Millersville Dentists

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.

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

Have you seen our  iTero Digital Scanner? It looks like R2D2 and talks to us in a robot voice! It makes crowns, bridges and veneers from hundreds of images of your teeth instead of from rubber impressions.

iTero digital oral scanner at McCarl Dental Group

At McCarl Dental group in Greenbelt and Millersville, MD we are excited to be using the advanced iTero technology that almost completely eradicates the need for conventional dental impressions. Instead, the iTero device allows a virtual 3D impression to be taken of the patient’s teeth in about the same amount of time that it used to take impression material to set and harden.

iTero technology works by using an intra-oral scanner that takes approximately 300 slices of information with 100,000 points in each picture. A voice-guided computer program navigates the clinician on proper placement of the scanning mechanism, so that a thorough image is recorded. These different layers of information are laced together to create a 3D image of the teeth.

Because the iTero impression technology is extremely accurate, it improves the seating of restorations like crowns and bridges by requiring little to no adjustment to the fit of the restoration when it is permanently placed into the mouth. With conventional impressions there are numerous steps to be taken, all of which require extreme detail, and all of which can alter the way a dental restoration fits into the mouth. With iTero, these other steps are not required, and the precise digital 3D image ensures proper fit of the final restoration.

Our patients love the iTero because there is no need for taking traditional impressions that may trigger a gag reflex. The iTero also saves time for both our patients and our staff by shortening appointment length and doing away with the need to fabricate models in our own dental lab. Instead, the 3D impression is sent wirelessly to the iTero laboratory that takes the information and creates an accurate polyurethane model of the teeth, which is sent to the dental technician who will create the crown, bridge, veneer, or other dental restoration. The need for re-impressions, sometimes needed with conventional impressions, is not a factor with iTero technology.  This also helps McCarl Dental do its part to go green, by reducing consumables and waste products.

The iTero digital impression allows restorations to be made from all types of materials, whether porcelain or gold, it doesn’t matter. McCarl Dental Group uses the iTero to scan for various restorative and cosmetic dental procedures like crowns, bridges, veneers, onlays and inlays.

If you’ve been putting off dental treatment because of dental impressions or other conventional treatment, call our Millersville or Greenbelt, MD locations at (410) 987-8800 or (301) 474-4144 to schedule an appointment.

iTero digital oral scanner next to foot pedal drill (circa 1920s) Dentistry has come a LONG WAY!

Is your smile causing you to lose confidence? Veneers can transform an everyday smile into a Hollywood smile in just a couple of simple appointments to the dental office. Smiles with spaces, gaps, crooked, discolored, broken or missing teeth are easily improved with the placement of dental veneers. Because veneers make your teeth appear straighter and whiter, your smile will be more beautiful than ever before.

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

The American Dental Association (ADA) defers to the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommendations regarding antibiotics before dental procedures for all joint replacement patients. Guidelines from the AAOS are meant to reduce the risk of infections at the site of an artificial joint. They apply to people who have total joint replacements. Patients who have pins, plates or other orthopedic hardware are not affected. The rationale behind the recommendation is that “Given the potential adverse outcomes and cost of treating an infected joint replacement, the AAOS recommends that clinicians consider antibiotic prophylaxis for all total joint replacement patients prior to any invasive procedure that may cause bacteremia.”

Please tell your dentist and dental hygienist when you have had  joint replacement surgery. At McCarl Dental Group we update health history at each dental appointment at our Millersville Maryland Dental office and Greenbelt Maryland dental office. Dental patients can download our Health History form from our website at http://www.mccarldental.com/mccarl-dental-office-downloadable-forms-dental-services.php. The AAOS provides a chart with acceptable antibiotic prophylaxis. Unfortunately, there have been occasions when we have sent dental patients who require antibiotic pre-medication before dental procedures home without treatment if they have forgotten to take the prescribed antibiotic.

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group have a passion for providing top quality care to their dental patients. They understand that a smile can change a person’s attitude, health, and ultimately life. In addition to preventative care, many dental patients would like to correct problems they have had since childhood, such as discolored or misaligned teeth, while others would like to minimize the effects of aging that develop over time. McCarl dentists are adept at managing complex dental cases that require a combination of treatments, as well as cosmetic dental treatments that produce excellent results in one to three visits. Whether your profession requires being in front of a television camera, speaking with students or conducting business meetings, a beautiful smile conveys warmth, confidence and success.

