Family Dentistry

Yes! If the dental pain is from grinding your teeth!

Grinding and clenching teeth often occurs during times of personal stress.  For many people, the first symptom of teeth grinding is a headache or pain in the jaw. Grinding and clenching can also cause destruction of the enamel of the teeth which over time can lead to significant loss of tooth structure. Most people are not aware of the damage since grinding does not cause visible cavities in the teeth. Nighttime clenching is more subtle than grinding and often results in cracked or fractured back teeth.
A nightguard, such as the NTI device, is often the first treatment for grinding and clenching.  The NTI attaches to your front two teeth and prevents the back teeth from touching which suppresses clenching and allows the jaw muscles and joints to relax and heal.  Since the teeth do not have direct contact, teeth do not get worn down.

The NTI is easy to wear and is custom made in just one visit to the Greenbelt or Millersville Maryland offices of McCarl Dental Group http://www.mccarldental.com/mccarl-dental-office-directions-hours-dental-services.php.  Many of our patients experience relief from jaw discomfort in a few days.

What are Wisdom Teeth?
Your teeth start developing when you are born. By the tenth or twelfth year, all of the baby teeth arrive, eventually falling out during childhood to be replaced by permanent or adult teeth. The last teeth to arrive are your wisdom teeth, they are the third set of molars to appear and hopefully indicate that you are “wise.”
However, wisdom teeth frequently cause problems and need to be removed. Sometimes your dentist at McCarl Dental Group will choose to remove your wisdom teeth for you and other times we will refer you to an oral surgeon for removal. We select cases carefully for the maximum comfort of our dental patients.  We will monitor tooth eruption and spacing during your regular dental hygiene visits and dental exams. If you are a new dental patient to McCarl Dental Group, please take advantage of our New Patient Invitation for a teeth  cleaning, dental exam and x-rays for $45.
Why are Wisdom Teeth such “Troublemakers?”
Getting Wisdom teeth removed has become a rite of passage – something almost everyone experiences during high school years or early adulthood. But why? What is it about Wisdom teeth that make them such “troublemakers?”
Since Wisdom teeth are the ‘last teeth to arrive”, they get the amount of space that remains in the back of the jaw. Often times that space is not large enough to allow normal eruption. In precious generations, people lost permanent teeth at an early age.  Teeth shifted forward into the space of the missing tooth, creating more room for the wisdom teeth to erupt. When there is insufficient room, the Wisdom teeth become misaligned. Wisdom teeth tend to come in at odd angles that interfere with the rest of your teeth. When wisdom teeth come in too close to your other teeth, they can crowd your teeth, causing damage and increasing the risk of tooth decay. Wisdom teeth can also trap plaque and food particles, resulting in cavities and infection.
Another complication that we often see with wisdom teeth is when the tooth becomes impacted – or stuck within the jawbone or soft tissue of the gum line. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause infection, tooth decay and gum disease. The pressure from impacted wisdom teeth and resulting infection can be painful.

What Should you do About your Wisdom Teeth?
Your dentist at McCarl Dental Group will monitor the growth and eruption of your wisdom teeth. We evaluate dental x-rays to see if wisdom teeth are coming in crooked, if the teeth are impacted, or if they are likely to cause other problems for the rest of your smile. Not everyone gets all four of their wisdom teeth and some people who have large jaws have enough room for them.
If your dentist recommends getting your wisdom teeth removed, it is usually easiest to remove them before they cause any problems. It is also easier to remove wisdom teeth from people while they are young, because the roots of the teeth are not entrenched as solidly. Wisdom teeth can be removed from older people, but it is often more difficult, and recovery can take longer.
How are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Depending on the position of your wisdom teeth and other factors, you may be able to have your wisdom teeth removed by a general dentist with local anesthetic. Some complex cases are referred to an oral surgeon for sedation – especially when wisdom teeth are impacted. Sometimes wisdom teeth can be removed one at a time as they emerge; for other patients, it’s best to remove all four wisdom teeth at once.
Please talk to your McCarl dentist if you have any concerns or questions about your wisdom teeth.

Did you know that straight teeth are healthier than crooked or crowded teeth? Crowded and crooked teeth are harder to brush and floss causing plaque buildup, tooth decay and periodontal disease. When left untreated, crowded, missing or widely spaced teeth can prevent normal chewing which also increases the likelihood of periodontal disease and bone loss. Similarly, misaligned teeth and jaws can cause abnormal wear on your teeth, painful jaw joint problems, TMJ syndrome, tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments.

