Dr. Miguel Stanley is the founder and clinical director of the White Clinic. His patients travel to our dental clinic in Lisbon, Portugal from around the world; and some of them are famous athletes and celebrities. “I’m an old school dentist doing advanced integrative dentistry,” he said, among many other insights, in a recent interview with IQAir.

When he’s not doing clinical work, Dr. Stanley advocates and educates both colleagues and the public on the crucial role oral health plays in our overall health, and has lectured in over 50 countries. As the co-founder the Slow Dentistry Global Network, Dr. Stanley is dedicated to bettering the safety and experience of patients around the globe. And as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, he’s noted hundreds of keynote lectures given over the course of 25 years.

Around 2018, Dr. Stanley decided to transition his private practice towards integrative healthcare. “One of the fastest growing trends in dentistry is connecting the mouth to the rest of the body.” In line with this trend of comprehensive healthcare, Dr. Stanley incorporated many advanced technologies including IQAir’s advanced air filtration systems to enhance the overall wellness environment within his clinic.

State-of-the-art equipment for enhanced patient care

The White Clinic boasts a wide array of equipment, ranging from hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), and cryotherapy and hydrogen inhalation for wound-healing and pain relief. Yet there was one technology Dr. Stanley wanted to invest in to improve not only the well-being of his patients but also himself and his staff at the clinic.

Dr. Stanley’s commitment to advanced dental care extends beyond cosmetic enhancements; he sees oral health as a window to overall wellness. This perspective is why he eventually incorporated IQAir’s air filtration technologies – because clean air in the clinic does more than protect against immediate contaminants; it’s integral to holistic health outcomes.

IQAir: An essential addition

As the global COVID-19 pandemic sparked shutdowns and quarantines, Dr. Stanley’s clinic was the first dental clinic in Portugal to close its doors for safety. He understood that he’d need a practical solution for keeping his patients and staff safe.

IQAir’s reputation for excellence stood out to him. “I trust Swiss tech a lot. I’ve always invested in quality, and I hold the belief that if it’s something that is important to you, you have to buy the best.”

Dr. Stanley purchased four IQAir CleanZone systems for his clinic. Armed with IQAir’s patented HyperHEPA filtration technology (far superior to standard HEPA filters and proven to trap more than 99.5% of particles down to 0.003 microns – a level of filtration crucial in dental clinics), the White Clinic would be well-protected from bacteria and viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“IQAir filtration became an essential part of our medical armamentarium throughout dental procedures and improved the air quality for everyone in the room. We use it for our laser surgery, to filter aerosols as well as for mercury amalgam removal under the SMART protocol,” Dr. Stanley said.

Seeing the clean air difference

In his medical advocacy, Dr. Stanley notes that it’s essential for dentists to always place safety first in their practices. This is foundational for Slow Dentistry.

Doctors, surgeons, and dentists all generate aerosols in their practice. From chemical disinfectants to higher-than-average levels of inorganic mercury (Hg), there is demonstrable increased risk of poor health impacts from aerosolized pollutants.

Extraoral suction and negative pressure equipment, which Dr. Stanley invested in for dental treatments, is a central component to safe, effective dentistry. But beyond his immediate practice needs, he wanted to elevate the air quality in his practice to the highest possible standard.

Dr. Stanley runs his IQAir systems at the highest possible setting. And in his practice, he can actually see the systems working to keep him and his team safe.

Aerosols that could impact his safety are visible. “I use an Er-Yag laser for surgery and because I also use Zeiss microscope magnification with LED light, I can see this cloud of aerosols magnified. I can really see it’s being sucked into the IQAir tube. I can actually see it, so I’m not feeling it. That is worth gold to me.”

Safe, effective air cleaning technology, Dr. Stanley feels, is essential for a wide variety of medical settings. “Adopting IQAir’s filtration technology has been a game-changer, ensuring that our practice not only meets but exceeds health and safety standards. This technology is pivotal and should become a standard in dental practices worldwide for its undeniable benefits in protecting both patients and staff.”

The future of dentistry

Dr. Stanley’s advocacy and grounding in systemic healthcare, connecting all aspects of the body to better health outcomes and greater longevity, is a fundamental aspect of his practice. “I envision a future where everyone understands the true foundations of longevity – embracing simple, vital practices like healthy eating, sound sleep, and avoiding harmful habits.”

Dr. Stanley has also recently developed Missing Link, an AI platform that can scan dental X-rays and looks for hidden pathologies that patients can also use. As Dr. Stanley said, “It’s a simple tool that connects doctors to dentists”.

The takeaway

By investing in IQAir’s advanced air purification systems, Dr. Stanley extends his holistic health philosophy into every aspect of his practice, thus safeguarding both patients and staff against airborne pollutants.

He would love to see more patients take an active role in their own healthcare, and to better understand how systemic healthcare can improve longevity and healthful living. Part of that solution requires access to clean, healthy air.

He encourages other dentists to investigate high performance air filtration for their practices as well. And he was satisfied with his own investment in IQAir filtration.

“They’re very robust, very trustworthy, and the price and quality are amazing.”