This past October, Bionica Dental Wellness brought Dr. Hira Chughtai onto their team. Chughtai was selected for the Pre-Dental Scholars Program at Marquette University as an incoming college freshman. Through the accelerated program, Chughtai was able to complete her undergraduate degree while working on her dental degree. In 2012, she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marquette University.

"She and I are like-minded in our dental philosophies. She’s an experienced practitioner with excellent clinical skills and a fantastic chairside manner,” Holinbeck says. “She has a caring personality, she’s comprehensive and thorough, and she looks at the big picture—not just at the teeth, but also at the foundational condition of the mouth and how that connects to the entire body.”

After nearly a decade of continuing education, Holinbeck recently earned Fellowship status with the Academy of General Dentistry. A practitioner that is fellowship trained reassures patients that the provider is continuously learning and advancing her skills and knowledge. “You can leave dental school and not learn much else, but the fellowship exceeds that by proving that I’m dedicated to learning the latest techniques in total body dentistry and modern dentistry.”

Biological dentistry approaches look at the oral-health-to-whole-body connection and aims to eliminate toxicity. Preventive dental services available at Bionica Dental Wellness avoid toxic materials and use procedures such as safe amalgam filling removal and ozone therapy to reduce bacteria.

The team at Bionica Dental Wellness also uses technological advancements such as diode laser therapy for various procedures on gum tissue. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) use the growth factors from a patient’s own blood to facilitate healing after extractions and implant placement. The office also offers metal-free ceramic implants, and cosmetic and restorative dentistry services.

Holinbeck mentions a growing awareness of the connection between oral health and heart health. “We’ve known for a while that heart health can be challenged by total body inflammation and toxicity,” Holinbeck relates. “We know that types of bacteria create inflammation in the mouth also create gum and bone infections. That infectious toxicity is linked to what we’re seeing with heart issues.”

The Bionica Dental Wellness team strongly encourages regular dental visits so they can catch potential problems that could lead to catastrophic illness. Holinbeck emphasizes home care routines such as regular brushing and flossing. The team educates patients about how they can maintain a healthy mouth once they leave the clinic. “Our hygienist is really good about talking you through what you’re already doing at home and giving you hints and tips on how to expand and improve upon that,” she says.

Holinbeck has also developed a unique product line of home care items, Bionica Naturals. The tooth powder, mouthwash, oil pulling agents and lip balm are designed to decrease the bacteria load in the mouth, soothe oral tissue and promote good oral health. They are all formulated from natural ingredients and are chemical-free.

While some people spend years finding their calling, Holinbeck is grateful she’s in a rewarding career that delights and challenges her to provide the highest quality of dental care available. “If there’s a new technique out there, I want to learn it,” she enthuses.

Bionica Dental Wellness is located at 2566 Sun Valley Dr., in Delafield. For more information, call 262-337-9745 or visit BionicaDentalWellness.com.

Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.