Christopher J. Cowell, DMD Blog

Regular dental checkups and cleanings every six months are recommended by dentists and the American Dental Association. Cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other similar problems can pop up at any time, which means allowing your dentist to perform frequent examinations is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious dental issues. It is also one of the smartest ways to save money on oral healthcare, especially if you have dental insurance. Keep reading to learn why these visits can help you keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your wallet.

You may not have known, but April 2nd is a big deal in the special needs community. It happens to be Autism Awareness Day – a time to honor those on the autism spectrum and their needs. With that said, you should mark the occasion by helping autistic loved ones protect their smiles. Your local DeLand dentist will even get you started on the process. Just keep reading to learn about autism’s connection to oral health and ways to protect autistic smiles.

For some patients with gum disease, routine dental cleanings aren’t enough to control the infection. That’s where scaling and root planing can help! This deep-cleaning procedure effectively removes harmful bacteria, giving your gums a chance to heal. If your dentist has recommended this treatment, your oral health may already be at risk. Naturally, you’ll want to know how much it costs before moving forward. Read on to learn about the factors that affect pricing and how you can prevent the need for this procedure in the first place.

Pregnancy results in all sorts of changes throughout the body. One change you may not have been expecting is your oral health. It is especially important that you stay on top of your dental hygiene at this time so that you don’t develop pregnancy gingivitis. Continue reading to learn more about the connection between gum disease and pregnancy and what you can do about it.

If you’re worried about gum disease, you may have seen an article or two about how tooth extraction is a common treatment.

Indeed, it’s possible a patient with severe gum disease might need to have a tooth or two removed – but that’s not always the case! Keep reading to get the finer details about the relationship between gum disease and your pearly whites.

You have a dental crown appointment coming up, and you’d like to know what to expect. There’s no shame in that! It’s human nature to question unknowns. Crown treatments are surprisingly simple once you get down to it; they can be boiled down to four basic steps. If you’d like to know more about what your dental crown appointment will look like, keep reading.

Dental crowns are an effective way to protect and preserve a decayed or damaged tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Furthermore, these tooth-shaped prosthetics can be customized to match the shape, color, and size of your natural teeth so no one can tell the difference.

These caps are made from durable materials like porcelain or metal, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely invincible. Although they can last 15+ years if cared for correctly, your restoration will probably need to be replaced at some point. If you’re unsure whether it’s time, read on to learn three indicators that let you know you need a new dental crown!

Do you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth or have you recently undergone a root canal procedure? If so, there’s a good chance your dentist will fit you with a dental crown. These tooth-shaped caps are bonded over your injured tooth to preserve its structure and functionality in situations that might otherwise require extraction.

Today, these restorations can be fully customized to match the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth so no one can tell the difference, but that hasn’t always been the case. Continue reading to learn more about the fascinating history of dental crowns and how they’ve evolved over the years!

One of the most common complaints people have about their teeth is that they’re too yellow. So it makes sense that dentists and toothpaste businesses alike would want to address this issue with teeth whitening solutions. One of the newest trends to hit the commercial market is charcoal. You might have seen charcoal toothpaste at your local grocery store, or maybe even toothbrushes that are already infused with this dark substance.

If you look at the product descriptions, it seems companies are pretty confident in the whitening power of charcoal. The facts, however, have other things to say. Here’s why charcoal doesn’t whiten teeth!

Today, the pursuit of whiter teeth is a $2 billion dollar industry here in the United States, but the desire for whiter teeth has been documented around the world for centuries. In fact, you might be surprised at how long ago attempts to lift stains and discoloration from the teeth truly began. If you’re fascinated by history, enjoy this look back at how the search for a brighter smile has changed over time!\