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PrintGet the Wright Smile from the Right Doctor
Jim and Debby Wright
Dr. Jim Wright, holistic cosmetic and general dentist, has created a one-of-a-kind dental experience at the Four Seasons Dental & Med Spa with the help of his wife, Debby, who oversees the daily operations of the practice. Their vision of a holistic dental office where patients and their families come for safe and healthy dental care in a relaxing, soothing spa atmosphere was created by combining their experience in the field of dentistry: his as a trained professional and hers as a patient.
While in dental school at Marquette University, Wright had his own mercury fillings replaced with composite fillings. “I did it for cosmetic reasons only, but then I began to research the health benefits,” Wright says. What he learned was that amalgam fillings expand and contract with changes in temperature of the mouth, which explained why he would see fracture lines in apparently healthy teeth.
He also learned that amalgam fillings consist of 45 to 55 percent metallic mercury, a known neurotoxin, with associated health risks for humans and the environment. This knowledge helped shape the guiding principle he has followed ever since; that the health of the patient as a whole, not just their teeth, is above all, most important.
In 1998, Debby became a patient of Wright, who was then practicing in Chicago. Getting her into the chair was not an easy task, however. “I was very fearful, because of painful childhood experiences at the dentist,” Debby shares. Wright eventually was able to convince her to replace her mercury fillings, and her migraine headaches disappeared completely. Later, they married, and while still living in Chicago, set out to create a new dental experience model.
“We wanted to create an office that patients would love to come to,” Wright recalls. “A place that didn’t look, smell or sound like a dental office; a place they would actually look forward to coming to for holistic dental care.”
Debby adds, “Fifty percent of the population doesn’t see a dentist regularly out of fear and anxiety, so I imagined a relaxing, soothing atmosphere, similar to a spa.” From a big-screen television turned into Post-it note idea board, their vision slowly took form.
Wright recalls with humor, “We had thousands of Post-its on that screen. We eventually had to stop watching TV!” In the end, they combined the best ideas that made sense and brought their dream to Las Vegas.
That was in 2004, and the Wrights and their staff at Four Seasons Dental & Med Spa continue to bring beautiful and healthy smiles to their patients, using the finest grade dental materials available. Wright is an accredited member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and he practices IAOMT-recommended clinical protocols, including digital X-rays that reduce radiation exposure by 90 percent, fluoride free treatments and mercury-free and safe mercury removal practices.
He uses advanced removal protocols such as special suction, a vapor ionizer and agents that bind mercury so it won’t get in the system, to eliminate the mercury-based materials safely. He then replaces them with harmless, non-mercury fillings. Removing the fillings safely is crucial, because the vapors and particles can enter the body if extraction is not done properly. Wright’s office also uses a mercury separator, so that no mercury is left behind in wastewater that can contaminate the environment. “The health of our patients, our staff, and our environment are all important to us,” explains Wright.
Wright keeps up with the most current technologies, like the VELscope, which uses light technology to detect early signs of oral cancer, and uses them routinely in his practice. He personally cleans his patients’ teeth so he can spend that time with them; learning about their health concerns and goals, not just their teeth. “It’s important to me that we are patient-centered always,” Wright says. “If it takes 20 or 120 minutes, I will personally do what is best for the patient.”
Wright plans to continue practicing dentistry for many years and hopes to see the day when mercury is no longer used in the field. One other goal he would like to achieve throughout his career is to help as many people look younger and feel better about themselves with a beautiful, healthy smile. That is what he calls the “Wright Smile.”
Location: 8855 W. Flamingo Rd. For information on special offers call 702-281-9900 or visit HolisticDentistLasVegas.com.
