BIOSMILE BLOG

I’m happy to share that I’ve passed the first examination of the Institute for Functional Dentistry, as part of its inaugural cohort. I’m still on the way to certification, but what excites me most is how much this training has changed the way I think about your care. Here are some questions you may have. What is functional dentistry? It’s an approach that looks beyond teeth and gums alone. It recognizes the connections between oral health, the oral microbiome, systemic infla

As a biological and functional dentist, I choose materials carefully; the ones we use are highly biocompatible. But when there is any doubt, we run a simple blood draw at the office that shows how your body will actually respond, before anything permanent goes in your mouth. Why it matters A filling or restoration isn't just about fit and function; it's meant to stay in your mouth for years, sometimes decades. And your mouth isn't a closed system: it connects directly to your

Think your gut microbiome matters? Your mouth has one too, and it’s just as telling! One of our favorite tools in functional dentistry might surprise you: a simple saliva sample. This test lets us see exactly which bacteria live in your mouth, the good, helpful ones and the harmful ones, in a way a visual exam just can’t show. From there, we build a personalized plan, sometimes including diet changes if we see signs of inflammation. Then we retest to make sure it’s actually w

This year marks my fifth consecutive selection to the Los Angeles Magazine Top Dentists list, and I never take it for granted. When I opened BioSmile Dentistry in 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, I simply wanted to create a practice built on trust, on listening, on quality, on aesthetics, and on caring for the person sitting in my chair as a whole: going beyond the teeth to understand the full picture of their health. To be recognized every year since we opened our doors is

I was already double-certified in biological dentistry through the renowned IAOMT and IABDM when, in January 2026, a new door opened: the very first cohort to be certified as a functional dentist. The Institute of Functional Medicine had collaborated with the newly created Institute of Functional Dentistry to build this program, and I said yes without hesitation. First came three months of intensive medicine courses through the IFM: dense, immersive, fascinating. This is a tw