Comprehensive Integrative Dentistry in Berkeley, CA

Our mission is to optimize your health and make a difference in your life. We encourage wellness by optimizing oral health while promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being. We provide a plan of care for each patient. At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, we offer a full spectrum of dental services for our Berkeley community that incorporate total-body wellness into your treatment plan.

What Is Comprehensive & Integrative Dentistry?

Comprehensive integrative dentistry aims to incorporate lifestyle modifications and address the root causes of disease. Using evidence-based therapies in lifestyle behaviors such as diet, exercise, sleep, social connectivity and stress, we help you integrate all aspects of your health to curate positive outcomes that last.

Research shows that your eating habits, exercise level, and stress tolerance affect your oral health. If you have poor systemic health affecting multiple organs such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and other conditions, your body is in a constant stress mode and cannot function effectively.

Comprehensive dental care at Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry can help you address these health issues and set you on a path to live a longer, healthier and happier life.

Before you know it, you will feel the best you ever have and have a blindingly bright smile to show off!

Pediatric Dental Care

It is essential to start children off with proper oral health habits. We instill our junior patients with knowledge about how to care for their teeth and gums. This prevents poor oral health as permanent teeth grow to replace their primary teeth.

The most critical time in a child’s development is the first 1000 days of life - from conception to 2 years. This is when your child's brain development, body and metabolism are shaped. Malnutrition at this time can lead to a host of health issues, ranging from obesity to stunted growth. Dr. Kalra can help you understand the benefits of developing proper oral hygiene habits at a young age.

Our dedicated staff at Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry will speak with your child in an age-appropriate manner to help them understand and learn each step of dental care.

mother and daughter playing by the shore

Oral Cancer Screening

Cancer screening is done by an exam of the oral cavity and tissues including the lips, cheeks and tongue. Oral cancer can start out as small white, patches or plaques. If these are detected early, it can greatly improve results and minimize treatment. It is imperative to get screened for signs of oral cancer before it is too late as oral cancers are one of the most aggressive types of cancer. At Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry, we do a complete oral exam and cancer screening at every visit and work closely with highly skilled specialists when necessary.

Composite Fillings

We offer fillings that blend in with your natural teeth. We use tooth-colored material to restore your teeth after they have lost structure from decay. This provides extra support to the damaged tooth to prevent future pain and breakage.

Fillings are made with dental-safe material that fills in the hole and restores the strength of your tooth. They also prevent bacteria and other debris from invading the root of your tooth, leading to pain and infection.

It is important to fill cavities so they do not continue to break down the interior of your tooth. Left untreated, cavities can lead to tooth loss, infection, and gum disease. As food and bacteria become trapped in the hole caused by a cavity, it can spread to the root nerves of the tooth. Cavities are common and it is important to receive prompt treatment for them.

Scaling & Root Planing

If you suffer from plaque build-up near your gum line, scaling and root planing might be a necessary procedure.

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a condition that affects the teeth and underlying bone when gingivitis (redness, inflammation and irritation in the gum tissue) has not been effectively treated. This can be caused by poor oral hygiene or by simply not flossing often enough. Scaling and root planing help to combat these issues.

You may need scaling and root planing if you experience the following symptoms:

Swollen gums
Gum bleeding during brushing and flossing
Bad breath
Excess plaque or pus in your gums
Bite or tooth alignment issues

Root planing and scaling is usually done on one section of the mouth at a time, over two or more visits and includes scaling or scraping plaque build-up from beneath your gums. You are given local anesthesia so that you are comfortable throughout the process. You may have some tenderness immediately after your treatment, but this usually subsides within a couple of days.

Root planing, root scaling, and supportive periodontal therapy all work together to heal your periodontal disease and prevent bone and tooth loss.

Periodontal Therapy

The best form of periodontal therapy is regular brushing and flossing. You can easily do this at home, but sometimes it can be difficult to remove all plaque with brushing and flossing alone. Some periodontal issues may be out of your control. Genetics, nutrition habits, and lifestyle choices all affect your periodontal health. Our periodontal therapy addresses oral problems that arise from these risk factors.

The goal of periodontal therapy at Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry is to restore and maintain your gum and tooth health. It is an umbrella term for many preventative and restorative oral treatments. We check for early signs of periodontal disease and offer deep cleaning and therapeutic oral treatments. These treatments consist of bone and gum care as well as preventative care.

Whether you already practice good oral hygiene or are lacking in overall oral health, you can benefit from periodontal therapy at Berkeley Lifestyle Dentistry.