Aging and genetics contribute to tooth discoloration.  Another major cause of darkened teeth are staining substances including coffee, tea, cola and red wine or smoking.  We also see antibiotic staining from tetracycline use during childhood, as well as discoloration from old amalgam fillings.  Professional teeth whitening at McCarl Dental Group conveniently located near Annapolis Maryland is a great way to brighten a smile.

Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives that can remove staining on the outside of the teeth but do not alter the intrinsic color of teeth. Professional tray system teeth whitening or bleaching corrects most types of discoloration by removing intrinsic stains. Professional teeth whitening is a quick and safe way to whiten teeth 2-5 shades.

At McCarl Dental Group, we recommend the in-home tray teeth whitening system. First, we take impressions to make custom fitted teeth whitening trays. A precise fit of the tray is essential to the success of the whitening treatment. In the comfort of your home, you place the prescription whitening gel in the custom fitted tray. We recommend DayWhite, NightWhite and  Zoom teeth whitening gels.  During the specified time, the tooth whitening gel oxidizes allowing oxygen to enter the enamel which whitens or bleaches the teeth. The tooth is made lighter but the structure of the tooth is not changed.

Contact our Millersville Dental Office at 410-987-8800 or our Greenbelt Dental Office 301-474-4144 to learn about our special discount for professional teeth whitening.

Professional teeth whitening is an excellent solution for many patients however fillings, crowns, and bonding will not lighten past their original color.  Teeth with yellow and light brown stains usually lighten well, but gray colored teeth often do not bleach as well. There are many excellent options for patients who are not good candidates for enhancing their smile with teeth whitening.  For these dental patients, porcelain veneers may give the best results.  The dentists at McCarl Dental Group are included in Americas Top Dentists and are experts on all types of smile makeovers and cosmetic dental reconstruction.

If you are interested in enhancing your smile, whether through teeth bleaching, ultra thin veneers, traditional porcelain veneers, or crowns, please make an appointment for a complimentary consultation at McCarl Dental Group.  We offer professional teeth whitening and smile makeovers to our dental patients in Annapolis, Maryland and also our dental patients in Severna Park, Crofton, Crownsville and Millersville, College Park, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, New Carrollton, Laurel and Greenbelt.

On Friday March 5, 2010 Dr. Clayton McCarl and Dr. Jay McCarl took time off from treating dental patients to attend a continuing education course on the latest advancements in cosmetic dentistry. Because the dentists at McCarl Dental Group strive to always stay current with the latest dental procedures and technologies, many of the procedures and materials discussed are already in place at our Millersville and Greenbelt Maryland dental offices. What we look for are “the pearls” of knowledge and information that will make a difference to our patients.  Last Friday, we found some pearls to further enhance our cosmetic dentistry techniques and, especially our patients’ healthy and beautiful smiles.  Our emphasis on continuing education and current technology is always appreciated by our patients from  Annapolis, Severna Park, Crofton, Crownsville, Millersville, College Park and Greenbelt.

The lecture emphasized porcelain veneers and crowns, ultra thin veneers that require no drilling, smile makeovers, and other esthetic forms of dental care available today. Dr. David Hornbrook an internationally acclaimed innovator in cosmetic dentistry taught the course. Dr. Hornbrook has founded several world renown cosmetic dental training centers including:  The Hornbrook Group Center for Advanced Continuing Education, The Las Vegas Institute (LVI), and PAClive. The program was sponsored by The Academy of General Dentistry and Becden Dental Lab.

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group are committed to ongoing study in all fields of dentistry. Dr. Hornbrook’s course allowed us additional insight into advancements in new stronger and more esthetic forms of porcelain, diode lasers, easier and more effective ways to improve a patient’s bite, and an honest discussion on which innovations will bring benefit to our patients and which products are more hype than substance.

McCarl Dental Hygienists Jump for Joy when our patients brush and floss regularly.mpg

March is a great month to schedule your dental hygiene visit. As a gift to you, we offer a $45 New Patient Exam, cleaning and necessary x-rays ($295 value). Come see why we were  voted Annapolis Top Dentists.

