Dental Hygienist

Here are 5 helpful tips if your New Year’s Resolutions include having a healthy, beautiful smile in 2012.

1. Quit smoking! Smoking is major culprit when it comes to gum disease – and most other diseases. Smoking constricts and damages small blood vessels throughout your body and decreases blood supply that carries healthy nutrients. Smoking also darkens your teeth. It is not too late to make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking!

2. Brush your teeth three times a day and floss at least once daily. The most important part of tooth care happens at home. Learn correct techniques for brushing and flossing. The dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group recommend using an electric toothbrush. Proper brushing and flossing, along with regular dental checkups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Your dental health affects your overall health! Visit your dentist and/or dental hygienist every six months and more often when needed.

3. Switch to healthy snacks that include raw fruits and vegetables. Sugary foods and sodas can damage the enamel that protects your teeth. Hard candies, breath mints and cough drops that contain sugar dissolve slowly in your mouth and are especially harmful to your teeth. Acidic drinks can also eat away at the enamel layer of your teeth.

4. Stop grinding your teeth! Clenching and grinding wear down teeth and may lead to broken teeth, headaches, and pain in your jaw muscle and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In just a few minutes at our dental office, we can make a custom night guard for you that will help prevent damage to your teeth caused by nighttime grinding. A night guard will also ease the tension in your jaw muscles.

5. Never use your teeth as tools! 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!

Greenbelt and Millersville Maryland Dental Hygienists at McCarl Dental Group

At McCarl Dental Group we recommend that all patients see one of our registered dental hygienists for routine prophylactic cleaning appointments at least every 6 months. For patients with gum disease we may recommend visits every 3-4 months. Our hygienists work with each one of our patients to ensure that they maintain optimum gum health, which means keeping their teeth healthier for years to come. With extensive training in the removal of tartar and plaque from the tooth surfaces and below the gums, dental hygienists play an active role in fighting periodontal disease.

Many people believe that if they do not have problems with their teeth, they do not need to have their teeth cleaned by a hygienist and examined by a dentist. This can mean a couple of years quickly turns into 5, 10, or even 15 before some people have another dental exam. Unfortunately, for most of these people, waiting longer between visits means unhealthy gums and sometimes very rampant tooth decay.

When plaque is missed from irregular flossing, it hardens and becomes tartar under the gumline. This contributes significantly to the destruction of gum and bone attachment levels around your teeth. Eventually this uncontrolled gum disease, correctly known as periodontal disease, can lead to tooth loss.  Through routine cleaning appointments and screenings, patients can help prevent conditions including periodontal disease and advanced tooth decay.

The hygienists at McCarl Dental Group work with each individual patient to help them create an oral hygiene regimen that will work best for their own needs. Fifty percent of tooth and gum health comes from what you’re doing at home. Because every person’s mouth is different, so are his or her home care needs. What works for one person may not work for the next.

Hygienists don’t just clean teeth or check for suspicious areas of decay. They also screen for oral cancer and precancerous lesions of the mouth, head and neck.  Many medical conditions and diseases of the human body first manifest themselves as symptoms that are seen in the mouth. Because people are more likely to see their hygienists for routine cleanings as opposed to annual physical exams with their doctor, many conditions are first found in the dental office. Many Dental Hygienists also offer nutritional counseling because of the vital connection between overall health and oral health.

McCarl Dental Group hygienists help promote and safeguard your overall health and wellness. If you’re behind on your dental hygienist visits, it’s better to be late than never. Contact us today to schedule your biannual cleaning appointment. You can reach our Millersville, Maryland dental office at (410) 987- 8800 or our Greenbelt, Maryland dental office at (310) 474-4144. You may also request an appointment online at www.McCarlDental.com.

The Dangers of Soft Drinks and Sport Drinks

When we think of active, healthy people, we normally envision athletes or someone with a gym membership. Most likely if you’re watching a sporting event, there is an ample supply of sport drinks available to the athletes. While these drinks are often intended to help rehydrate the athlete, they wreak havoc on our teeth.

