A good example of how this works in daily practice: Mrs. X was seen by one of your colleagues who decided that a primary molar was a focus possibly because of cavitational osteonecrosis. The patient felt too weak to have an extraction done at that moment in time and she also wondered if there was any way to verify that this was indeed necessary. Consequently she was referred to this practice with these questions: 1) can you further assess the necessity for extraction 2) can you figure out the best way to strengthen her immune-competence so that she can tolerate a dental operation should she decide to go ahead with this.

These are the steps a patient goes through:

STEP 1: Review of past medical history including standard laboratory tests if available. System review and clinical examination, possibly augmented with a symptom questionnaire for dietary & nutritional supplementation assessment.

STEP 2: Biological Terrain Analysis tests three main biological fluids: urine, saliva and venous whole blood for the following parameters: pH - the acid / alkaline balance, rH2 - the state of oxidation or reduction at a given pH, and R - the electrical resistivity. (Some devices also measure ORP which is the absolute oxidation or reduction value of a fluid)

pH gives us information about the proton concentration [H⁺]. Alkaemia for instance alters the oxyhaemoglobin saturation (Bohr curve) resulting in comparative tissue hypoxia with subsequent decrease of aerobic cellular respiration; this forces a shift towards anaerobic glycolysis causing increased intracellular Lactic acid production. Alkaemia also will interfere with blood enzyme reactions and according to Prof.Dr. Enderlein it will enable pleomorphic development. Two samples of urine (second urine 1hr after first) will demonstrate a rising pH value, unless the patient had a chronic positive acid balance and then this normal shift is disrupted; a pH value stasis or reversal reflects mesenchym acidosis. Salivary pH anomalies interfere with carbohydrate metabolism by inhibiting Ptyalin but this also may facilitate the development of oral microorganisms, dental plaque etcetera.

rH2 reflects the level of oxidation (or reduction) of a biological fluid at a given pH value. This is the ability/propensity of a biological fluid to donate electrons, in other words it is the antioxidant property. The ORP is the oxidation or reduction potential without any liaison to the pH value and authors like Dr. Ionescu prefer that value to rH2. Prof. Vincent used rH2 because, via the Nernst Equation it describes a balance between the proton concentration and the 'electron concentration'. Chronic, excessive oxidative processes, a well-researched and documented medical topic, are devastating to the body as this damage hormones, enzymes, mDNA and nDNA transcription, cause protein cross-linking and lipid membrane oxidation. Some oxidants are absolutely necessary, like Nitric Oxide for intact vascular functioning. The measurement of rH2/ORP helps you to strike the balance right in your antioxidant protocol. The amount of urinary reduced intermediates also gives a good indication of the functionality of the Krebs Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation.

R measures electrical resistivity which is determined by conductive particles in the tested biological fluid. Not only will this give you insight about those physiological functions involved in removing mineral compounds from the blood and saliva, it also provides information on mineral status in toto. Nutrient specific information can be obtained via erythrocyte mineral profiles, vitamin profiles and challenge tests or high quality electro-dermal screening. The relevance of minerals (and vitamins) must be obvious, they are co-factors for enzymes and hormones and also provide buffering for endogenous and exogenous acids.

STEP 3: Video Microscopy is a collective name for a) live capillary blood analysis viewed in Phase Contrast or Dark Field mode and b) coagulation morphology viewed in Bright Field mode. Whereas Biological Terrain Analysis will quantify for instance the amount of excreted acids, it will only give you a limited idea of where these acids originate from: BTA may demonstrate a diminished carbohydrate digestion capacity, it may detect cellular metabolism running anaerobically which produces relatively more Lactic acids or it may give an indication of depleted alkaline buffering minerals.

Video Microscopy however expands on that. Not only can it demonstrate morphological changes to the RBC, it also shows the level of activity within the granulocytes, it shows primitive bacterial micro-organisms, small and/or large intestine toxicity and of course it shows the signature of free radical damage: polymerised protein puddles. For the biocompatible dentist it is of particular interest that the presence of heavy metals is clearly visible on dried blood morphology, it will show as a darkened centrifugal ring. It is particularly wonderful to be able to show this to the patient on a laboratory monitor so that they can see it for themselves.

It is evident that treatment compliance is much greater when the patient understands what the purpose of the particular aspects of treatment is.

Also the before- and after-treatment differences become visible even if clinically this may not be noticeable yet. This is very useful in mercury detoxification programmes because it gives the patient something tangible.

Biological Terrain Analysis and Video Microscopy set ‘hard parameters’ and these are parameters are used to guide electro-dermal screening. Say on VM it has become obvious that heavy metals are involved, EDS can then determine which metals it concerns and this of course affects the therapeutic protocol. Whereas both BTA and VM one can determine that there will be a food sensitivity, EDS will determine what exactly the patient is sensitive to. An incomplete fibrin network on Video Microscopy is invariably followed by an amino acid screen on EDS so supplementation can be targeted infinitely better. Intra-oral galvanic currents can be measured also.

The full spectrum of EDS panels is:
Food/Vitamin/Mineral screen
Amino Acid/Fatty Acid screen
Blood Sugars/Enzyme screen
Hormone screen
Parasite screen
Viral/bacterial/fungal screen
Environmental/geopathic screen
Herbicide/pesticide screen
CNS / PNS screen
Full body organ screen
Heavy Metal screen
Intra-oral galvanic currents

Screen captures of Biological Terrain Analysis and the binary Video Microscopy images are e-mailed (or snail mailed) to the referring dentist together with a short explanation, also a synopsis of the EDS can be attached.

The advantage to the biocompatible dentist is that, without having to make the investment in equipment and clinic time, vital information is obtained to achieve optimal pre- and post-dental care in context of a holistic approach. The aims and objectives of biocompatible dental treatment are fully understood and appreciated by the clinicians carrying out the tests described here.

Electro-dermal screening and intra-oral galvanic measurements are carried out by Chris Mascarenhas who is a biochemist by profession.

Biological Terrain Analysis and Video Microscopy are carried out by Han van de Braak who is a Chartered Physiotherapist, Registered Acupuncturist and Naturopathic Physician.

Mrs. X did have a positive dental focus, her immune-competence and detox-ability were restored to the maximum and she underwent dental surgery successfully.

Website Address: www.bioterrain.co.uk
Email Address: doc@bioterrain.co.uk