McCarl Dental Hygiene exams include professional cleaning, tartar, plaque and calculus removal, x-rays as necessary and fluoride treatment. Our highly trained dental hygienists provide the latest procedures and techniques in periodontal care for your oral health. We take great care of your healthy, beautiful smile.

Today several of our dental patients from Annapolis and Severna Park Maryland asked us about ways to enhance their smiles. Some would like to correct problems they have had since childhood such as discolored or misaligned teeth. Others would like to minimize the effects of aging that develop over time including cracked or worn down teeth.  If you do not enjoy smiling because you are self conscious about your teeth, there are a wide range of options available to give you a confident and attractive smile. A beautiful and healthy smile conveys warmth, confidence and success.  McCarl Dentists were named Top Dentists in Annapolis because of their high quality dentistry along with the confidence and respect from dental specialists in Annapolis Maryland.

Please visit our website at http://www.mccarldental.com to see smile makeovers designed and created by McCarl dentists.  Several of our dental patients featured on our website had complex dental cases with combinations of treatments including Invisalign orthodontics, dental implants and gum recontouring along with porcelain veneers and crowns. Others were able to achieve their goals for their smile in two or three visits.

• Crooked teeth can be straightened with Invisalign orthodontics, or for a quicker solution, porcelain veneers.
• Chipped and broken teeth can be repaired – the treatment will depend on the extent of damage, but the options include cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.
• Missing teeth cause functional problems as well as being unsightly. Solutions include dental implants with crowns, permanent bridges or dentures.
• Gaps between your teeth can be closed instantly with porcelain veneers. Orthodontics can also be used to move the teeth and close the gaps between them.
• If stained and discolored teeth cannot be brightened with professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers are an option.

McCarl Dental Group conveniently located near Annapolis and Severna Park Maryland offers complimentary consultations to answer questions and share information regarding dental implants, Invisalign orthodontics or a smile makeover with porcelain crowns or veneers.

One of the most exciting aspects in dentistry is the rapidly improving dental treatments in dental procedures. If you are missing teeth, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the dramatic improvements in minimally invasive dental implants. The procedure used to require significant and expensive periodontal surgery with a six month recovery before any teeth could be placed on the implant. Now it is a quick and minimally invasive procedure that often has no down time before a tooth, partial or full denture can be attached to the implant.

The bottom line for many patients with dentures is that for the first time since they have had dentures, they can actually talk and chew without being afraid that their dentures will fall out or shift causing sores in their mouths. Because the new procedure is less invasive, it is also less expensive. It is a win-win situation for our dental patients who now have a quick, comfortable and affordable solution for the discomfort and inconveniences of missing teeth and dentures.

The majority of dental patients who visit McCarl Dental Group live in Annapolis, Severna Park, Crofton, Crownsville College Park, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, New Carrollton, Laurel, Greenbelt, and Millersville Maryland.

Did you know that having straight rather than “crowded” teeth is much healthier for your gums? It is more difficult to clean crooked teeth so they are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Invisalign Orthodontic trays are a custom, invisible, removable, comfortable, affordable and effective way to straighten teeth!

The Invisalign system is a series of clear aligners that allows McCarl Dental patients to straighten their teeth without having to wear traditional braces. Each pair of aligners is worn two weeks. Patients are instructed to remove them only to eat, drink, brush and floss. In just months, the aligners move the teeth into the desired final position.  Patients of all ages love the comfort, ease and affordability of Invisalign.  Our Annapolis Maryland octogenarian is half way through her Invisalign treatment – she says it is a breeze! A McCarl Dental patient from Crownsville Maryland says, “The process was less costly and less time consuming than conventional braces. People never knew about my treatment unless I choose to tell them about my invisible braces. The best advice I would give someone considering Invisalign is not to hesitate. You will be wearing a great big smile immediately.”

Invisalign Orthodontics are often combined with other dental procedures including, dental implants, as well as porcelain veneers and crowns.  McCarl Dental Group has been named a 2010 Preferred Provider of Invisalign Orthodontics by Align Technology.

