Dr. Jay McCarl

McCarl Dental Group –

It’s All in the Family

By Jane Dodd

Published in the Greenbelt News Review, September 30, 2010

Some things are timeless.  If you live in Greenbelt, you readily understand that concept.  Much of the original community has remained structurally the same for 73 years.  The center, the buildings, the traffic patterns and community spirit are all alive and well after all this time.  Greenbelt even has a dentistry practice that has remained in the same family, alive and well, for 72 years.

The McCarl Dental Group had its beginnings here in 1938 when James McCarl moved his practice to 30 Ridge Road.  He was chosen as the town’s only private medical practitioner in this new experimental community.  Other medical practices were in the Greenbelt Health Association.  McCarl was required to demonstrate a cooperative energetic spirit and to show a willingness to contribute heavily to the fledgling town.  These requirements the young dentist met easily, for he was active in the American Legion, Scouting, the Community Church and other community organizations.

Long-time Patients
One of the McCarl Dental Group’s present patients even preceded Greenbelt.  Gus Torbert lived on the 110-acre family farm sold reluctantly to the U.S. government to become part of the Greenbelt community.  Their homestead was on the hill near where Ridge and Crescent Roads meet.  His father, a carpenter, helped to build and later maintain the city.

During the depression money was scarce.  You didn’t go to the dentist unless you had a real problem.  When he was about 10, Torbert recalls he went to the original Dr. McCarl.  Torbert has a more vivid memory of when he was 17 and had to have work done on an impacted wisdom tooth.

Another long-term patient, Francis Birchard, said he began seeing Dr. James McCarl when he as a youngster had a toothache.  He has been returning ever since.

In 1946, when Lewis Dodd was about to go in the army, his parents insisted he see a dentist and have his teeth checked before the U.S. Army dentist saw him.  They had already had one son taken care of by wartime Army dentists and did not want to repeat the experience.  Dodd and his family have been seeing the McCarls ever since.

The family practice went on to the second generation in 1955 and 1956 when McCarl’s two sons, James Taylor and Clayton, Sr. joined the practice after completing their own studies at their father’s alma mater, the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Dental Surgery.  With the three of them in one building they needed more space and took over the entire building at 28 Ridge Road.

After their father’s death in 1967 the two brothers continued on until 1989, when James Taylor died.  During this time Clayton, Sr. held various leadership positions in professional organizations within the state and community.

Another Patient
Judy Ransom Bell has been a patient of one McCarl or another, she says, since she was a pre-schooler.  She described Clayton, Sr. as “wonderful.”  She remembers the “laughing gas” that was used then.

During some very lean financial years he took care of her, impressing on her the importance of consistent dental care.  Even when she moved from Greenbelt, she still came to her favorite dentist.

Now returned to Greenbelt, she goes to Clayton, Jr. and Sally.  What amazes Bell is how the offspring have followed in their parents’ footsteps and become a part of the family business.  The pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff even make it fun, she says, to go to the dentist.

Another long- time patient, Therese Madden Stringfellow, has been having the McCarls care for her teeth for over 50 years.  Her parents wanted the best care for their three children, she says, and when they heard of the new process of capping teeth, they sent Therese to see James Taylor McCarl.  She still has her capped front teeth and sees Dr. Clayton regularly.

Stringfellow’s sister Mary even worked for the family of dentists.  Both of her sisters, now widowed, had moved to other parts of the country, she says.  But they are returning to Greenbelt this fall and, yes, they plan to have the McCarl Group be their dentists once again.

Third Generation
The third generation of McCarls carries on the tradition.  If you go to 28 Ridge Road where the McCarl Dental Group is still practicing, you will see their signs hanging there.  Dr. Clayton McCarl, Jr., Dr. Jay McCarl and Sally McCarl-Moore are offspring of Clayton Sr.; Dr. David is the son of Dr. James Taylor McCarl.  Sally chose to be the hygienist in the family.

Aren’t you glad they adopted the name the “McCarl Dental Group”?  Can you imagine the alphabet soup of four McCarls, Jr.s and DDSs all in one title?  History isn’t just about wars and buildings; it’s also about people and their traditions.  The McCarl family is an important part of the rich history of Greenbelt.

Dr. Clayton McCarl Jr. is attending a two day course on the benefits of the CAMLOG Dental Implant System. Although Dr. McCarl has been placing and restoring dental implants for more than 25 years, he has attended at least 7 full days of continuing education about the newest technologies in dental implants this year.

