What do we say to our patients who seem to have a new area of decay at almost every checkup? They say that they`re brushing and flossing regularly, but their oral condition indicates otherwise. Why is it that one sibling may never brush and have no decay while another claims to be vigilant with his/her home care and has a mouth full of decay? The answer may have less to do with their home care routine and more to do with their GUT function.

Adequate stomach acid and healthy digestion are foundational to good oral health. The production of stomach acid is directly related to our body`s ability to balance oral pH and low stomach acid is associated with GERD, acidic oral pH, leaky gut, and dental caries. Poor digestion and absorption also rob the body of essential nutrients and minerals required to maintain periodontal health and remineralize enamel. The biochemical mechanisms that control these functions are well understood and simple lifestyle and nutritional interventions can bring these foundational systems back in balance. Many dental professionals don`t feel confident making recommendations to their patients regarding nutrition and lifestyle changes. This program will use the published literature to show the connection between gut health and dental decay, periodontal disease, and implant integration.

Learning Objectives:
After this presentation, participants will:
- Be conversant in how the gut impacts the progression of periodontal disease, dental decay and bone healing/implant integration.
- Understand the process of stomach acid production, digestion, and absorption.
- Understand the role that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays in GUT function and what the dentist can do to eliminate stressors to the ANS.
- Feel confident in knowing what nutritional and lifestyle recommendations they can easily provide their patients which will provide the body with the necessary building blocks to reestablish healthy GUT function.

Dr. Sergio Montes, DDS, NMD

Dr. Montes’ passion is helping fellow health professionals understand the implications of dentistry and oral disease on our systemic health and how good Health-Focused Dentistry can hugely improve health outcomes. He has lectured across the country on a variety of dental topics. Initially trained as a traditional “drill-and-fill” dentist, Dr. Montes felt called to follow a unique professional journey that has taken him deep into the world of integrative health and Dentistry. Following dental school, he established and built a successful health-focused dental practice in Northern Arizona which has grown to become one of the premier clinics for biologic dentistry in the area. Dr. Montes has also worked in 2 multi-doctor dental clinics in Utah where he’s helped to build interdisciplinary teams that continue to bring healing to their patients. He currently practices at Dental Solutions in Bountiful, Utah were in addition to providing direct patient care, they host the Holistic Dental Education Series, an annual series of 7 seminars where practitioners from across the country and around the world come to be trained in how to diagnose and treat oral health problems in a health-focused manner. Dr. Montes earned a degree in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Arizona. Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Montes worked as a research scientist at the Sarver Heart Center and published numerous scientific articles on virology, aging, and heart function. Dr. Montes earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Iowa and later completed a program in Integrative Medicine and Dentistry at the ACIMD through which he became a Board-certified Naturopathic Physician (ANMA). Dr. Montes is a founding member of the Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry and has been a presenter at their annual sessions and is a contributor to the Ozone Master Classes, a group of physicians and dentists dedicated to the advancement of Ozone-oxygen therapies. Dr. Montes and his soulmate Lisa live at the foot of the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Northern Utah with three of their six kids, and their dog Axl.