by Sheila Julson

Dr. Josh Rowell, of Kozlow & Rowell Dentistry, took a unique path toward the dental profession. The Waco, Texas, native had the opportunity to be exposed to multiple health care careers. He worked with different types physicians, including an optometrist, before eventually finding his passion for the dental profession.

Rowell found dentistry was a good way to address whole person wellness; an approach toward health care that he had always appreciated. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Texas and attended the Baylor College of Dentistry, graduating with a Doctor of Dentistry degree in 2016.

He practiced family dentistry in Waco, gaining valuable skills in all aspects of the profession. Through a mutual friend, he met Dr. Philip Kozlow, who had a holistic-based dentistry practice in Dallas. Rowell began working with Kozlow one day per week and was impressed by his holistic dentistry methods that considered whole person wellness and used toxic-free materials.  Rowell joined the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, an organization dedicated to mercury-and fluoride-free practices.

In May 2019, Kozlow and Rowell formally joined forces and moved into a larger space to offer state-of-the-art holistic dentistry for adults and children. Their approaches combine aspects of whole body wellness with biological dentistry, focusing on biologically safe, non-toxic dental materials. They offer biocompatibility testing to make sure that every product they use is safe for each patient.

In addition, they incorporate ozone into all of their services. “Ozone is a natural product—it’s an antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial agent that kills pathogens,” Rowell explains. “We use ozonized water in our drills and ozone gas, and we irrigate periodontal pockets with ozone. We also use ozone as a full treatment to make sure we’re reducing bacteria before we do a final restoration.”

Rowell emphasizes that they’re dedicated to reducing risks from radiographs. Their office uses the DEXIS CariVu, a non-ionizing light source that can visualize decay between teeth. They also employ the Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART) protocol when removing mercury fillings. “Our goal is to limit mercury exposure,” Rowell explains. “Instead, we use a technique where we trace around the mercury filling and remove it all in one piece. That limits mercury exposure.”

Patients undergoing the SMART technique also receive supplemental oxygen, and there’s a mercury-filtering vacuum at the base of the patient’s mouth. Both staff and patients are draped to prevent mercury particles from getting onto clothing. Afterward, patients use chlorella, a mercury-binding supplement, to flush mercury from the body. Kozlow & Rowell Dentistry partners with other holistic-minded healthcare professions in the area to assist with mercury detoxification programs.

Kozlow & Rowell Dentistry also offers saliva testing, a lab protocol that determines pre-genetic markers which predispose people to periodontal disease or systemic health problems. The tests can detect bacteria or fungal infections and based on results, Rowell can design a treatment plan specific to each patient.

Rowell emphasizes that the practice is committed to saving teeth. Through holistic alternatives, they have the ability to prevent root canals on select teeth that have been determined to need root canal therapy. “We strive to keep natural, healthy, living teeth,” he says. The practice also refrains from using fluoride and materials such as crowns or implants are free from bisphenol A (BPA). Instead, they use ceramic crowns or other materials compatible with the patient. Rowell notes that crowns can be made onsite the same day. Their ceramic implants are metal-free.

“The technology in dentistry has been amazing over the last 10 years, and these technological breakthroughs have made dentistry easier and safer for patients,” Rowell concludes. “The radiographs have less radiation; there are now techniques for same-day crowns; and with the CariVu, these are all huge advancements in helping holistic-minded patients. I’m excited to see where the future of dentistry is going. I love people, and I truly listen to the patients and get to know them—they’re like my own family.”