An Outstanding Colleague and Friend
One of the most exceptional aspects of this course is that it is being taught by Dr. Kevin Doring, University of Maryland Dental School classmate of Dr. Clayton McCarl and Dr. Jay McCarl. After dental school, Dr. Doring completed a General Practice Residency at the Charleston Area Medical Center and received certification as a Dental Anesthesiologist. Dr. Doring is a member of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and Pierre Fauchard Academy as well as a Fellow and Master of the Academy of General Dentistry. He lectures on a wide variety of dental topics, is active in the Maryland State Dental Association and practices dentistry in Edgewater, Maryland. Kevin’s wife Tammy graduated from the University of Maryland School of Dental Hygiene.

“We have tremendous respect for Kevin, both professionally and personally,” says Dr. Clayton McCarl. “This course reviewed the newest advancements in dental implant technology and how to bring these improvements to our patients. Dr. Doring does an outstanding job of communicating the keys to long term success in implant surgery and restorations.”  Regional Implant Specialist and CAMLOG representative from Henry Schein, Bob Voelker provided excellent support for the dentists attending the seminar with materials, supplies and educational resources.

Why are Dental Implants Important?
Traditional and minimally invasive dental implants have surpassed traditional dentures and bridges as the best solution for missing teeth. When you lose a tooth, your jawbone slowly loses strength and density, causing bone loss and changes in facial features. The loss of even one tooth can cause an unstable bite and uneven chewing. Because remaining teeth tend to shift, proper cleaning becomes more difficult and increases the likelihood of gingivitis and even periodontal disease.

When a dental implant is restored with a crown, the finished product looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth. Implants are effective for single and multiple tooth restoration. They are placed in the jaw where they fuse to the bone and replace the root of the tooth with a biocompatible titanium alloy. In some cases, a crown can be placed on the tooth immediately.

Dental implants are the best restoration solution for dental patients in whom neighboring teeth are healthy and properly aligned. Unlike a partial denture or bridge, a dental implant can prevent bone loss at the site of the missing tooth.

The most common use of mini dental implants is stabilization of dentures. Many dental implant patients tell us that for the first time since they have had dentures, they can actually chew, talk and laugh without being afraid that their dentures will fall out. Implants anchor a denture securely and still allow patients the ability to remove and replace the denture easily for cleaning.

Three Generations of Trust
At McCarl Dental Group, we use a variety of traditional and minimally invasive dental implant systems with different types of implants based on the unique needs of each dental patient. CAMLOG dental implants will be a great addition to the dental implant systems that we are currently using in our dental practice.

CAMLOG is a division of Henry Schein, a company that provides dental supplies and has a three generation relationship with McCarl dentists. The Henry Schein Company supplied the digital panoramic x-ray machines and ITERO digital impression scanners for both our Greenbelt and Millersville, Maryland dental offices. We are excited to offer McCarl dental patients the exceptional benefits of the CAMLOG dental implant system.

For additional information about dental implants, please read our article from Taste of the Bay Magazine http://www.mccarldental.com/pdfs/TOTB-July-Implant-Article.pdf.

“The Time I Broke my Tooth”
by Amanda (age 12)

I have never been rushed to the hospital for an injury, but I over the summer I slipped unexpectedly.  It was 10:30pm, the night before my family was going to fly out to Orlando, Florida for a vacation.  I was brushing my teeth when my brother shouted out a joke he had just heard.  This made me laugh so hard that I lost my balance.  I slipped forward while my mouth was opened and hit my front tooth on the counter.  I had hit my tooth before, so I thought this was another one of those moments.  However, when I looked up and smiled into the mirror, I saw that half of my tooth was broken off!  I screamed, not knowing what to do.  My parents didn’t know what to do either.  My mom quickly searched the internet and said I needed immediate dental care.

“Where are we going to find a dentist to fix my tooth at 10:30 at night?” I asked.  We called Dr. Jay McCarl, and he spoke with my dad over the phone as I waited nervously beside him.  “Okay,” my dad said and then hung up phone.  He said that Dr. McCarl would meet us at the Shipley’s Choice Medical Center at 11:00pm.  My heart was so relieved that we had found somebody.  My parents drove me to the Medical Center, and we found Dr. McCarl standing at the front door.  We went into a room, and he numbed my gums.  This felt funny, but I had had this done before.  He spent a while fixing my tooth, but at this point I didn’t care how long it took.  I just wanted my tooth fixed before the trip.  Dr. McCarl was finished soon.  I smiled into a mirror again, but this time I looked perfectly normal.  This is a story I will always remember.  I am just thankful that I didn’t have to spend a week in Florida with a painful, broken tooth, because there is a dentist gracious enough to meet my needs even at 11:00 at night.