McCarl Dental Invisalign Orthodontics patients are all smiles with their straight and healthy teeth. Invisalign Orthodontics are affordable and we offer interest free financing options.

Special Offer Invisalign Orthodontics McCarl Dental Group

Porcelain veneers are often an excellent alternative to porcelain crowns. Long lasting and conservative, porcelain veneers have gained immense popularity because of their realistic appearance and their resistance to stains. Porcelain veneers and ultra-thin veneers, such as Lumineers and Durathin veneers, are dental porcelain laminates that bond to teeth.
Porcelain veneers can change the color, shape and size of teeth and are ideal for covering stains, correcting misalignment, closing gaps and restoring worn teeth. Veneers are considered a cosmetic procedure but can also improve the health, form and function of the mouth.  Crooked teeth can be difficult to clean and are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
Planning and design for all cosmetic dentistry cases requires experience as well as technical and artistic talent to properly design the veneer for the shape and structure of the patient’s face. The type of porcelain veneer we recommend depends on each patient’s teeth and goals for their smile. Regardless of the type of dental procedure, patients can expect their smile to look very natural and radiant. Porcelain veneers can create a beautiful, confident smile that looks real and natural, “turning back the clock” for people with small or worn teeth and giving them a more youthful smile.
The dentists at McCarl Dental Group have been enhancing patients’ smiles with veneers for more than 20 years. We “begin” every dental procedure with the “end” in mind. What is the best possible dental procedure to meet each individual patient’s goals and expectations?  How many financial options are available and which best match our patients’ needs and desired outcome? Porcelain veneers are custom and are designed specifically for each patient with that patient’s input regarding their preferences for shape, color and translucency.
Many types of porcelain veneers are similar to porcelain crowns in that the tooth surface has to be prepared to accept the veneer. Unlike porcelain crowns, which cover the entire tooth, veneers cover only the visible portion of the tooth. Although, much of the natural tooth remains in place, a small amount of the enamel covering the tooth must be removed to allow space for the veneer.
Utlra-thin veneers are comparable to a contact lens in thickness and in many cases do not require preparation of the teeth. They are custom-made to adhere directly to the front of teeth making them an option to consider for minor cosmetic adjustments including extending small teeth, fixing a minor chip, or changing color. These brands of veneers require little or no tooth preparation to apply and give you the option to return to your original smile in the future. However, because there is little or no tooth preparation, Lumineers may look and feel bulkier than traditional veneers. A dentist with technical and artistic talent who has experience in selecting the appropriate type of veneer for each patient can design the shapes of the veneers, layering the porcelain, so that all types of veneers look natural.

If you would like learn more about porcelain veneers, please contact McCarl Dental Group. We offer a wide range of brands and types of porcelain veneers to our patients from College Park, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, New Carrollton, Laurel, Greenbelt, Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Crownsville and Millersville.  Please visit our smile gallery at www.mccarldental.com to see smile makeovers that feature porcelain dental veneers.

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group were among the first dentists in the Annapolis, Severna Park and Washington, DC area to learn and implement the techniques of the highest quality aesthetic dental restorations with porcelain crowns and veneers. The Drs. McCarl began their advanced post-doctorate training in cosmetic dentistry in the 1980s as these techniques were being invented and regularly attend continuing education for training in all of the latest restorative and cosmetic dental procedures and dental products. Successful cosmetic dental cases, whether a full-arch restoration or matching a single anterior porcelain crown or veneer, require extensive knowledge and planning as well as a high level of technical skill. McCarl dentists fully integrate art and science of dentistry with patient centered dental treatment.