Overall gum and bone health are improved when teeth fit together with an ideal bite. Clinical studies have shown that when teeth are properly aligned, gums fit tighter around the teeth, which improves periodontal health. And, of course, there are cosmetic benefits of a beautiful straight smile. Your teeth should make you look and feel great. Our Millersville and Greenbelt Dental patients love their healthy, straight teeth and beautiful smiles.

Adults are having their teeth straightened in unprecedented numbers! Whether you are self-conscious about your smile or concerned about your dental and overall health, Invisalign is a great solution.  Many adults notice their teeth shifting, crowding and getting crooked, especially the lower front teeth. Even people who had braces as teenagers often experience relapse causing crowded teeth.

Benefits of Straight Teeth
• Improved function and wear patterns of the teeth
• Increased ability to clean the teeth
• Better long-term health of teeth and gums
• A more attractive smile

Fortunately there are simple and convenient ways to straighten your teeth. Invisalign trays straighten teeth and correct your bite just like metal braces – only nobody else knows you are wearing them! The metal brackets and wires used with braces often cause irritation to the mouth and gums. Also no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your dentist’s office getting adjustments. Invisalign is more comfortable, more convenient and less expensive than metal braces. The dentists at McCarl Dental Group are premier providers of Invisalign Orthodontics.

Invisalign can correct a wide variety of dental and orthodontic concerns.  Before starting Invisalign orthodontics at McCarl Dental Group, your dentist will take x-rays and photographs that are combined with 3-D computer imaging technology to design your individual treatment plan. You will receive a series of custom made clear trays which fit snugly over your teeth. Each tray is worn for two weeks before moving to the next tray. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will gradually shift until they have straightened to an ideal position. If you have only minor crowding, it will take fewer trays to correct. Some Invisalign cases take only ten trays (20 weeks) to correct fully. Major crowding cases take longer; however, Invisalign is often faster than traditional braces. For most adults, treatment time is just under one year. Invisalign is a great way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life.

Sally McCarl Moore adds that hygienists LOVE Invisalign because the patients take them out to eat and brush and floss before replacing them. “This keeps the gums healthy during treatment and does not cause any decay or tooth discoloration, which are all significant problems with traditional braces. Invisalign allows patients to maintain good oral hygiene habits and is a great way to straighten teeth!”

Invisalign Orthodontics are often combined with other dental procedures including, dental implants, porcelain veneers and crowns. Because crooked teeth and misaligned bites can contribute to other health problems, Invisalign orthodontics may be covered by dental insurance. There are also excellent financing options available. Call our Greenbelt Dental Office at 301-474-4144 or our Millersville Dental Office at 410-987-8800.

A filling is a dental restoration that is most commonly needed when tooth decay has caused a hole or cavity to form on a tooth surface. Fillings can also repair a chipped tooth or damage from grinding that causes the tooth surface to become worn down. Fillings repair teeth and stop tooth decay. If you do not get the tooth repaired, the cavity will get worse and lead to more severe problems, potentially including painful infection or tooth abscess and ultimately, bone loss. There is almost no risk involved in having a cavity filled. It is important to start treatment before tooth decay becomes worse. More severe decay may cause pain and tooth loss and may require a crown, root canal, or tooth removal (extraction).

In most cases, your dentist will use a drill to remove tooth decay. Once all decay is removed, your dentist will determine the type of tooth restoration that is most appropriate based on the size and location of the cavity. If the cavity is too large to restore the tooth with a filling, a crown may be necessary.

As with many dental procedures, fillings are restorative (purpose is to repair teeth) but also cosmetic. Dental fillings should blend in and look the same as your natural teeth. Old silver amalgam fillings can be distracting and make a tooth look darker than the rest of your smile.  The most attractive fillings are the ones you can’t see when you speak or smile. At McCarl Dental Group we use aesthetic composite fillings which are white fillings that match the color of your teeth. Composite resin is tooth-colored material used to fill a cavity after removing tooth decay. Fillings can last many years. It is important to replace worn or cracked fillings because tooth decay can occur beneath a filling that does not have a tight seal.

If your dentist used local anesthetic, your lips and gums may remain numb for a few hours until the numbing medicine wears off. Be careful not to chew on your lip or cheek while that area is numb. A tooth with a new large filling may be sensitive to heat and cold for days to weeks. We always check your bite carefully after filling a tooth but minor adjustments may be necessary to ensure a perfect bite. This takes only a few minutes and there is no charge. Simply call us to schedule a convenient time for a quick adjustment – there is no additional charge. If you still have sensitivity after the adjustment of the height of the filling, try Sensodyne or other toothpastes that may help decrease temporary sensitivity.

