taras says he felt as if he knew a lot about dentistry. However, thanks to his patients, he soon discovered there was a whole other reality that he didn’t learn in dental school.

One patient in particular, a woman, made an enormous impact. “She cured her own gum disease through natural healing such as herbal remedies and a healthy diet,” he explains.  “I couldn’t believe it, but it was true—her results were remarkable. It really piqued my interest and I was determined to find out more.”

He began researching the idea of natural living by reading books and listening to popular radio programs by health experts and was simply fascinated by what they said; so he began trying it out for himself.

“I started taking vitamins, eating organic and non-GMO foods and noticed I felt better both physically and mentally,” says Taras. “I continued to try different things over the years and realized how much food played a role in optimal health.”

As he studied, he began to also incorporate what he had learned into his dental practice; leading him to offer both general and holistic dentistry—a preventive approach to dentistry that considers the whole person when recommending treatment, and recognizes the impact of toxins, nutrition and lifestyle on oral health.

For starters, Taras is a mercury-free and mercury-safe dentist and has developed the Mercury Protection Program to protect patients during mercury filling removal. “It is a fact that mercury is the most poisonous non-radioactive substance on the planet,” he explains. “Mercury fillings leak substantial amounts of toxic mercury vapor constantly throughout an individuals lifetime, so there is really no such thing as a safe mercury filling.” 

Removing them safely is crucial as the vapors and particles can enter the body if not done properly. He uses advanced removal protocols—such as special suction, a vapor ionizer and binding agents that bind mercury so it won’t get in the system—to eliminate the mercury-based materials safely and painlessly; and then replaces them with harmless, non-mercury fillings.

Understanding that the first step to a healthy body is a healthy mouth, the office of Dr. Taras offers a variety of healthy alternatives. In addition to traditional dental services such as deep cleanings, root canal therapy, cosmetic dentistry, extractions and more, he also offers holistic dental services like aromatherapy, homeopathy, ozone therapy, and safe mercury filling removal.

As an ozone certified dentist (he earned an advanced ozone certification in 2011), Taras uses ozone therapy to help kill infection in the mouth. Ozone is a more active form of oxygen that kills viruses and bad bacteria quickly.

“It’s a very exciting technology that is 100 percent natural and drug free,” notes Taras. “Most importantly, it works.” 

Dedicated to providing a warm and inviting atmosphere for the whole family, Taras says he is not only devoted to patients’ comfort, but also their overall health. It’s something he takes very seriously. He is not only a Fellow in the Institute of Natural Dentistry and a Certified Nutritional Counselor, but he just earned his second doctoral degree, this one as a naturopathic physician.

His goal is to help his patients stop the causes of disease and decrease the body’s bio-burden. “More and more people want a healthier and more natural way of living, but are simply unaware of what they can do to take care of themselves. Education is the key.”

He challenges patients to try something different—get away from the junk food and eat organic foods, go for a walk, or take a multi-vitamin. Stop drinking coffee and drink more water. Above all, Taras says be respectful of the body.

“I am merely a dentist trying to get people on the path to health,” he states. “I am one piece of the puzzle. However, if I can spread the word about how people can help themselves, then that’s a good thing.”

 

Michael Taras, DMD, LLC is located at 2900 Hamilton Blvd. in Allentown. For more information, call 610-432-1320 or visit DrTarasDentist.com.