The McCarl Dental Group is comprised of Dr. Clayton McCarl, Jr., Dr. Jay McCarl, and Dr. David McCarl—all of whom completed their Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland Dental School, and continue postdoctoral training with prestigious instructors and advanced programs throughout the country. The McCarl dentists are active in their communities, volunteer regularly, and are proud to honor their grandfather, Dr. James W. McCarl, who started his practice in 1924 and was the first dentist in Greenbelt, Maryland. Today, the McCarl Dental Group offers expertise in traditional porcelain veneers and no prep veneers, porcelain crowns and bridges, Invisalign orthodontics, custom teeth whitening, minimally invasive and traditional dental implants, composite white fillings, dental hygiene and periodontal treatment.

More than seventy percent of new patients to McCarl Dental Group are referred by existing patients who are delighted with their dental care. Five current patients have shared their success stories through their own words and smiles on the following page. These patients are a testament to the brilliant work and service that McCarl dentists provide.

Patient Testimonials

“A smile is very important in the business world because it’s one of the first things a potential client, customer or coworker sees. I speak with a lot of crime victims in my line of work, and a warm smile often helps express concern and compassion when words seem to fall short. Thanks to the McCarl Dental Group my smile is the last thing I need to worry about. I can focus on the person in front me and help them find justice. The McCarl Dental Group is very professional and up-to-date on the latest technology, and best of all I didn’t have to travel the country looking for the best dentist. He was right in my backyard!”— Karen Daboroski, producer of America’s Most Wanted

“I always hated to see my teeth when I smiled for pictures because they were so yellow. Even after trying different whiteners, I could not get them any whiter. Dr. McCarl recommended a veneer to repair a front tooth that was dark and said that my smile could be further enhanced by placing veneers on the other front teeth that showed when I smiled. I had porcelain veneers placed on six teeth and couldn’t be happier with my white smile now!”— Cecily Duda, elementary school teacher

“The dentists at McCarl Dental Group have removed the anxiety one typically experiences when going to the dentist. It is an established practice that truly gives you the feel of an ‘old-time’ family practice, but with current, state-of-the-art technology and dental practices. Over the years, my visits to McCarl Dental Group have become more than the routine patient-dental service provider relationship—they treat me like family. Thank you to all of the members of the McCarl Dental practice for helping me attain the smile that I always desired and making my dental care a friendly, comfortable visit.”— Dan Dering, business executive

“Before my experience with the McCarl Dental Group, I did not like showing my teeth when I smiled. I am so glad I chose to enhance my smile through Invisalign, and I am pleased to have chosen the McCarl Dental Group for my dental needs. I now love showing my teeth when I smile, and especially love being photographed.”— Jackie Oddoye, recruiter

“My smile became increasingly important to me as I started to speak publically, and appear on national television shows. It was not just a matter a vanity—it became a necessity for career advancement. After doing the Dr. Phil Show over a dozen times, I had some of my own material pitched to different networks, and was told my work was great, but my teeth and smile were not up to standards. After consulting with three dentists, I choose the McCarl Dental Group to do my complete mouth restoration. Dr. McCarl’s knowledge and confidence about the process of dental restoration was evident. It was a fair and realistic price for my veneers and crowns, and I could not be happier with my smile. My favorite compliment is, ‘They look like your teeth,’ and that’s exactly what I wanted.”— Joani Gammill, RN and Board Certified Alcohol and Drug Interventionist

Dental Hygiene and Periodontal Therapy
BRUSH AND FLOSS YOUR TEETH FOR A LONGER HEALTHIER LIFE!
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/brush-and-floss-your-teeth/

DENTAL CARE BEFORE AND DURING CHEMOTHERAPY
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/dental-care-for-chemotherapy/

Teeth Whitening
ARE OVER-THE-COUNTER WHITENERS AS EFFECTIVE AS PROFESSIONAL WHITENING PRODUCTS?
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/over-the-counter-whiteners/

