communityspotlight
A Holistic Approach to Oral Health
Mark Stites Practices Mercury-Free Dentistry by Linda Sechrist
A
s a young stu- dent in elemen- tary school, Mark
Stites, DDS, was asked to draw an image of what he wanted to be when he grew up. With- out hesitating, he drew a picture of a dentist. “My mom still has that draw- ing,” says Stites, who lightheartedly jokes that dentistry was his destiny. “When I was growing up, dentists didn’t use Novocain on children, so I’m fairly sure that my burning desire to be one wasn’t the result of pleasant experiences,” he quips. Musing over the source of his aspiration, he notes that the idea could have been positively reinforced when a new family moved to his childhood neighborhood. “My friend’s dad was a dentist. I liked him because he was patient and kind.”
Stites’ career goal never faltered throughout high school, so he already had his heart set on Northwestern Uni- versity Dental School before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his undergraduate degree. In 1977, with both degrees in hand, Stites moved
to Naples with his wife. “We were born and raised in the Midwest and wanted to experi- ence life in Florida for a year. Thirty-seven years and three daughters later, we’re still living in Naples, where I work out of the same office in which I opened my practice,” advises Stites. A seeker who
Mark Stites
believes in leaving no stone unturned in his
search for the best protocols to help patients, Stites has attended numerous workshops and seminars in order to keep abreast of changes and innovations in his profession. He vividly recalls a 1980s workshop presented by Dr. Hal Huggins that discussed the toxicity of amalgam (mercury) fillings. Huggins, a controversial figure and prolific cam- paigner against the use of such fillings, had been a practicing dentist who studied and researched mercury and its impact on health.
What Stites learned at the work- shop left an indelible impression. “Hal didn’t wait on science to confirm his anecdotal evidence, even when the
only alternative to an amalgam filling in the 1980s was a gold casting. Unlike mercury, this noble metal resists corro- sion and oxidation in moist conditions. Today, few patients want gold, largely because the cast ceramic alternative looks more natural,” notes Stites, who specializes in mercury-free dentistry. Although one of Stites’ goals is to
teach patients that oral health plays a key role in overall wellness, he largely focuses on prevention. “I believe that prevention is the best answer and have found that when people are knowledge- able about how to take care of their gums and teeth, they accept respon- sibility for their dental health and are more vigilant regarding oral health and the need for regular dental visits. They also have fewer problems and experi- ence less expense,” he says. Stites suggests treatment plans that support optimal oral and whole- body health. “Each person’s treatment plan is unique. I consider all options to be part of a whole-person approach to dentistry. How an individual feels about themselves when they chew or smile is very important to their physi- cal and emotional health,” explains Stites. “A smile is the light in the window that lets others know you are confident. I want my patients to feel comfortable with their appearance and powerful when they interact with others.”
Location: 4444 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 6, Naples. For more information or to make an appointment, call 239-263- 2636 or visit
DrMarkStites.com. See ad, page 2.
natural awakenings
March 2013
27
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64