The same goes for soda and soft drinks. Both sports and soft drinks contain sugars and acidic juices. When these combine with our saliva and are broken down for digestion, an acid byproduct is created. This acid is active on the tooth surface for about 30 minutes. Because it is in liquid form, drinks coat the tooth and reach into deep grooves and areas between teeth. When we have more frequent exposure to these beverages, our decay rate increases. Erosion of the tooth enamel also occurs during consumption of these drinks.(i)

A study done on triathletes showed that while only a small percentage of them perceived themselves at a risk for dental decay, over 80% consumed sport drinks and showed extremely high risk for decay.(ii) Surprisingly, some sports drinks are more damaging to the teeth than soft drinks.(iii) Most of the time these drinks are consumed on a frequent basis over a long period of time. This is a recipe for dental disaster!

So do we need to give up these drinks completely? Not necessarily. However, we should be drinking water more often than anything else. Water hydrates the body extremely well and helps the teeth by rinsing some of the naturally accumulating bacteria. Our body needs water and it’s one of the best things that we can drink. If you decide that you need to drink a sport drink or soda, limit the exposure to your teeth. This can be done first of all by not sipping on the drink over an extended period of time. Sipping causes the exposure to be spread out through the day, extending the time frame in which the teeth can be damaged. Drink all at once, preferably with a meal. By limiting the time that your teeth are exposed to sweet and acidic liquids, you will help decrease the tooth decay caused by those beverages.

If your teeth suddenly happen to become sensitive to the sweet taste of sodas or sport drinks, this is an early symptom of tooth decay. If you or your athlete is experiencing any of these symptoms, call McCarl Dental Group today at (410) 987-8800 or (301) 474-4144 to schedule an exam in our Millersville, MD or Greenbelt, MD location. You may also visit us online and print coupons for special offers at www.McCarlDental.com.

(i)Noble WH, Donovan TE, Geissberger M.; Sports drinks and dental erosion.; J Calif Dent Assoc. 2011 Apr;39(4):233-8.

(ii)Bryant S, McLaughlin K, Morgaine K, Drummond B.;  Elite Athletes and Oral Health.; Int J Sports Med. 2011 May 17.

(iii)Kitchens M, Owens BM.; Effect of carbonated beverages, coffee, sports and high energy drinks, and bottled water on the in vitro erosion characteristics of dental enamel;J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2007 Spring;31(3):153-9.

In the last few years, many new products have become  important in dentistry. One of these products allowing advances in dental care is fluoride varnish. Fluoride varnish is quickly replacing dental fluoride foams and gels.

Advantages of Dental Fluoride Varnish

Varnish is extremely effective for the prevention of tooth decay.(i) Studies show that the varnish prolongs the contact time between fluoride and the tooth surface, which helps reduce the rate of tooth decay.(ii)

At McCarl Dental Group in Millersville, MD and Greenbelt, MD we provide fluoride varnish to pediatric patients up to the age of 14. We also perform this treatment on all patients who are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Patients with braces have an increased risk of decay, and fluoride varnish is shown to be extremely effective for this category of patients. For adult patients who have extreme sensitivity areas, or are prone to decay, this is an optional therapy they can request. Unfortunately, insurance companies typically only provide fluoride coverage to patients up to the age of 14, but many adult patients feel the small out of pocket cost is well worthwhile. For those adults who do not request fluoride varnish, our office offers a fluoride rinse or foam tray at no additional cost.

Fluoride varnish is simply applied to the tooth by using a small brush, similar to a paintbrush. This thick material is painted onto your tooth by dental hygienist, and the patient is advised to not brush their teeth for at least 6 hours. Unlike traditional fluoride treatments, there is no restriction on eating or drinking, so patients are able to leave the office and have a snack or meal immediately after their appointment. Following a fluoride varnish application, there may be a slight yellowish color and thin film on the tooth. This is the actual varnish clinging to your tooth, and it is only temporary.

For our patients who have a more sensitive gag reflex, varnishes are great, because there is no need to hold a large tray in the mouth. While traditional foam trays are worn for about a minute, varnish is applied even more quickly. It’s easier than brushing your teeth, because so little product needs to be applied.

To schedule a dental appointment, dental hygiene visit or dental exam call our Millersville Maryland dental office at 410-987-8800. Or, for a Dentist in Greenbelt Maryland, call 301-474-4144. You may also request a dental appointment online at www.mccarldental.com.