Rachel Heineman is the first of three spectacular sisters to join the staff at McCarl Dental Group. She heard about our Greenbelt dental office 14 years ago from a mutual friend of Dr. Jay McCarl. Rachel became a part-time dental assistant while taking college courses. Her sister Christine came to work for the McCarls just months after Rachel started and another sister, Emily, has worked for McCarl Dental Group for three years.

Rachel has many valuable attributes that make her an outstanding employee. In addition to being compassionate and understanding to our dental patients, she is very intelligent, deep thinking and mature. Six years ago, Rachel started working as a receptionist at both our Greenbelt and Shipley’s Choice dental offices. She enjoys helping patients understand their dental insurance and all other administrative details of their dental treatment. Rachel appreciates the wide range of financial options available to patients at McCarl Dental Group including interest free dental financing, and whenever necessary, directs them to our Patient Advocate for additional financial assistance.

What many of our patients may not realize is that Rachel is also a very talented photographer. Her passion for art and design are apparent in her beautiful photographs. She specializes in photography of families and children and has taken fabulous pictures for her coworkers and the dentists at McCarl Dental Group.  Rachel and enjoys reading literary classics in her spare time. She and her husband Pete are the proud parents of two beautiful children.

We are very fortunate to have Rachel and her sisters helping our dental patients.  Rachel says, “I have always appreciated the flexibility that has been extended by the McCarls while I was in school and now that I have children. I feel blessed that I can work part-time at a place where I enjoy the people I work with and where the hours are perfect for me to be able to stay home with my two children. I enjoy helping patients and I feel good when they walk out our doors smiling.”

Sally McCarl Moore has been practicing as a Registered Dental Hygienist since 1980, and works in the McCarl Dental Group offices in Greenbelt and Millersville. Sally is known for her excellent clinical skills and is constantly updating professional techniques and products based on the latest research. Her main focus however, is the personal relationship she forms with each of her patients. Sally is compassionate and has a great sense of humor. She has built wonderful friendships with her patients over the years and is a great asset to our practice. Sally teases her long time patients that when anything of importance happens to them the first person they should call is their dental hygienist!  A relaxed atmosphere and a lot of laughter make a trip to the Greenbelt, Annapolis and Severna Park Dentists at McCarl Dental Group an enjoyable one. Who says dental visits can’t be fun!

Sally is the sister of Drs. Clayton and Jay McCarl, and is Dr. David McCarl’s cousin. She started working as a dental assistant with her father, Dr. Clayton McCarl Sr. when she was sixteen. Each Saturday and every summer vacation was spent at the Greenbelt office learning the family business. While assisting in high school and college, Sally worked beside her aunt, Mary Jean McCarl Bonham. Many of her cousins also worked for the dental office in various positions ranging from dental assistant to lawn maintenance. “We were taught at a young age about the importance of serving others and to take great pride in our work. Our grandfather and fathers lead by a strong example that made a great impression on us all.”

Sally lives with her husband, Brian in Crofton. She has three fabulous grown children, Kelly, Colleen and Alex. They are all enjoying and excelling in their fields as an attorney, history teacher, and accountant.

Sally’s husband, Brian likes to joke that she should be a great hygienist; because that’s the only job she’s ever had!  Sally says, “Actually that is true. I never saw the point in working anywhere else. What could be better than working with your family?”

Karen Faherty has greeted patients at our McCarl Dental Group Greenbelt / College Park Dental Office  with her caring and warm smile for 26 years. Her friendly and outgoing personality helps keep our office cheerful and fun. Karen’s special personal touches reflect her dedication to our patients. She also plans fabulous events for our staff including picnics, bowling competitions, Bay Sox games and our office Christmas party.

Karen has lived in Greenbelt since she was 10 years old. She was a patient of Dr. James T. McCarl (Dr. David McCarl’s father). Karen joined McCarl Dental Group as a part-time dental assistant four evenings a week in 1984. She answered an advertisement in the Greenbelt News Review to be an assistant for the “new” Greenbelt / College Park dentists, Dr. Clayton McCarl, Jr. and Dr. Jay McCarl when they graduated from dental school. Karen says, “It was a great opportunity for me to work and also spend time at home with my young children. Twenty-five years later, it is still a perfect fit! While I have since transitioned from a dental assistant to a front desk receptionist, the warm interactions with the patients remain the same. Being part of this team has created life-long friendships with both staff and patients alike. I’m really glad that I answered that ad!”

Karen’s sons are now 30, 26, and 18, the youngest a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park running track — GO TERPS!