With the iTero digital scanner, Drs. McCarl are able to use laser and optical scanning to digitally capture three-dimensional (3D) virtual images of tooth preparations so that all dental restorations  including porcelain crowns and veneers are perfectly shaped with a precision fit.  The iTero scanner captures 100,000 points of red laser light which creates perfect focus images of more than 300 focal depths of the tooth structure. Digital scanning also eliminates problems associated with traditional impressions including errors caused by air bubbles, tray movement, inadequate tray adhesive, or distortion.  This is a “win-win” situation for our patients because in addition to increased precision, digital scanning is more comfortable than traditional dental impressions.  These images are sent via high speed cable to our dental laboratory, BECDEN.  All of the information that we provide to our dental laboratory is confidential, secure and protected consistent with HIPPA standards. In addition to digital impressions, our dentists send very detailed information for each dental patient, including the patient’s goals for their smile makeover.  We provide photographs of the prepared teeth, facial photographs, study models with detailed descriptions, bite registration, and amount of incisal translucency and surface texture desired.

At McCarl Dental Group, we feature the latest technology, combined with twenty-five years of post-doctorate education and three generations of experience in caring for your smile. Please visit our website http://www.mccarldental.com or http://www.dtidental.com/ourlabs/becden/welcome.html to see cosmetic dentistry with porcelain crowns and veneers by McCarl dentists.

Dental implants in the New York Times.  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/health/17brod.html?_r=2  This is an excellent article about the benefits of dental implants.

As third generation dentists we are marveling at the newest innovations that are revolutionizing dentistry.  Imagine the difference between the foot-operated drill used in the 1930s and dental lasers or the current digital scanners that that we now use to send images to our dental lab through cyberspace.  Our iTero digital scanners help us make perfect porcelain crowns and vereers – every time!

Another procedure that has dramatically improved with new technology during the last year is dental implants. Today, we can permanently replace missing teeth and securely anchor loose dentures and partials in one appointment.  Just a few years ago, a patient who wanted a permanent solution for a missing tooth needed to have a surgical incision for implant placement with a six month recovery time. Now we can help patients replace missing teeth immediately with greater comfort and less expense. Dental implants can also make it easier to keep gums and underlying bone healthy.

It is not an exaggeration to say that changes in the technology and procedures for dental implants have made profound improvements in the quality of life for people with dentures.

At McCarl Dental Group, we combine the latest technology with three generations of experience in caring for your smile.

Digital dental x-rays are now available in dental office serving Annapolis, Crofton, Millersville and Severna Park Maryland. McCarl Dental Group at Shipleys Choice is pleased to announce the installation of our Planmeca Digital Panoramic Radiograph. This new x-ray machine provides superior image quality and allows us to be able to take quick and comfortable digital images of the face and jaws to more accurately determine appropriate placement for dental implants. It can also be used for Invisalign Orthodontics, diagnosing impacted wisdom teeth and patients who have difficulty with the traditional bitewing x-rays. This state-of-the-art dental technology is also available at our Greenbelt Maryland location.

To celebrate our new arrival, we are offering a COMPLEMENTARY consultation with a McCarl dentist for Invisalign Orthodontics or dental implants including a digital panoramic x-ray. To schedule your complementary consultation, please call our Millersville Maryland office at 410-987-8800or our Greenbelt Maryland office at 301-474-4144.   This special offer is available from February 15 through March 15, 2010.

OraVerse rapidly reverses the effects of local dental anesthetic and accelerates the recovery of normal sensation and function in the lips and tongue.  Numbness after dental anesthetic typically lasts for three to five hours. OraVerse shortens the residual effects of local dental anesthetics, which may include numbness in the lips and tongue, not being able to eat, drink, smile or talk normally and sometimes even drooling! OraVerse is approved for use following routine dental procedures including periodontal treatment and fillings as well as preparation and placement of porcelain veneers and crowns. When your dentist administers OraVerse immediately following a dental procedure, normal sensation and function often return in about half the time.

The McCarl dentists are always looking for ways to help our patients feel even more comfortable during and after their dental procedures.  Please visit the “Top Dentists” at McCarl Dental Group for state of the art dental care in Greenbelt, Annapolis, Millersville and Severna Park Maryland.  Visit our website www.mccarldental.com to print a coupon for our new patient discount – $45 for cleaning by dental hygienist, exam by dentist and necessary x-rays.