(i)Quock RL, Warren-Morris DP.: Fluoride varnish: the top choice for professionally applied fluoride.; J Mich Dent Assoc. 2011 May;93(5):42-8.

(ii) Lam A, Chu CH.: Caries management with fluoride varnish of children in U.S.; N Y State Dent J. 2011 Jun-Jul;77(4):38-42.

Sometimes our patients ask “why is it important that I have x-rays taken when I come for my check-up?” The short answer is dental x-rays also called  radiographs can show us things that we cannot clinically see with our own eyes.

The dentists and dental hygienists at the Millersville and Greenbelt offices of McCarl Dental Group follow guidelines determined by the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA standard of care is to perform routine intraoral radiographs once a year for most patients. These are the films that we normally refer to as “bitewing” x-rays. The other type of radiographs, Panoramic or Full Mouth Series of films, are normally taken once every 5 years. Occasionally there will be the need to take an x-ray of just one tooth for treatment or monitoring. To help provide incentive for people to get very important preventive care, we offer special discounts for an introductory visit with teeth cleaning, evaluation by a dental hygienist, dental x-rays as necessary and an exam by a dentist. The comprehensive dental exam also includes an oral cancer screening.

Each type of dental radiograph works in a different way. A panorex/panoramic film shows us a broader view of the entire oral cavity, bone structures and anatomy surrounding the teeth. This allows us to screen for any problems such as cysts, bone degeneration or missing teeth.

Bitewing x-rays are more detailed and allow us to closely look into the contact area between your back teeth. This is an important area to watch for early signs of decay and periodontal disease. A periapical x-ray will show us more of an individual tooth than a bitewing, and allow us to see around the tip, or apex of the tooth. These smaller films, the bitewing and PA, also allow us to detect abscesses and monitor the quality of existing dental work.

Without x-rays, we might not be able to see dental problems like failing restorations, recurrent decay, or a tooth abscess in the earliest stages. By the time many of these symptoms become evident visually, they are advanced and causing notable discomfort. That’s why coming in for routine dental hygiene cleaning and dental examinations can prevent more advanced treatments later. Our goal is to prevent dental problems and maintain a healthy smile. Dental x-rays help us achieve that goal.

Dental x-rays are extremely safe. They use minimal levels of radiation, and newer digital x-ray equipment uses even less. We are able to view and discuss digital x-rays with our patients on a large television screen in the dental operatories. This allows our patients to see what we are seeing and understand the treatment process better. Patients who have an increased risk of decay, or who suffer from periodontal disease may need more frequent radiographs. This is to help us monitor any suspected areas and intervene with therapy before problems progress to a more severe stage.

If you’re behind on your dental care or need to schedule your routine dental cleaning and exam, call us at our Millersville, MD dental office (410) 987-8800 or Greenbelt dental office (301) 474-4144 to schedule a check-up. www.mccarldental.com

Advances in Dental Hygiene

We have seven very talented dental hygienists who work at our dental offices in Greenbelt and Millersville Maryland.

Greenbelt and Millersville Maryland Dental Hygienists at McCarl Dental Group

Recent years have shown tremendous strides in the advancement of technology in the area of dental hygiene. The Dental Hygienists at McCarl Dental Group stay current with the latest advancements so they are able to deliver the highest quality dental hygiene care.  Several of our hygienists have worked at McCarl Dental Group for more than 20 years! Our patients always give fabulous reviews of their dental hygiene care. Because prevention and early intervention is key at your professional dental cleanings with the hygienists at McCarl Dental Group, we want to take a moment to share some of the technological steps that preventative dentistry is making.

• Desensitization

For patients who suffer from tooth sensitivity that does not require restorative dental treatment, desensitizing agents are now more effective than ever.  McCarl Dental Hygienists can apply topical gels that make your teeth “pain free.” Fluoride varnish helps block the pain receptors of the hypersensitive tooth surface. Our dentists can also provide prescription strength fluoride toothpaste for everyday use. This allows patients to eat and drink without associated tooth sensitivity and helps ensure dental comfort between dental appointments.

