There are many possible causes for white spots on teeth, but the most common is a condition known as hypomineralization, hypocalcification, or hypoplasia. Whatever word you hear a dentist use to describe the condition, it refers to the loss of minerals from tooth enamel, and it is quite common. If you have a few of these white spots or they are in highly visible locations on front teeth, contact McCarl Dental Group. Our skilled dental team provides a variety of treatment options to perfect your smile. Watch our informative video, and continue reading to find out more.
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Why are There White Spots on my Teeth?
November 9, 2015
The True Consequences of Smokeless Tobacco
November 1, 2015
Smokeless tobacco goes by many names: chew, snuff, dip, and snus. It has many forms: dry, moist, ground, powdered, shredded, leaf, and plug; but a smokeless tobacco by any other name is still tobacco. These products have a long history in the US of being marketed as enhancing athletic performance, helping people quit smoking, and as a non-addictive form of tobacco. The hard truth is that all of this is false. At McCarl Dental Group, we want our patients to know the true story behind the effects of smokeless tobacco on health: Ray’s story. Watch the video within this post to hear Ray’s oral cancer survival story.
Ray’s Story
Ray is a McCarl Dental Group patient who spent a year of his life undergoing combined chemotherapy and radiation to remove a small tumor from the back of his tongue. Ray was a long time user of smokeless tobacco, and his oncologist (cancer specialist) attributes the blame for his cancer to the period in his life when he used smokeless tobacco. Some studies indicate that oral cancer caused by smokeless tobacco can have an incubation of up to ten years. However, that doesn’t mean that quitting is pointless. The damaging effects of the toxins in the body are cumulative. So, the longer patients use, the more damage is done to their oral and whole body health.
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McCarl Dental Group Shared Oral Health Tips at the Annual Greenbelt Health & Wellness Fair
October 27, 2015
McCarl Dental Group is fortunate to have an opportunity to take part in PG County community events that emphasize oral and overall health. The annual Greenbelt Health & Wellness Fair is one of our favorite events because we get to meet with members of the community and provide oral hygiene goodie bags, free dental consultations, and education on the best practices for at-home dental care. If you missed out on this year’s event, we hope to see you next year for this event dedicated to living happier, healthier lives, and we invite you to contact McCarl Dental Group to schedule a dental checkup and teeth cleaning.
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Worn Down Teeth? Get Nightguards!
September 28, 2015
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in our body, but even the strongest teeth become worn down over time. Dietary changes, improved oral hygiene, and better dental treatment make it possible for patients to retain their natural smiles for a lifetime. One of the first reasons dentists noted this change was the increased necessity for wisdom tooth extraction. The third set of molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth because they erupt between 17 and 25 years of age. Anthropologists believed that the early function of wisdom teeth was to replace teeth that were lost because our ancient ancestors ate coarse foods that quickly wore down tooth enamel. Most modern lifestyles are much less tough on teeth. This has made wisdom teeth almost entirely unnecessary. Unfortunately, teeth still wear down throughout our lives (just not before our 20th birthdays!). The caring team at McCarl Dental Group can help you protect your smile. Call our Greenbelt dental office or our Millersville, Maryland dentists. Call for an appointment today.
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Dental Cleaning by Greenbelt Dental Hygienists
September 17, 2015
Dental cleaning Greenbelt residents prefer isn’t just about having a beautiful smile it’s about optimal oral health, and you can’t get the same results from at-home care alone. Talk to our dentists or hygienists during your next visit about the powerful positive effects of consistent dental checkups and teeth cleanings. Our Millersville, MD dental team is determined to help patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Both our Greenbelt and Millersville, Maryland Dental Hygienists receive 5 star reviews! Call to schedule your six month checkup and hygiene appointment today. If you have periodontal disease, you may need to have your teeth cleaned professionally more frequently than every six months. Your dental hygienist and dentist will help you with a schedule that works best for you.
