b'Dr. Fischerances would still fit well. What was not receiving theexpected was that in 80% of these cases, IAOMT the TMJ symptoms resolved by them-Presidentsselves without the need for any TMJ Award appliance at all! This was an epiphany! Rich met only one other practitioner over the next couple of years who was treating similar cases, and when Rich queried him on the subject, he reported similar results.A Practice of His OwnIn December 1984, and after accumu-lating many years of experience in den-tistry, Rich started his own solo practice in Virginia at a location that he occupies to this very day. His office has specialized in TMJ, chronic pain, and sleep apnea, on a decades-long journey logging overHolistic Dentistry with a strong emphasis on holistic and fivethousandhoursofpostgraduatebiological approaches to dentistry. Inter-traininginvariousfieldsoncomple- AfewyearsafterfirstmeetingDr.estingly enough, TMJ and sleep apnea mentary and conventional health prac- Gelb, Rich attended a Holistic Dentalare treated similarly: bring the jaw for-tices. Dr. Gelb was one of those rareAssociation and Holistic Medical Asso- ward.ciation joint conference outside of Chi- At the same time, Rich has continued individuals who combined intelligenceDr. Fischer (left) receivingcago. At the time, Rich was successfullyusing homeopathy in his practice for 45 and kindness with strength of character, the Presidents Award 2018and when he died in 2022 at the age ofhelping patients with chronic headachesyears and is a member of the American 97, he left a legacy of successfully treatedand TMJ dysfunction, but at the con- Institute of Homeopathy. His own expe-patients and an array of former studentsference the famous Dr. Hal Huggins,riences as a patient suffering from aller-who carry on his work to this day. RichD.D.S. convinced him of the dangersgic rhinitis convinced him of its efficacy. considershimselfblessedtonumberposed by amalgam (mercury) fillings.Richs homeopathic physician, Dr. David himself among them. By 1982, then, Rich had stopped usingWember,anotherimportantmentor Considered to be the grandfather ofamalgam fillings in his practice. This ledin his evolution, resolved his condition TMJ, Dr. Gelb forged our current un- to awkward situations though, where,where so many others had failed.as an associate dentist in a large prac-derstanding of the relationship betweentice, he would be advising his patient toIAOMTthe jaw and the rest of the body. He helpedavoid mercury fillings while in the ad- The International Academy of Oral patients in pain whom other doctors couldjacent chair the owner dentist and an- Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) is not help. As one patient put it in payingother associate dentist would be puttinga nonprofit organization that accurately homage to Dr. Gelb, I credit Dr. Gelbthem in! So, until he established his owndescribes itself as a global network of for saving my life from months of TMDpractice, Rich had to walk a fine line indentists, health professionals, and scien-pain and misery. He was truly a miracletaking care of his patients during thosetists who research the biocompatibility [worker]. I arrived at my first appointmentearly years as an associate. of dental products, including the risks sobbing, and by the end of the visit he hadNot one to laze around in the grass,ofmercury fillings,fluoride,root canals, me actually dancing with him around theRich developed a strategy for treatingandjawbone osteonecrosis.office, promising me an end to my pain.chronicTMJpainpatientswhoalsoAn early member of the IAOMT, Rich He made good on his promise. God blesswere referred to him by physicians tofirst became aware of the organization a great man. This is the doctor who in- havetheirmercuryfillingsremoved.after hearing Dr. Hal Huggins, D.D.S. spired Rich as a young man, just startingHe discovered that the TMJ appliancesspeak. A lot of Dr. Huggins students out professionally in dentistry. would no longer fit over the teeth if thewent to Colorado Springs, Colorado to The Gelb Center in New York Cityappliance were made before replacingtake his courses and learn more. While still operates to this day, now under thethe amalgam fillings with fillings madeDr.HugginswasnotyetanIAOMT oversight of Dr. Gelbs son Michael, alsoof safer materials. If, on the other hand,member, another Huggins student, Dr. a dentist. he reversed the process, then the appli- Murray Vimy, became the founder of 16 H EALTHF REEDOMN EWS /F ALL2023'