Please visit our dental office in Millersville and Greenbelt Maryland for state of the art dental care.

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

Broken teeth needing emergency dental care by Greenbelt dentist

Emergency repair of broken teeth by Greenbelt dentist

At McCarl Dental Group, we treat patients who need emergency dental treatment every day. When a dental emergency is causing pain or prevents you from going out in public, we ask, “How soon can you get to our dental office?”

Pain, swelling, broken teeth and a lost crown are the most common dental emergencies. Sometimes dental emergencies happen when you are traveling or when you just can’t get to a dental office.

Here are some short term remedies you can try before you see your dentist.

Tips for Lost Crown, Veneer or Permanent Bridge – If your crown, veneer or bridge has come loose, the primary short term goal is to NOT swallow or lose it!

If there is any risk of swallowing or losing your crown, veneer or bridge, keep it out of your mouth, store it in a safe place and make an appointment as soon as possible!
Hint: a clear sandwich bag or medicine vial is much safer than wrapping it in a tissue or paper towel – they are often accidently thrown away or simply disappear.

•    Sometimes a patient can re-seat a crown and have it “snap” into place.

•    Another temporary solution is to use Vaseline or an FDA approved denture adhesive as a temporary glue. DO NOT     use super glue or any other type of permanent glue to hold your crown, veneer or permanent bridge into place!

Emergency Dental Care for a Broken Tooth – Does cold air or water cause pain? If so, you should schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible. Do not eat on that tooth – a crack can spread and cause major damage.

What to do when a Permanent Tooth is Knocked Out
Gently pick up the tooth by the chewing surface being careful to not touch the root of the tooth. If dirty, gently rinse the tooth in water or milk. Do not use soap, scrub the tooth or wrap it in a tissue. Try to reposition the tooth in its socket immediately – do not use excessive force. The sooner the tooth is replaced the greater the likelihood it will survive. If you cannot get the tooth back into its socket, keep it moist either by carrying the tooth in cool milk or in the mouth – do not swallow the tooth!

Make an appointment with your Greenbelt dentist or Millersville dentist  at McCarl Dental Group as soon as possible and ideally within 30 minutes. You may also apply a cold compress to the mouth and gums to decrease pain and bleeding.

Every day we hear lots of creative (and sometimes lame) excuses for not flossing.

“The cat unraveled my floss.”

“I used it to hang my pictures.”

“I couldn’t find white thread and needed it to reattach a button.”

“Went fishing and used floss as fishing line.”

“Emergency shoe lace.”

“Ponytail holder.” Yada, yada, yada…

The excuse we hear most often is, “My gums bleed when I floss – it must be bad for me.”

If this is your excuse, we have great news! Gums only bleed for a day or two when you start flossing daily. The reason for bleeding is that the gums are inflamed from food and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Once the plaque is removed, your gums will no longer be inflamed and will stop bleeding.  To keep your gums healthy, you must maintain regular brushing, flossing and routine professional cleaning to prevent build up of bacteria-harboring plaque and tartar.

At McCarl Dental Group, we give floss to every patient after their dental hygiene visits. If you have your teeth cleaned regularly according to your dentists’ recommendations, and run out of floss between visits, please come see us. We are happy to give you more floss!

According to Dr. Steven Offenbacher, professor of periodontology at UNC’s School of Dentistry and Dental Research, “Poor dental health is so prevalent that the number of lives saved by eliminating gum disease worldwide would definitely be in the hundreds of thousands.” The first sign of gum disease or gingivitis is red or swollen gums that bleed easily. If gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, the gums recede and pockets form between the gums and teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss.

A substance produced in the body called high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein or hs-CRP is suspected to play a role in the link between gum disease and heart disease. Inflammation from acute gum disease increases the amount of hs-CRP. The American Heart Association says hs-CRP is linked to an increased risk for heart attacks.

Here are a few pointers – just in case you have forgotten how to floss.
•    Hold an 18-inch piece of floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers.

•    Guide the floss between the teeth, gently hugging the side of each tooth.

•    When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against the side of the tooth and slide it in between the gum and the tooth.

•    Move the floss away from the gum with up and down motions and repeat this method between all of your teeth. Don’t forget the back of your last tooth!

Good oral hygiene means much more than bright white teeth. The condition of your teeth and gums is associated with a growing list of diseases that affect your overall health. Here are 9 ways to keep a healthy smile for a lifetime.

1) Quit Smoking
Everyone has heard about the cardiovascular and cancer risks associated with tobacco use and smoking. Smokers are also two to three times more likely to get periodontal disease and do not heal as well after periodontal treatment for gum infections.

2) Eat for a Healthy Body and Healthy Teeth
Eat a balanced variety of healthy foods from the five major food groups. Recent dental research indicates that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may help prevent oral cancer. A healthy diet with enough calcium and vitamin D will help you maintain strong teeth and bones. If you have osteoporosis or periodontal disease, you are at higher risk of losing teeth. If you do lose a tooth, get a dental implant to prevent resorption and shrinking of your jaw bone.

Limit sugary snacks and decrease soft drink consumption – even diet soda! Tooth decay and dental cavities are caused by bacteria that are normally present in your mouth. Every time you eat, bits of food become lodged in and around your teeth. This food provides fuel for the bacteria in plaque. Oral bacteria produce acid. Each time you consume food or beverages containing sugars your teeth are exposed to these acids for 20 minutes or more. Even diet-sodas are very acidic and increase risk of tooth decay and cavities. Brush your teeth after eating. Careful brushing and flossing help keep normal bacteria under control.

3) Brush and Floss Properly
Bleeding gums can be serious. Seventy five percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gingivitis or gum disease. Gum disease and gingivitis are associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and pregnancy complications.

Brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss daily. Use a soft brush in gentle circular motions at a 45-degree angle to your gum line. You may also use an electric toothbrush to help with areas that are difficult to reach. Electric toothbrushes are automatically set for two minutes which is the recommended brushing time. Floss gently but firmly, hugging the side of each tooth and make sure to floss gently into the gum line along the tooth to remove any plaque or food that has lodged between your teeth or between a tooth and your gum.  We recommend a professional dental hygiene visit at least twice a year.

4) Use Fluoride Products
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and strengthen tooth enamel in children and adults. In addition to the fluoride treatment that you receive after your teeth are cleaned by a dental hygienist during a routine dental exam, toothpastes and fluoride rinses are good sources of fluoride. Your dentist may recommend a stronger concentration of fluoride in a gel, toothpaste or rinse.

5) Know the Warning Signs of Oral Cancer
Have you ever noticed a small white or red patch in your mouth or a sore that takes longer than two weeks to heal? These symptoms could potentially be a sign of oral cancer. Other potential signs of oral cancer include: a sore that doesn’t heal or bleeds easily; a lump, thickening, ulceration, or color change of the gums and tissue in the mouth; chronic sore throats and a change in tonsil size. Dental journals are filled with articles about human papillomavirus (HPV) and an associated increase in oral cancer, with reports that 30 to 50 percent of head and neck cancer diagnoses are HPV related. Other risk factors include alcohol and tobacco use, sun exposure (lip cancer), and age.

6) Keep Your Dental Work Current
Old fillings can wear out or chip around the edges creating an opportunity for bacteria to enter the tooth and cause decay. Your dentist will evaluate the seal of all dental work during routine exams. You should visit your dentist if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity or discomfort.  Also, don’t use your teeth as tools.

7) Reduce Stress
Grinding or clenching your teeth can cause excessive wear on the chewing surfaces of teeth and can even lead to cracked and chipped teeth. Our teeth normally wear down with age – clenching and grinding accelerates the process. Dental mouth guards, NTI appliances and stress-management techniques can also help reduce clenching.

Pregnant? See your OB … AND DDS
Pregnancy hormones can increase propensity toward swollen and bleeding gums that are more vulnerable to bacterial infection.  Inflammation of the gums during pregnancy is called “pregnancy gingivitis.” Flossing is especially important because it reduces the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis, a serious gum infection that can travel from your mouth to your body. Periodontal disease has been associated with preterm and low-birth-weight babies.

You may have heard the old wives’ tale about pregnancy,” Gain a child, lose a tooth.” The origin of this phrase is that pregnancy interferes with calcium absorption and increases hormones that affect oral health. Studies have indeed found a link between pregnancy and dental problems. It is important to have excellent oral hygiene during pregnancy and continue with routine dental exams and hygiene visits for teeth cleaning.

9) Prevention is the best strategy for keeping our teeth and bodies healthy!

It is not uncommon to see a dramatic increase in dental cavities during college years. A diet high in sugar coupled with changes in personal hygiene are often to blame for the increase in tooth decay.

