Biological Dentistry in Cuenca: Jhon’s Journey from Canada

By Priscila Mendez · In collaboration with Dr. Grace Ordóñez

Imagine you’ve had amalgam fillings most of your life. Then you learn your body has high mercury levels, and your doctor suggests seeing a dentist who takes a biological approach. What would you do?

For Jhon, that question started a search that began in Winnipeg, Canada, and ended in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Biological dentistry treats the mouth as part of the whole body. It favors biocompatible materials, minimally invasive treatments, and protective protocols such as safe amalgam removal. This is the story of how that approach changed Jhon’s experience of treatment.

A story that began in childhood

Jhon is 69, and his history with mercury began long before he imagined it would come up in a conversation about his health.

As a boy, his father worked at a gold mine. Jhon remembers playing with mercury back then, with no idea of the risks.

Decades later, he went to his family doctor about tremors he couldn’t control. During the visit, the doctor noticed that many of his teeth had amalgam fillings, a dental material that contains mercury. Given his history and symptoms, the doctor recommended a test to measure heavy metals in his body, including mercury.

The results showed elevated mercury levels.

His doctor then suggested he find a biological or integrative dentist who could evaluate his fillings and, if needed, remove them using protective measures.

When cost is part of the decision

Jhon started looking for options in Canada. There, dental care is generally not covered by the public health system, and procedures that require special protocols are usually paid privately, either out of pocket or through supplemental insurance.

What he found surprised him: the quote to remove each amalgam filling was close to the price of a dental crown.

With so many fillings, the total cost made treatment very hard to afford.

Instead of giving up, Jhon kept researching. That’s how he discovered biological dentistry in Cuenca and met Dr. Grace Ordóñez.

Why travel all the way to Cuenca?

For Jhon, it wasn’t just about finding a cheaper option.

He wanted a professional who understood his concerns about his fillings and would remove them using a specific protective protocol.

After evaluating his case, Dr. Grace chose a gradual approach: one filling per month, following the SMART protocol (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique) from the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).

The protocol is designed to protect the patient during the procedure, since drilling out and removing an amalgam filling can increase exposure to mercury vapor and particles. It includes measures such as isolating the tooth, high-volume suction, and protective gear for the patient, including an oxygen mask and safety glasses.

For Jhon, going slowly also meant he could take the treatment one step at a time, at his own pace.

So what exactly is biological dentistry?

Jhon’s story helps explain why some people look for this approach.

Biological dentistry sees the mouth as part of the whole body. It favors biocompatible, metal-free materials, preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible, and specific protocols such as safe amalgam removal, always taking each patient’s individual needs into account.

This doesn’t mean mercury from fillings is behind every health problem. That’s why the decision to remove a filling should be made individually, together with a health professional.

What do patients look for in biological dentistry?

For some patients, the priority is avoiding metal when good alternatives exist. For others, it’s keeping as much of their natural tooth as possible, or understanding all their options before deciding.

But there may be something even more important: feeling heard.

As Dr. Grace Ordóñez puts it:

«When a patient sits in my chair, I don’t just see a tooth with a cavity. I see a person, with their own story, emotions, and overall health. My commitment is to understand their situation and solve the problem in the way that’s most respectful of their body.»

— Dr. Grace Ordóñez, dentist in Cuenca

Dr. Grace Ordóñez and biological dentistry in Cuenca

Dr. Grace Ordóñez is a graduate of the University of Cuenca. She treats both Ecuadorian and international patients and speaks fluent English.

Her experience with international patients means she can talk with them directly, without a translator. That matters for people like Jhon, who arrive with lots of questions and want to understand their options before starting treatment.

What Jhon’s story teaches us

One of its biggest lessons may be that looking for answers can take you much farther than you expected. For Jhon, the search started in Winnipeg and ended in Cuenca.

His story doesn’t prove that removing fillings cures tremors, or that everyone with amalgam fillings needs them removed. It shows something else: every patient has their own story, and treatment decisions deserve an individual, informed, and careful evaluation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SMART protocol?

It’s a set of protective measures developed by the IAOMT for removing mercury amalgam fillings. It aims to reduce exposure for the patient, the dental team, and the environment during the procedure.

Does everyone with amalgam fillings need to have them removed?

Not necessarily. A filling in good condition may not need to be replaced. The decision should be made with a dentist after a personalized evaluation.Want to learn more about this approach? Book an evaluation with Dr. Grace Ordóñez: