Meet Our Team
Meet the team behind Foundational Roots Functional Oral Medicine.
Why Foundational Roots Started
Dr. Bowers saw that there was a disconnect between overall health and dental care, and that’s when she knew she had to create a space for biological health and dental health to meet. While the Foundational Roots office is new, this way of treating patients is not new to Dr. Bowers and her team.
Her team offers research-based guidance and coaching on prevention strategies and treatments. Each person has their own individual oral and overall health makeup and, therefore, requires tailored solutions to address issues they may be experiencing.
At Foundational Roots, we offer the following:
- Functional medicine principles
- Nutritional guidance
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Oral hygiene instruction
- Functional assessment
- Biocompatible dentistry
- Systemic integration
- Biological interventions
About Dr. Bowers
Dr. Piiamari Bowers is a Functional Oral Medicine Dentist in Dexter, Michigan. After over 20 years in dentistry, she opened Foundational Roots where she takes a whole-body, biological, and functional approach with her patients. Her dentistry, and her practice, is motivated by a compassion for healing and are grounded in science.
Dr. Bowers attended the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She is involved in many organized dentistry groups, including the Biological Dental Association, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine, and the American Association of Ozonotherapy.
Dr. Bowers is certified in Laser Proficiency and has taken numerous courses and training programs in sleep and airway medicine, studying orofacial myofunctional therapy. She is certified in oxygen/ozone therapy through the American College of Integrative Medicine and Dentistry, as well.
Dr. Bowers is currently attending the American College of Integrative Dentistry and Medicine, studying Biological Dental Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine, with an expected board certification date in 2025.
Dr. Bowers’ practice is underpinned by the fact that prevention is absolutely the best medicine. She wishes to share with her patients the wealth of knowledge she has attained throughout her career and hopes to motivate people to join her on a journey towards a thriving life of wellness through bite-sized changes.
Leslie, Registered Dental Hygienist & Bale-Coneen Preceptor
Leslie has been a Registered Dental Hygienist in the Field of Dentistry for 16 years. She earned her degree from Delta Community College in Bay City, MI. She has been with Dr. Bowers for over 11 years. Leslie’s goal is to empower her patients to ask questions and stay curious about their own health journeys. She approaches patients’ care in this way, motivated by watching her special-needs daughter try to thrive in a broken system. She couldn’t bear to sit passively and let her daughter’s specialists and doctors tell her that their “standard of care” was all there was available to treat her. This bare-minimum approach would not work for Leslie or her daughter and thus her health journey began. During her journey, she collected information through researching her daughter’s issues, educating herself, asking questions, implementing plans, and holding her physicians accountable!
A similar situation unfolded for her husband, Chris, whom she has been married to for almost 25 years. He was a former marathon runner who one day had a stroke. They were told his heart and health were “fine,” only to find him on an operating table barely two years later for a triple bypass!
Leslie knew at that time again, if we, as a society, do not question our physicians, we will always receive the status quo, which is not good enough for her, her family, or her patients.
Based on her experiences, Leslie works to bring health – real health – into the grasp of all her patients. She believes that we have to get upstream of our medical problems and concerns to identify the root cause of any medical situation or question. Only there can real healing begin.
Amanda, Certified Dental Assistant
Amanda has served as a dental assistant for more than 20 years. Her interest in dentistry started at an early age. While in high school, she worked at the University of Michigan Dental School in the emergency clinic there. She later earned her certification as a Certified Dental Assistant from Washtenaw Community College.
Amanda’s love of dentistry has grown over the years. Her health journey has led to her interest in biological healthcare. She believes there is a root cause to all illnesses.
Amanda is a mother to two boys. In her spare time, she likes cooking whole foods and baking with her boys. She enjoys reading, hiking, and biking with her children and husband and loves visiting Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Mission & Vision
Foundational Roots is a biological dental office based near Ann Arbor.
We envision a world where holistic wellness and dental health are seamlessly integrated. Our mission is to empower individuals to embrace a natural approach to life, where overall well-being is our priority. We strive to lead the way in functional dentistry, prioritizing your health goals with innovative, natural, and compassionate care. Together, we create a healthier future, one step at a time.