Tooth decay and dental cavities are caused by bacteria that are normally present in and around the teeth. These bacteria feed off the food you put in your mouth and love sugar. Today’s fast-paced college lifestyle is filled with fast food, sugar-packed coffees and sugary soft drinks. Even diet-sodas are very acidic and increase the predisposition toward cavities because bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. Byproducts of the bacteria in your mouth cause a breakdown of the adjacent enamel, starting a “cavity.”  Another risk factor for cavities are the changes in personal hygiene that often occur during college years.

Symptoms of cavities and tooth decay vary depending on the location and depth of the cavity. When a cavity is in its early stages, there may not be any symptoms. As tooth decay increases, it may cause tooth sensitivity or a toothache, varying degrees of pain when you bite down or when eating or drinking something sweet, hot or cold, visible holes or pits in your teeth, or generalized discomfort or pain in the mouth or jaw. A dental cavity will not get better on its own. If you’re experiencing one or more cavity symptoms, it’s time to see a dentist. At McCarl Dental Group we offer our new dental patients a discount of more than two hundred dollars for their initial dental cleaning , dental exam and necessary x-rays.

“Pit and fissure” cavities are the most common type of cavities. Back teeth or molars have natural grooves, fissures and “pits” on their chewing surface. Pronounced pits, grooves, or fissures retain plaque. Toothbrush bristles cannot reach inside to clean these deep pits and fissures further allowing plaque and tartar to accumulate. During college years, in young adults who do not floss their teeth regularly, we see an increase in interproximal tooth decay causing cavities in-between the teeth. Because of their location, most of the time interproximal cavities can only be seen with an x-ray.
Once a dental cavity is detected, the dentist removes bacteria and decay and fills the cavity to restore strength to the tooth.  In deep cavities, the nerve of the tooth may be affected by the bacteria, requiring additional cleaning of the infected nerve called a “root canal”.  Luckily, this occurs only in the deepest of cavities. Usually there are warning signs, such as a sensitivity to extreme temperatures or to sweet foods.

Preventing Dental Cavities
The first step in preventing cavities is to maintain good oral hygiene to minimize bacterial colonization. It is important to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. The use of a fluoride rinse also helps by strengthening tooth enamel. You can also help prevent cavities by eating well-balanced, nutritious meals and limiting snacking. Maintaining your regularly scheduled dental visits for teeth cleaning and fluoride treatment by a dental hygienist not only helps prevent tooth decay, but the dental exam improves the likelihood of early detection of cavities and treatment with a small rather than large filling.

At McCarl Dental Group we recommend college students have dental exams with teeth cleaning by a professional hygienist every six months. We also recommend that young adults use a prescription strength flouride toothpaste. McCarl dentists recommend Colgate PreviDent 5000 Plus prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste.

A frequent source of dental emergencies is broken or chipped teeth from people using them as scissors, pliers or fingernail clippers. You would not believe the things people try to open or cut with their teeth – bottles, plastic bags, tape, string, fishing lines, cloth … you name it! We see chipped teeth and broken teeth that damage the dental enamel of natural teeth, but also in porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns. PLEASE DON’T USE YOUR TEETH AS TOOLS!

Crunching ice causes severe problems. Chewing on large pieces of ice causes stress fractures in even the healthiest teeth. Ice is hard and brittle but also cold which causes contraction in the tooth enamel of natural teeth.  Porcelain crowns also break and chip when chewing ice. Damage from chewing ice occurs in molars and often results in a severe fracture, not just a small chip. Fingernail biting is also a frequent reason for chipped enamel or porcelain in front teeth.

Treating dental emergencies is a routine aspect of comprehensive dental care. McCarl dentists strive to provide same day emergency dental treatment to people experiencing dental pain or a broken tooth causing cosmetic dental concerns. The dentists at McCarl Dental Group serve Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County.  Our dental offices are conveniently located near Annapolis, Severna Park, Crofton, Crownsville, College Park, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, New Carrollton, Laurel, Greenbelt and Millersville.

Unlike bones, fractured teeth do not heal themselves. A tooth may or may not cause pain when it is cracked or fractured and many minor tooth fractures do not cause symptoms. Deeper fractures are often painful because the damage extends to the nerve inside the tooth. Pain from fractures may come and go or may be constant. It is always best to treat the dental emergency as soon as possible to try to prevent the problem from getting worse.

Please STOP USING YOUR TEETH AS TOOLS. Visit the dentists at McCarl Dental Group for top quality dental care for damaged and healthy teeth.