The Dental Shaman grew from my belief that dentistry can remain clinically rigorous while becoming more present, compassionate and meaningful.
I have never seen this work as a rejection of science or conventional dentistry. Clinical excellence, anatomical precision and pathology remain central. What I have sought to add is a greater awareness of the person behind the mouth — their nervous system, breath, emotional safety and experience of care.
A calling rather than simply a career
My interest in teeth began long before dental school. I was drawn to music, rhythm, spirituality, crystals and geology, and teeth fascinated me as ancient, crystalline structures connected with survival, ancestry and voice.
A major turning point came during an eighteen-month journey through Australia and Southeast Asia between 1989 and 1990. Immersion in different cultures, land-based wisdom and indigenous teachings changed the way I understood my path. Dentistry began to feel less like a trade and more like a form of service.
Science and spirit
After a near-death experience following typhoid fever in late 1990, my perspective shifted again. I returned to dentistry paying closer attention not only to anatomy and disease, but also to patterns of fear, tension, overwhelm, expression and emotional wellbeing.
That wider inquiry eventually became The Dental Shaman. For me, the mouth is not merely mechanical. It is where breath enters, nourishment begins and truth is expressed. It can be considered through clinical science while also inviting questions about identity, expression and meaning.
Enriching rather than replacing dentistry
The aim of The Dental Shaman is not to replace conventional dental care. It is to enrich it. Patients do not need to share any particular spiritual belief. Presence, listening, explanation and emotional safety can exist alongside evidence, diagnosis and excellent clinical practice.
Today the philosophy extends beyond the clinic into my writing, teaching and projects including Dr Ozone. You can also read My Story or explore my work through MM Publishing.
— Marc Mortiboys, Founder of The Dental Shaman