#133-Mercury, Myths, and Mastery: Redefining Oral Health with Dr. Michelle Jorgensen

In this episode of the Peak Performance Perspectives Podcast, host Mark Talukdar engages with Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, a trailblazer in holistic dentistry and health advocacy. Dr. Jorgensen shares her journey from a conventional dentist to a transformative figure in the field, spurred by a personal health crisis that changed her perspective on patient care and wellness. Dr. Jorgensen begins by discussing her philosophy on peak performance, which she defines as helping others reach their full potential. Her evolution from focusing solely on personal achievement to enabling others’ success marked a turning point in her career and life. She emphasizes the importance of staying inspired, finding balance, and managing the tendency to take on too much. Her key strategy? Surrounding herself with trusted advisors, such as her coach, to help channel her ambitious energy into focused and impactful action. The heart of Dr. Jorgensen’s story lies in her personal health struggles. As a practicing dentist, she began experiencing severe symptoms—chronic stomach pain, memory loss, and debilitating numbness in her hands—that threatened her career and quality of life. After consulting numerous doctors with no clear answers, she discovered she was suffering from mercury poisoning, a direct consequence of drilling mercury-based fillings. This revelation not only changed her approach to her health but also reshaped her understanding of dentistry and its impact on patients. She delves into the dangers of mercury in dental fillings, highlighting that they are 50% mercury and emit toxic vapors continuously. These vapors can lead to neurological issues, memory problems, and gut dysfunction. Dr. Jorgensen emphasizes the importance of safely removing mercury fillings using the SMART protocol, a set of procedures designed to protect both the patient and the dentist during the process. This crisis sparked Dr. Jorgensen’s transition to holistic dentistry—a practice that considers the whole body’s health rather than just the teeth. She began incorporating innovative approaches, such as using ozone therapy, addressing infections caused by root canals, and exploring the effects of fluoride on systemic health. For instance, she explains that root canals can harbor hidden infections, burdening the immune system and potentially contributing to chronic health issues. Similarly, she sheds light on fluoride’s adverse effects on thyroid function, bone health, and even cognitive abilities. Dr. Jorgensen’s shift to holistic dentistry was met with skepticism and resistance within the profession. However, she adopted a unique approach to addressing these challenges: sharing her personal story. By framing her insights as her own lived experiences, she found that others were more willing to listen and engage in meaningful discussions. The conversation also touches on Dr. Jorgensen’s commitment to empowering patients with knowledge. She believes that dentistry has long overlooked its role in overall health and that by educating patients, she can help them make informed decisions. Her efforts have led to a thriving practice where patients come from across the globe, seeking her expertise in holistic care. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Jorgensen shares how she balances her career with being a mother of four. She reflects on overcoming societal expectations and the challenges of working in a male-dominated field. By setting clear boundaries—working only three days a week and prioritizing family time—she has successfully navigated her dual roles as a professional and a parent. Dr. Jorgensen also offers practical advice for those struggling to balance work and personal life. She recommends creating a list of daily tasks, identifying the ones that truly matter, and delegating or eliminating the rest. This intentional approach allows her to focus on what’s most important, both at work and at home. Offer: Deals on my book Meet Our Guest: Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, DDS, FAGD, TNC, CNAS, is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, teacher, biologic/holistic dentist, and health and wellness provider. She has published 5 books (soon to be 6!): ● *Healthy Mouth, Healthy You; Holistic Dental Guide* ● *Be Prepared, Not Scared; 12 Steps to Emergency Preparedness* ● *Self-Sufficient Living* ● *100 Days from the Garden* ● *Real Food for Real Families* After practicing traditional dentistry for 10 years, Dr. Jorgensen became very sick. Through her own journey to return to health, she discovered she had mercury poisoning from drilling out mercury fillings for her patients. She was concerned that there may be other health-threatening materials or procedures in dentistry, and this concern led her to a new kind of dentistry. She returned to school and became a Board-Certified Naturopath as well as a Therapeutic Nutritional Counselor. She combines medicine and dentistry into one integrative approach. For the last 10 years, she has been paving the way in Functional Integrative Dentistry, creating the Total Care Dental and Wellness Way—a health-focused method for treating dental and overall health. Patients from around the world seek out her care and come to Total Care Dental and Wellness to have their health restored. Her message is simple yet profound: true wellness begins with the cells, which get their needs from nature. Her newest project, the upcoming book Living Well with Dr. Michelle, offers practical, science-backed strategies for achieving optimal health and unlimited energy. All profits from the book will support charities like regenerative agriculture and clean water initiatives. She is also the founder of Living Well with Dr. Michelle, a local and global outreach to teach the skills necessary to really live well in today’s world. She has a charitable arm called the Living Well Today Foundation, which cultivates programs in communities and helps bring skills and services to those who need them the most. A busy mom of four, she loves to spend time with her growing family and is happiest when teaching and helping people! Connect with Her: Book Preorder site: https://livingwellwithdrmichelle.com/preorder/ My website: https://livingwellwithdrmichelle.com/ Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube: @livingwellwithdrmichelle