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Are Your Teeth Sensitive After Whitening? Try At-Home Whitening in Millersville, Maryland
August 28, 2015
Many patients hear that teeth whitening can be painful for those with sensitive teeth. This may be the case for some patients, but advances in dentistry have made teeth whitening more comfortable than ever. At McCarl Dental Group, our dentists offer professional at-home whitening to help patients achieve the brilliant smile they want without the discomfort they fear. Our Millersville and Greenbelt, MD offices welcomes patients from surrounding areas to contact us to schedule a whitening consultation today.
Teeth Whitening Greenbelt Trusts
Every smile is unique and McCarl Dental Group never takes a one size fits all approach to dentistry. When it comes to helping our patients brighten their smiles, we offer a range of at-home treatments to fit your budget and whitening need. We use Zoom! teeth whitening products, and this versatile whitening line allows our patients the ability to find an option that fits their needs including the ability to customize the strength of whitening gel to avoid sensitivity. Best of all, because McCarl Dental Group is committed to helping Millersville residents have the smiles they deserve, we offer whitening to our patients at our cost.
At-Home Whitening in Millersville
Zoom!, the leader in teeth whitening, offers a full range of at-home whiteners for the comfort and convenience Greenbelt, MD area residents desire. Zoom!’s line of at-home products offer a variety of peroxide levels, durations of wear, and result times. We prepare a customized application tray to make your home whitening more comfortable and effective than generic, over the counter whitening gels and strips. Patients whiten their teeth to remove coffee, tea, and wine stains, yellowing, and to lighten teeth that have darkened with age. Some reasons patients prefer at-home teeth whitening:
- Patients are in the driver’s seat – choose the strength, time of wear, and can stop at any time
- Convenience of not having to schedule whitening appointments
- Ability to touch up their results before special events or photo opportunities
Zoom! at-home products include
- DayWhite Maximum White – 14% hydrogen peroxide, worn 15 minutes 2 times a day, and shows results in 2 weeks. Great results for minimal wear time.
- NiteWhite Maximum White – 16% carbamide peroxide, worn overnight or 2-4 hours/day, and shows results in 2 weeks. Great results for those who prefer whitening while sleeping.
- NiteWhite Quick 3-day – 22% carbamide peroxide worn overnight or 2-4 hours/day, and shows dramatic results quickly. Great for patients with less sensitive teeth who want fast results.
- DayWhite Gentle – 6% hydrogen peroxide, worn 30 minutes/day, shows results in 2 weeks. Great for patients with very sensitive teeth.
- DayWhite Touchups – 9.5% hydrogen peroxide, worn 5-10 minutes/day as needed, helps to maintain results of in-office or at-home whitening. Great for all whitening patients who want to extend their results.
Call the Cosmetic Dentist Greenbelt, MD Prefers
For Greenbelt, MD residents with sensitive teeth, a brilliant smile doesn’t have to be out of reach, with the wide variety of Zoom! Whitening products offered by McCarl Dental Group. There are some cases where patients’ teeth will be too sensitive even for the gentlest whitening products. Sometimes dark, staining that goes beneath the enamel layer of the teeth cannot be removed through whitening. When this happens, we offer thin veneers that require no dental preparation, and regular veneers to cover deep set stains. As an added bonus, veneers can also reduce tooth sensitivity. Call our Greenbelt or Millersville offices to find out more or schedule your whitening consultation today.
Maryland Dentists Recommend Hydro Floss
January 26, 2014
How Often Do You Floss Your Teeth?
Some dental patients tell us that they don’t use dental floss unless there is something stuck between their teeth. Are you a reluctant flosser?
We think this will change after you try the new Hydro Floss. It is comfortable, affordable, easy and convenient!
How often should you floss your teeth?
The American Dental Association recommends flossing at least daily. The dentists and hygienists recommend flossing with traditional dental floss as well as cleaning between teeth with oral irrigation or water flossing. At McCarl Dental Group, we especially like the Hydro Floss, a magnetized water oral irrigator.