F.A.Q
What is biological dentistry?
Biological dentistry is dentistry with a natural approach. Dr. Bowers and her team will educate patients about early prevention and techniques to use a more natural approach while taking care of their oral health.
Many dental practices perform what is sometimes called “drill, fill, and bill” services. Such an approach addresses isolated issues such as cavities, for example, without resolving the underlying imbalances that are affecting your health. At Foundational Roots, we seek to understand the connections between oral health and the rest of the body, recognizing that issues in the mouth can affect other areas of health, and vice versa. In addition, we use biocompatible materials for dental restorations when needed which allows us to minimize the use of chemicals and toxins in treatments, and emphasize prevention and conservative treatment approaches.
As part of our biological family dentistry practices, we promote educational opportunities with our patients such as lifestyle habits, the importance of balanced nutrition, and maintaining a healthy oral microbiome for overall wellness. The goal is to provide comprehensive dental care that supports the body's natural healing processes and promotes both long-term overall health and oral health.
How do you handle my silver fillings? How do you take them out and what do you replace them with?
Our team always uses protective clothing when removing mercury fillings but we go further by providing special tools like rubber dams and vacuums that capture harmful particles and vapors in the air. For extra protection against dangerous vapors, patients receive clean oxygen too.
To reduce mercury release during filing removal, cool water is utilized as well as cutting it into chunks before drilling. The whole area is then rinsed with chlorella or charcoal slurry to remove any residue, this is all for your health and safety.
Are kids welcome at Foundational Roots?
Yes! We love meeting kids of all ages! We believe that early intervention of biological dentistry has lifelong benefits. While the APDA recommends your child visit the dentist by age one, or when they get their first tooth we are happy to see kids at any time.
You can schedule a consultation or appointment here!
What do you think about root canals?
We do not do them. If you have one we watch it closely and Dr. Bowers will recommend various restoration options best suited to the patient's personal needs.
Do you have a cone beam CT machine?
We have someone we recommend you to and we read the scans in our office.
Do you have ozone? How do you use it?
Yes, it fights infection. Learn all about ozone therapy here!
Do you use fluoride or do you have other ways to help keep my teeth healthy or even help heal my teeth?
No, we use hydroxyapatite to remineralize teeth. We believe we can heal cavities and help your teeth longer.
Do you use do X-rays in your office?
We try to limit X-rays when we can to help protect you and limit the amount of radiation.
Do you accept insurance?
We are pleased that you have insurance benefits to help with the cost of your dental care. We would like to help you obtain the maximum use of these benefits.
One of the values we take pride in at Foundational Roots is the role of transparency in building trust with our patients; therefore, we must note that we are unable to accept health or dental insurance. While many traditional dental practices rely on insurance companies to help cover portions of patients’ expenses, we are unable to do so at this time.
Our top priority for our patients is the highest level of care possible, and, unfortunately, insurance companies will not pay for several of our general practice biological services. We do hope that one day the insurance industry will see the critical importance of helping people through biological dental care. We will continue to voice our opposition to insurance companies’ position on this issue.
The Foundational Roots team understands that some patients may be concerned about affording biological dental care without insurance. We will give patients appropriately filled out claim forms to send to their insurance company for reimbursement. Our services are HSA-eligible, and we're here to assist you in exploring various financing options.
Payment for treatment rendered is due at the time of service. We encourage you to consider the long-term benefits of investing in your oral health. Please reach out to us, so that we can discuss payment options tailored to your needs. We accept MasterCard, VISA, and CareCredit.
Our Practice
Make an Appointment
Foundational Roots is a biological dental office based near Ann Arbor. They strive to meet your goals of living a more natural approach to life with the inclusion of your dental health.
Location
7300 Dexter-Ann Arbor Rd
Suite #300
Dexter, Michigan 48130
Located inside of Dexter Dental
Open Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9am - 5pm
Expanded hours coming soon!