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.

Sugary chewing gum can increase your risk of tooth decay.

Now there are now chewing gums available that have the sweetener Xylitol. Xylitol containing gums have actually been shown to reduce tooth decay and encourage enamel remineralization.(ii) Further studies show that chewing a gum with Xylitol encourages healthier gums, reduces bleeding, and decreases harmful bacteria.(iii) For patients who are actively fighting gum disease and recurrent tooth decay, chewing these gums may be beneficial to their oral health.

According to the American Dental Association, chewing gum may also be beneficial for patients with dry mouth. Medications and certain medical conditions are a common cause of dry mouth. Radiation therapy may also be the culprit, as it can destroy the salivary glands within the mouth. When there is no saliva to cleanse the teeth on a normal basis, decay becomes rampant. Xylitol containing gum promotes salivary production and can help decrease the decay rate. Dry mouth can also be very uncomfortable, and salivary supplements that don’t damage your teeth are extremely important. While the old school of thought might have been to suck on a peppermint, we know this is not the healthiest option for our teeth. Within just 5 to 10 minutes of chewing gum, saliva production will peak.(iv) Chewing a Xylitol gum may be a good option to decrease the dental consequences and discomfort of dry mouth.

Research indicates that chewing  gum containing Xylitol can be beneficial to dental health. Check the labels of different brands of chewing gum. You’ll be able to see on the front side of the package, usually in the corner, whether or not Xylitol is an ingredient. Brands like Orbit and Trident use this sweetener in most all of their products. If you or your children enjoy chewing gum, the American Dental Association recommends that you choose gum that contains Xylitol.

It is important to have routine dental hygiene cleaning and preventative oral health care. Please call McCarl Dental Group, dentists in Greenbelt MD 301-474-4144 or Millersville MD 410-987-8800 to schedule an appointment. Visit McCarl Dental Group at http://www.mccarldental.com/dental-hygiene-periodontal-therapy-dental-services.php

References:

(i) Paice EM, Vowles RW, West NX, Hooper SM.; The erosive effects of saliva following chewing gum on enamel and dentine: an ex vivo study.; Br Dent J. 2011 Feb 12;210(3):E3.

(ii) Chewing gum and dental health. Literature review. ; Rev Belge Med Dent (1984). 1992;47(3):67-92.

(iii) Campus G, Cagetti MG, Cocco F, Sale S, Sacco G, Strohmenger L, Lingström P.; Effect of a Sugar-Free Chewing Gum Containing Magnolia Bark Extract on Different Variables Related to Caries and Gingivitis: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Trial.; Caries Res. 2011 Aug 3;45(4):393-399

(iv) Olsson H, Spak CJ, Axéll T.; The effect of a chewing gum on salivary secretion, oral mucosal friction, and the feeling of dry mouth in xerostomic patients.; Acta Odontol Scand. 1991 Oct;49(5):273-9.

Traditional veneers are used to cover darkened teeth or very crooked teeth. They require the preparation or grinding off of natural tooth surface before the veneer can be constructed, manufactured and placed on the patient’s teeth. Should the veneer ever come off, there is an immediate need to have the veneer replaced due to the dark appearance and condition of the tooth underneath.

That was before no-prep veneers came along.

At the McCarl Dental Group, we have placed porcelain veneers for over 20 years, and now in selected cases, we offer veneers that require minimal to no-prep! Placing these no-prep veneers almost never causes any discomfort to our patients and the appointment process is extremely simple. In fact, when beginning the process for minimal or no-prep veneers, after the first appointment at our Millersville, MD or Greenbelt, MD dental office locations, it is often not even evident that anything has been done to the patient’s teeth. It’s that easy.

At the first appointment at our Millersville, MD or Greenbelt, MD dental office we simply skim the surface of the teeth that are to receive the veneers, then take an impression of the patient’s mouth. These impressions are used to create models of the teeth, so that customized veneers can be constructed in a dental lab to fit the patient’s mouth appropriately. After about 3 weeks, the patient returns to our office to have the veneers placed on their teeth, and we will adjust their bite as needed so that they will fit appropriately with the teeth on the opposite arch.

These minimal to no-prep veneers are so thin, at about 0.2mm in thickness, that they are extremely comfortable for our patients to wear. Our patients often say that in addition to being beautiful, the procedure is remarkably comfortable.

McCarl Dental Group has performed porcelain veneers for over 20 years and offers various other cosmetic dentistry options as well. Our cosmetic dentists in Millersville, MD and Greenbelt, MD will work with you to generate the smile that you’ve been dreaming of. Veneers are a wonderful cosmetic option to help restore self-esteem and confidence to your everyday life.

To learn more about the benefits of dental veneers call our Millersville dental office at 410-987-8800, Greenbelt dental office at 301-474-4144. You may read more about no-prep veneers and see pictures of our dental patients on the McCarl Dental Group website.  http://www.mccarldental.com/porcelain-veneers-dental-veneers-cosmetic-dentist.php

Dental implants are placed in the jaw where they fuse to the bone. They are effective for restoration of a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. In the past, dentists relied on procedures that were often temporary measures to repair badly damaged teeth. Now, there are many circumstances when implants restored with crowns will last longer and cost less than ongoing repair efforts. Dental implants are the best solution in dental cases where adjacent teeth are healthy and properly aligned.

When you lose a tooth, your jawbone gradually loses firmness and strength. This leads to bone loss and can even cause changes in facial features. The loss of just one tooth can cause  an unstable bite and uneven chewing. The remaining teeth move and making proper cleaning more difficult. A misaligned bite can also contribute jaw joint dysfunction and headaches.  A dental implant, unlike a denture or bridge, can prevent bone loss at the site of the missing tooth.

Many of our patients at McCarl Dental Group tell us that having a dental implant placed is more comfortable than they expected. Unlike teeth, the jaw bone does not have nerves. The type and density of bone varies from patient to patient and even within different locations in the same patient’s jaw. This will determine whether the dental implant can be restored with a crown or used to secure a bridge or denture immediately, or whether the implant needs to “sleep” and strengthen for several months before use.

There are advantages to having a properly trained general dentist place your implant. A general dentist will be restoring the implant and can determine the type and size implant that is most suitable as well as optimal position for later restoration. When the implant is placed and restored at the Millersville or Greenbelt dental offices of McCarl Dental Group, there are fewer visits to the dentist which results in lower cost and greater convenience for the dental patient. Many patients are pleasantly surprised that the cost of dental implants is much lower than they expected.

Click this link to see a video of a McCarl Dental patient who had a dental implant placed painlessly in a one hour dental appointment and his existing denture retrofitted for secure placement. Placement of Dental Implant in McCarl Dental Patient

If you are missing teeth, visit a dentist at McCarl Dental Group with advanced training in the placement of dental implants to learn how dental implants can improve the health of your smile.

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.

Lois says, ” Working in this office has always been a good fit for me and I really enjoy our patients and the people who work on the McCarl dental team.” THANK YOU LOIS for your dedication to our dental office and especially our patients!

Not only are our dentists multi-generational, we also have several employees whose sons and daughters work at the dental office. Two of our mother-daughter teams have worked together at McCarl Dental Group for more than 14 years! We are blessed with several sets of siblings among our employees. The family connections in our office are truly remarkable! We appreciate all of our staff and especially value their long term commitment to our family dental office and especially our patients.

At McCarl Dental Group, we routinely provide dental care for Crofton MD at both our Greenbelt and Millersville locations.