What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient-centred approach to healthcare that seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease rather than simply managing symptoms. It recognises that each person is unique, and that health outcomes depend on the complex interplay between genetics, environment, lifestyle, nutrition, and the body's interconnected systems.
At ndu Clinic, functional medicine is a natural extension of our biological dentistry philosophy. Just as we consider how dental materials and oral infections affect the whole body, functional medicine considers how systemic factors affect oral health, and vice versa.
Why combine dentistry and functional medicine?
The mouth is not separate from the rest of the body. Research continues to reveal connections between oral health and conditions affecting the cardiovascular, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. At ndu Clinic, we see patients whose dental health is influenced by nutritional deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, chronic stress, and environmental toxin exposure. Equally, we see patients whose systemic symptoms may be connected to dental infections, incompatible dental materials, or jawbone cavitations.
By bringing dentistry and functional medicine together under one roof, we can address both sides of this relationship in a coordinated, personalised way.
What to expect from a consultation
A functional medicine consultation at ndu Clinic is thorough and unhurried. We begin with a detailed review of your health history, current symptoms, diet, lifestyle, medications, and previous investigations. We listen carefully, because the pattern of your symptoms often holds important diagnostic clues.
Based on this assessment, we may recommend additional laboratory testing (such as nutrient levels, gut health markers, hormonal panels, or heavy metal testing) to build a complete picture. From this, we create a personalised plan that may include dietary and lifestyle recommendations, targeted supplementation, IV nutrient therapy, and coordination with your dental treatment plan.