• Digital Radiography

In the beginning of dental radiography, x-ray films had to be dip processed in 3 separate tanks with chemicals that allowed the films to be viewed. This development process took 20 minutes. Electric processors shortened this time dramatically, usually developing an x-ray within 5-7 minutes after being placed in the machine. In the 21^st century with digital radiography, the images are ready for viewing in an instant. McCarl Dental Group uses digital radiography machines for several types of x-rays. This shortens the time it takes to view x-rays and decreases radiation exposure to our patients. While the exposure levels with traditional films were already safe, digital radiography lowers exposure even more. The detail and resolution of digital radiographs is of extremely high quality, and the files can be sent electronically to other dental professionals or insurance companies.

• Local and Systemic Delivered Medications

For patients who suffer from periodontal disease, in addition to procedures such as Scaling and Root Planing, local delivery of medication to areas with advanced bone loss can improve healing as well as encourage tissue attachment and bone regeneration. (1) These medications are placed below the gum surface into the infected pocket area, and are delivered through fibers, gels, chips, ointments and microspheres.

Recent studies also show that Statin drugs, commonly used to control blood cholesterol, are suggested to improve tissue attachment on the root surfaces of teeth, and encourage bone growth. (2) Azithromycin, another orally delivered medication, has also been shown to improve the success in Scaling and Root Planing therapy. (3)

At McCarl Dental Group  we strive to provide state of the art, quality preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental care to each of our patients. To find out more about the advanced dental care we offer in Millersville, MD and Greenbelt, MD, please call us at (410) 987-8800 or (301) 474-4144.

References:

1. Pradeep, A., Thorat, M.: Clinical Effect of Subgingivally Delivered Simvastatin in the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Perio 81: 214- 222, 2010.

2. Fajardo, M., Rocha, M., Sanchez-Marin, F., Espinosa-Chavez, E.: Effect of Atorvastatin on Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Pilot Study. J Clin Perio 37: 1016-1022, 2010

3. Rotundo, R., Nieri, M., Francesco, D., Mervelt, J., Bonaccini, D., Esposito, M., Pini-Prato, G.: Lack of Adjunctive Benefit of Er:YAG Laser in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Randomized Split-Mouth Clinical Trial. J Clin Perio. 37: 526-533, 2010

1.  Smoking or using any tobacco products accelerates the chance for tooth loss.
2.  Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria that are found on the tongue.
3.  You should change your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after a flu or cold.
4.  Oral habits such as cheek and lip biting increase the chance for oral cancer.
5.  The best age to take a child for his/her first visit to the dentist is between 18-24 months.
6.  Periodontitis is inflammation of the supporting structures of a tooth or teeth including
the gum, the periodontal ligament and the jaw bone.
7.  Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums.
8.  Fluoride is useful because it decreases the chance for cavities.
9. As we get older, our chance for cavities increases.
10.  McCarl dentists and hygienists recommend that you brush your teeth twice daily and floss your teeth daily.

Over 75 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, respiratory disease and pregnancy complications. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums is caused by an accumulation of plaque (soft, sticky, colorless bacteria) above the gum line which often causes red, swollen and tender gums that may bleed when you brush. Some symptoms of gingivitis are not painful, so if you do not visit your dentist at least every six months, gingivitis may remain undiagnosed and untreated. At this early stage of gum disease, damage can be reversed because gingivitis does not affect the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place.

During the earliest stage of Periodontitis, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are already irreversibly damaged. “Pockets” which trap food and plaque form below your gum line. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage. When periodontitis advances, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which causes teeth to shift and loosen. At this stage, even aggressive treatment may not be able to save your teeth and they may need to be removed.

Prevention is the best strategy!
The key to preventing gingivitis and periodontitis is to remove the plaque and bacteria that accumulate on your teeth. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are extremely important.

Good at-home oral hygiene is also crucial. You can help prevent gingivitis by brushing teeth twice a day and daily flossing to clean in between teeth where your tooth brush cannot reach.

