Greenbelt Invisalign Orthodontics

Teeth Straightening Promotes Oral and Overall Health

McCarl Dental Group Invisalign Patient

The dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group are concerned not only with our patients’ dental health, but also their overall systemic health. Dental and systemic health go hand-in-hand, and procedures like Invisalign teeth straightening help to promote overall wellness for our patients who have crooked or crowded teeth.

Invisalign allows our patients to have proper teeth positioning, which allows for optimum function and personal oral hygiene as well as improved appearance. In areas where teeth are crowded, shifted or mal-positioned, the normal bacterial film that develops each day after eating becomes extremely difficult to remove from those areas with brushing and flossing.

When teeth are difficult to clean, bacterial film or plaque, is left on the tooth and root surface. This film also builds up under the gum and continues to multiply until it is removed. When plaque is not efficiently removed, it calcifies within 24 hours, leaving “tartar” or calculus behind on the tooth surface. This hard, calcified deposit cannot be removed without professional cleaning by a dental hygienist. The dental calculus harbors bacteria which cause periodontal disease, tooth loss, and is linked to conditions like stroke, premature births, heart attacks, obesity and diabetes.

McCarl Dental Invisalign Patient Wearing Aligners

Invisalign alignment trays are made of smooth plastic. There is no need for uncomfortable brackets or wires. Each set of aligners in the series is worn for about 2 weeks, before progressing to the next set. Invisalign and McCarl Dentists recommend that the alignment trays be worn for at least 20 hours each day in order to achieve optimum results. McCarl Dental Group sees its Invisalign patients approximately every 6 weeks at our Millersville, MD or Greenbelt, MD locations to monitor progress and response to their orthodontic treatment.

Because Invisalign trays can be removed for eating and oral hygiene, the impact on every-day activities is kept at a minimum. Traditional braces require omitting certain foods from your diet, and using special appliances to clean around your brackets and orthodontic wires. With Invisalign, simply remove your alignment trays for meals and eat whatever you like. Brush and floss as directed, without special threaders or brushes that are required for traditional braces. Cleaning is a snap. Even the aligners are low-maintenance and are simply cleaned with a toothbrush and lukewarm water.

To begin Invisalign treatment, our dentists and staff at McCarl Dental Group will first take x-rays, impressions and pictures of your teeth and smile at our Greenbelt or Millersville, MD location. We use these images to communicate with Invisalign laboratories where your aligners will be made.

Invisalign works best for mild to moderate corrective needs, but may work in some types of severe alignment needs as well. To determine if you are a candidate for Invisalign teeth straightening, call McCarl Dental Group to set up a consultation with one of our dentists in Millersville or Greenbelt, MD. You can reach us at (410) 987-8800 or (301) 474-4144.

(I)    Amabile N., Susini G., Pettenati-Soubayroux I., Bonello L., Gil J-M., Arques S., Bonfil J.J., Paganelli F. (2008). Severity of periodontal disease correlates to inflammatory systemic status and independently predicts the presence and angiographic extent of stable coronary artery disease. Journal of Internal Medicine, 263, 6, 644-652.

You may be surprised to know that the benefits of having straight teeth extend far beyond a beautiful and confident smile. According to the American Dental Association, straightening your teeth can actually significantly affect your overall dental health. With Invisalign, having an attractive, confident smile and reducing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease go hand in hand.  If would like to learn more about the benefits of Invisalign orthodontics please call McCarl Dental Group in Millersville and Greenbelt Maryland for a complementary consultation with one of our Invisalign dentists.

HEALTHIER TEETH AND GUMS
Teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced can lead to swollen, red gums, which are signs of periodontal disease. When teeth are properly aligned, gums fit more securely around the teeth. This creates the strongest and healthiest defense against potential periodontal problems. Comfortable and clear Invisalign aligners gently and gradually move your teeth into the proper position – without unattractive brackets and wires.

EASIER CLEANING
One of the biggest challenges of traditional metal braces is removing all the food that gets trapped in the brackets and wires. Difficulty cleaning your teeth often leads to plaque buildup and eventually tooth decay. With Invisalign, the aligners are removable, so it’s easy to continue brushing and flossing your teeth for optimal plaque removal.

OVERALL HEALTH
Your teeth serve as a window to the health of your body. Your teeth and gums – and how they look to others when you smile – tell a lot about your overall health.

Tooth decay and periodontal disease (also called gum disease) are caused by bacteria. Left untreated, periodontal disease and tooth decay can cause bad breath, mouth sores, tender or bleeding gums and even tooth loss. Studies by the American Dental Association have shown that oral infections can also lead to other more serious health problems. Illnesses related to poor oral health include: heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, premature birth and diabetes.

Invisalign aligners make daily oral hygiene easier, thus reducing the risk of serious health problems. Correctly aligned teeth can also alleviate the issues caused by an improper bite, including jaw problems, speech or chewing difficulties, and increased wear on tooth enamel. Invisalign effectively addresses all of these orthodontic issues. With straight teeth, you’ll have the confidence of a great smile AND increase the likelihood of improved oral health.