White Composite Fillings

COMPOSITE FILLINGS FOR TOOTH DECAY

http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/composite-filling-tooth-decay/

Minimally Invasive Implants, Mini Dental Implants and Traditional Dental Implants
ANNAPOLIS DENTAL IMPLANT PATIENT HAPPY WITH EASE AND SPEED OF PROCEDURE
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/annapolis-dental-implant/

The Newest Dental Implants are a Convenient and Affordable Solution for Missing Teeth
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/dental-implants-missing-teeth/

Invisalign Orthodontics
GREENBELT DENTIST FEATURES INVISIBLE BRACES WITH INVISALIGN ORTHODONTICS
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/greenbelt-dentist-invisalign/

Porcelain Dental Veneers
NO PREP VENEERS – BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS

http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/no-prep-veneers-photographs

No Prep Veneers by McCarl Dental Group
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/no-prep-veneers/

PORCELAIN VENEERS AND THIN VENEERS
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/porcelain-veneers-lumineers/

Porcelain Crowns and Bridges
COSMETIC DENTISTRY WITH PORCELAIN CROWNS AND VENEERS BY MCCARL DENTISTS FEATURED ON NATIONAL DENTAL WEBSITE!
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/cosmetic-dentistry/

HOW WE COMBINE TECHNIQUE, TECHNOLOGY AND ARTISTRY TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL PORCELAIN CROWNS AND VENEERS AT MCCARL DENTAL GROUP
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/porcelain-crowns-and-veneers/

Oral Cancer Screening
ORAL CANCER RATES INCREASING IN YOUNG WOMEN
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/oral-cancer-in-young-women/

Emergency Dental Care
DENTAL EMERGENCY TREATMENT FOR BROKEN TEETH
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/dental-emergency-treatment/

DENTAL EMERGENCIES – SAME DAY CARE AT MCCARL DENTAL GROUP
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/dental-emergencies/

EMERGENCY DENTAL TREATMENT FOR A BROKEN TOOTH
http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/emergency-dental-treatment/

All of our McCarl Dental Group blog articles are carefully researched by health care professionals and reviewed by a McCarl Dentist. We are passionate about providing the highest quality dental care and patient education. McCarl  dentists serve patients in Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Gambrills, Crownsville, Millersville, College Park, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, New Carrollton, Laurel, and Greenbelt, Maryland. Our featured dental services   include traditional porcelain veneers and no prep veneers, porcelain crowns and bridges, Invisalign orthodontics, teeth whitening, minimally invasive and traditional dental implants, composite white fillings, dental hygiene and periodontal treatment. The Dentists at McCarl Dental Group are listed in America’s Top Dentists,  Best Dentists by Capital Gazette Communications and HometownAnnapolis.com and Top Dentists by What’s Up? Annapolis. Visit McCarlDental Blog at http://www.mccarldental.com/blog/.

A crown fits over and restores a decayed, broken, or weak tooth and becomes the tooth’s new outer surface. Crowns may be made of all porcelain, all metal, or a metal base covered with a thin layer of porcelain. The shade or color selected may match the neighboring teeth to blend in, or a different shade may be chosen to brighten your smile.

Reasons you may need a crown:
•    Repair teeth that have broken or decayed so much that your dentist cannot fix them with a filling.
•    Cover a tooth that is so severely damaged that most of the top layer had to be removed.
•    Replace a worn or cracked filling.
•    Improve the appearance of a tooth.
•    Strengthen a tooth after root canal treatment to seal the tooth and prevent it from breaking.
•    Crowns sometimes come loose over time, and you may need to get them re-cemented or replaced.  With proper care a crown can last for many years and will function the same as any healthy tooth.

At the Greenbelt and Millersville dental offices of McCarl Dental Group we recommend all-porcelain crowns for front teeth because they look and function like natural teeth. The use of all-porcelain crowns eliminates gum irritation associated with metal allergies and is healthier for gums because it is not necessary to place the crown deep under the gum line to hide the metal. All-porcelain restorations used for cosmetic dentistry require very sophisticated design software and pressing ovens used only by the highest quality dental laboratories.