When necessary our dental hygienists treat periodontitis with scaling or planing techniques to loosen and remove the plaque and bacteria in the pockets. Following scaling or professional cleaning, it is vital to maintain good brushing and flossing habits.  All  of our dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group are experts in the prevention and treatment of gum disease.  McCarl dentists were voted Top Annapolis Dentists!

It is very evident to our patients when they meet Christine Stovenour that she is not only a highly skilled dental hygienist, but also an exceptionally caring and wonderful person.  Christine started working at the Greenbelt office of McCarl Dental Group as a dental assistant when she was sixteen. “My older sister Rachel recommended me for the position after she had been working at McCarl Dental Group for a few months.”   The dentists at McCarl Dental Group were immediately impressed with Christine’s maturity.  After working at the dental office for a few years, she decided to become a dental hygienist. “I knew I wanted to have a career in the medical field because I really liked the patient connection.  I enjoy helping my patients feel comfortable and want them to have a positive experience at the dentist.  Christine put herself through school while working full time.  She has always shown tremendous work ethic and perseverance.  Her transition from dental assistant to hygienist was very smooth.

Christine says, “Becoming a Dental Hygienist has been a great career path for me.  Not only do I love meeting, treating and educating patients on their oral health on a daily basis but my great work schedule allows me to be home with my one year old son two days a week.  I love the flexibility with my schedule that Dental Hygiene allows me.  The McCarls have always made family a priority and, therefore, are extremely understanding with their staff about family issues.  I really appreciate this aspect of my job because family is very important to me.”  As mentioned above, Christine and her sister Rachel work together. Their younger sister, Emily, also works with Christine and Rachel at McCarl Dental Group.

Christine enjoys continuing education courses on a variety of dental topics.
She is interested in nutrition and the effects on oral health as well as all of the latest studies on the links between gum disease and the effects on a person’s overall health (diabetes, heart disease, etc.)  “It helps me to educate my patients about how important their oral health is and how it affects their overall health.”  Our patients are very complementary about their hygiene visits with Christine and all of our staff members enjoy working with her.

McCarl Dental Group’s Spectacular Sisters – Rachel, Emily and Christine

Dental hygienist Nancy Kearney came to the Greenbelt office of McCarl Dental Group twenty years ago and has been a cornerstone of our hygiene department ever since! Her exceptional technical proficiency and outstanding comprehensive care have earned her a dedicated following of patients who genuinely appreciate her attention to detail.  Many of those patients credit Nancy’s motivational speeches with keeping them on track and saving their teeth from gum disease.  Nancy is a superb hygienist who delivers the very highest quality of dental hygiene care.

Nancy says what she likes most about being a hygienist is informing and educating her patients on the impact of periodontal disease on their overall health. “My favorite class in college was nutrition, so I’m constantly pursuing continuing education courses that focus on nutrition. I love recommending vitamins and foods that will help my patients overall health. My favorite part of my job is my coworkers and the families we serve. I treasure the relationships I have made at the McCarl Dental office. The funny thing is when I took this job twenty years ago I was planning on changing careers. I primarily worked in small offices and was getting bored so I was planning on going into medical or pharmaceutical sales. Well I certainly haven’t been bored working as a dental hygienist for McCarl Dental Group!”

Nancy’s confidence and playful sense of humor are well known around the office.  Whether it is dressing up in humorous costumes for Halloween, discussing Scranton, PA as the epicenter of the known universe, or entertaining people at the annual “McCarl Bowlarama” and Christmas parties, Nancy is not shy about having fun.  Although she is very serious about preventative dental health care, her patients enjoy her friendly, caring demeanor and beautiful smile.

Nancy and her husband Joe have two teenage children and thrive on their very busy and fast-paced life! Shannon is sixteen with her driver’s permit. She enjoys playing field hockey and softball. Joseph is fourteen and enjoys playing basketball and baseball. Joe is working hard on his MBA at the Johns Hopkins University while working full time and coaching our son’s basketball team.

A few years ago Nancy’s husband Joe accepted a job in another state, and we had a tearful farewell. At the very last minute, the job and move fell through and we got a frantic call from Nancy, “Have you hired any one for my job yet?”  Fortunately for us, her corner room was still open!  The Dentists at McCarl Dental Group are grateful for the excellent dental hygiene care that Nancy provides to our patients.