One of the obstacles to orthodontic treatment is the unattractive, fixed metal bracket and wires associated with traditional braces. Although clear brackets have been introduced, the wire that goes through the brackets remains very visible.

Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible with the added benefit of being removable and comfortable. No metal wires and quick, beautiful, healthy results! Patients remove the aligners each time they eat. This means they can continue to eat all the foods they love without any restrictions or worrying about food getting stuck in their braces. Equally as important, patients maintain their normal oral hygiene practice, because brackets and wires are not an impediment during brushing and flossing. With other teeth-straightening methods, eating, as well as brushing and flossing, can often be difficult.

One of the best things about Invisalign is the minimal impact it has on our patients’ everyday lives. Since the aligners are so comfortable, patients are able to wear them for the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day without much effort.

Advantages of Invisalign:
•    Clear aligners are virtually invisible
•    Smooth plastic aligners are comfortable
•    Patients eat whatever they want
•    Aligners are removable for easy cleaning

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group are preferred providers of Invisalign orthodontics. We offer Invisalign G3, the newest innovation by Invisalign orthodontics, engineered to deliver even better clinical results. Invisalign is a win-win situation. When our dental patients are healthy and happy, everybody wins!

Mary Yetter from Invisalign Orthodontics recently discussed the health benefits of straight teeth at the Greenbelt dental office of McCarl Dental Group. The dentists at both the Millersville and Greenbelt offices of McCarl Dental Group are preferred providers of Invisalign.

A beautiful and healthy smile makes us more attractive, but did you know that smiling can also help you feel better?  According to Dr. Mark Stibich, smiling helps reduce your stress level, boosts your immune system, lowers blood pressure and releases endorphins, our body’s natural pain killers. Smiling also helps improve our mood and keeps us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed.

Smiling more frequently is a simple way to improve the quality of your life. Researchers think that even when you force a smile, you are signaling the emotional centers of your brain to tell them that everything is good. Simply activating specific muscles in your face that create a smile signals the emotions of happiness and joy. A smiling person brings happiness with them so you also help others feel better! Oprah Radio host Dr. Robin Smith says a smile is so powerful and contagious; your life may change for the better once you start smiling! “By smiling at someone, you have the capacity to ignite a chain reaction of other smiles,” she says.

A beautiful and healthy smile conveys warmth, confidence and success. Many people, however, feel extremely self-conscious about their smile. If you do not enjoy smiling because you are embarrassed by your teeth please call for an appointment with a dentist at McCarl Dental Group. We can help you have a confident and attractive smile.

If you would like to correct discolored teeth that you have had since childhood, you could consider zoom teeth whitening or porcelain veneers. Dental veneers can also minimize the effects of aging that develop over time including cracked or worn down teeth. The McCarl dentists are certified in all aspects of traditional and minimally invasive dental implants. They offer comprehensive dentistry featuring traditional  and no-preparation porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns and bridges, Invisalign orthodontics, composite fillings, teeth whitening, dental hygiene and periodontal treatment.

Crooked teeth can be straightened with Invisalign orthodontics. Straight teeth enhance the beauty of your smile and also have health benefits. Crooked teeth are harder to clean and can lead to gum disease and periodontal disease. Invisalign makes orthodontics a great option for adults who have always wanted straight teeth, or have had relapse from braces as a teenager. McCarl dentists can also straighten your teeth with porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are stronger, thinner and more durable than the veneers of twenty years ago. Both traditional and minimal preparation veneers are available at McCarl Dental Group. Talk to your dentist about which options will be most effective for you.

If you are missing teeth, there has never been a better time for a dental implant. With the recent advances in dental implants, more patients are candidates for permanent tooth replacement. Some people do not have enough bone in their jaws for the larger, traditional implants; however, most people have sufficient bone mass for mini dental implants. A dental implant restored with a crown looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth.  Dental implants replace the root of the tooth with a biocompatible titanium alloy and are placed in the jaw where they fuse to the bone. They are effective for single and multiple tooth restoration. The most common use of mini dental implants is stabilization of dentures. The bottom line for many dental implant patients 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. Patients are able to remove and replace the denture easily so that they can clean their gums and dentures daily.

Could it be that SMILING is the true key to success? In his book How to Win Friends & Influence People, Dale Carnegie says, “the effect of a smile is powerful” and lists smiling as second in the top six ways to make people like you. He describes a genuine heartwarming smile as one of the most captivating features in charming and successful people. Smile and you will draw people to you. “The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes on one’s back.”

The McCarl dentists were named Top Dentists by Dental Specialists in the AA County Dental Association in the What’s Up? Annapolis poll and nationally by the Consumers Research Council of America. McCarl Dental Group was also voted Best Dentist in the Capital Newspaper Reader’s Choice poll.