There are many ways to make a crown. Porcelain can be added as one color only, all at once, and fired in the furnace, or can be added in layers with a variety of colors to more closely mimic natural teeth. The labor time and skill level for fabricating porcelain crowns are considerably higher in the highest quality crowns. High end Dental Technicians are artists, using their color palette of wet porcelains to copy the shade and shape chosen by the dental patient and dentist. They use a technique called “layering” in which they bake the porcelain in the shape of the tooth and then “cut it back” and layer in different shades of porcelain which adds vitality to the crown. The highest quality porcelains have the finest grain size, which creates a more aesthetic and natural looking crown. The high end, fine grain porcelains also prevent wearing away of the enamel of the opposing teeth, a problem that may occur with lower cost porcelains.

You will typically need two visits to your dentist to restore your tooth with the highest quality crown. During your first visit, your dentist will make sure you are comfortable by using any of the many local anesthetic techniques available. The dentist will remove any decay or unsound tooth structure and prepare the tooth for a crown by shaping it with his/her headpiece (drill). If you received an injection, your lips and gums may remain numb for a few hours until the anesthetic wears off and you should be careful to avoid biting your numb lip or cheek.

An impression of your teeth or a digitally scanned image will be used to create a model for construction of the crown. While the dental laboratory is making your permanent crown, your tooth will be covered with a temporary crown. On your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown, try in the permanent crown, check the fit and bite, make any minor adjustments necessary and cement your permanent crown.

We have had photographs taken of more than 20 McCarl dental patients who have porcelain crowns or veneers and have volunteered to share their beautiful smiles.  The dentists at McCarl Dental Group always explain treatment options and get input from dental patients during the planning process so that they can meet and exceed dental treatment goals.

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group in Millersville and Greenbelt Maryland were recently voted Best Dentists in the Capital Hometown Annapolis Reader’s Choice Awards.  The Reader’s Choice Awards reflect votes by our dental patients who read the Capital magazine. McCarl dentists have also been named What’s Up? Annapolis Magazine’s Top Dentist. This award represents dentists who were chosen as the best by other dental specialists.  The dentists at McCarl Dental Group specialize in complex comprehensive dental care as well as everyday general dentistry. Our patients’ responses in our smile survey, found at www.mccarldental.com indicate that they are very satisfied with our family and cosmetic dentistry. A patient who received dental veneers last week called Dr. Clayton McCarl “Michelangelo of the mouth!”

McCarl dentists have been recognized for excellence in dental veneers which are thin, custom-made moldings that cover unattractive teeth. They are created from tooth-colored, high-tech materials to portray a bright, natural smile. No prep, minimal prep and traditional veneers cover unattractive gaps between teeth and cover stained misshapen or crooked teeth. Traditional dental veneers can transform even the darkest teeth to bright white. They are individually sculpted and it is almost impossible to tell the difference between a veneer and a natural tooth.

For traditional porcelain veneers, the face of the tooth is reshaped to allow for the added thickness of porcelain. In comparison to a crown, a minimal amount of the natural tooth must be altered for a veneer. At the Mccarl dental group, a digital image can be taken of the reshaped tooth and sent via high-speed internet to a dental laboratory where the veneer is custom-made for your mouth. If you receive a no prep or minimal prep veneer, no temporary is needed to cover the tooth while the veneer is being made. The veneer is permanently attached to the face of your tooth with adhesive material or cement which bonds it to the original tooth structure. With good care, veneers can last for ten to fifteen years or longer. Unlike most bonding materials, veneers are resistant to stains from coffee, tea and cigarettes. They will not change color over time. Because a small amount of tooth is reduced to fit traditional veneers, the process is not reversible. No prep veneers are placed on the original tooth structure and can be removed.

Patients with veneers still need to brush and floss regularly to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Veneers typically cannot be damaged by abrasion from your toothbrush or floss. As with natural teeth, patients with dental veneers are advised to avoid chewing fingernails or anything else that may cause the veneers to chip or crack. Remember: never use your teeth as tools!

Veneers used to be reserved for Hollywood movie stars and the rich and famous. Now you would be surprised how many of your neighbors achieved their beautiful smiles with veneers. Call McCarl Dental Group at 410-987-0870 or 301-474-4144 to find out if veneers are right for you.