Why should you floss your teeth?
Flossing helps remove plaque from the areas between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. Plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing can harden into calculus or tartar within just 26 hours. If tartar and dental calculus are not removed, it can progress into a serious form of gum disease.
Daily brushing and flossing as well as routine cleaning by a dental hygienist remove plaque, tartar and calculus. All are part of the basic dental care necessary to help prevent and treat gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Dentists and hygienists are always trying to motivate dental patients to floss their teeth. Flossing can be challenging for patients with limited dexterity. Some dental patients find flossing difficult and some patients are just too lazy to floss. Water flossing is even easier than traditional dental flossing. Oral irrigation is also ideal for patients with hard to reach areas around bridges, crowns, implants or braces.
We can’t say it too many times: the dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group recommend flossing with both traditional dental floss and oral irrigation.
Hydro Floss is an oral irrigation device that delivers a steady stream of water that flushes out food particles, bacteria and plaque from under the gums and between teeth, the areas a toothbrush can’t reach. Hydro Floss is easy to use and cleans hard to reach areas before using traditional dental floss.
Our patients are having great success with the Hydro Floss. It is easy. Turn a switch and let a gentle stream of water clean between your teeth and around your gums. The convenience of water flossers increases patient compliance in maintaining oral hygiene. The result is healthier gums and teeth, and cleaner oral appliances such as braces, bridges and dental implants.
For patients with sensitive teeth, Hydro Floss allows you to adjust the pressure of the water stream through manual controls. You may also fill the water reservoir with warm water (slightly warmer than your body temperature) to maximize comfort.
The dentists and staff at McCarl Dental Group encourage and promote oral health for each of our patients. Part of that responsibility includes teaching about products that can help improve oral health.
The Hydro Floss is $129.95 on their website and is not currently carried in stores. If our patients use our office discount code of #942111 they can purchase the Hydro Floss for $98.00 with no shipping fees. This can be done online or by phone 1-800-635-3594.
If our patient orders a Hydro Floss by phone while in our office the price is only $78.40, again with no shipping fees. Their office is open Central Standard Time on Mon-Thurs 8:30-5:00pm and Fri. 8:30-12:30pm. If these times do not correspond with the time of the patients dental appointment, we recommend just stopping by another day, whenever it’s convenient for the patient. Patients interested in purchasing a Hydro Floss are always welcomed to stop by to order one, no appointment is necessary.
If you’re looking for a dentist, please visit one of our offices near you. McCarl Dental Group at Shipley’s Choice, our Millersville dental office is conveniently located near Severn Park, Crownsville, Gambrills, Annapolis, Crofton, Glen Burnie, and Severn. Call 410-987-8800 for an appointment in our Millersville dental office.
Our Greenbelt Dental Office is close to College Park, New Carrollton, Lanham, Seabrook, Bowie, Laurel, Glen Dale, University Park, Hyattsville, and Maryland. Call 301-474-4144 for an appointment in our Greenbelt dental office.
You may also schedule dental appointments online at www.McCarlDental.com.
Dental Implants in Greenbelt and Millersville MD
June 18, 2013
“I recommend Dr. McCarl if you need dental work. Whether it is just cleaning, implants, fillings or any form of replacement, he is the dentist to see. Dr. McCarl will evaluate and propose a plan, but encourages your input in developing the plan of action. I am so happy to have a complete and amazingly beautiful smile. I am overjoyed with my new teeth and big smile.”
Millersville Dentist helps Patient Smile with Confidence!
Dental implants are today’s standard of care for replacing missing teeth and securing removable dentures. The dentists at McCarl Dental Group in Millersville Maryland and Greenbelt Maryland have been placing dental implants for 25 years and work hard to deliver the most current and highest quality dental care. In the past few years, improvements in dental implant technology have made implants more reliable, more comfortable and more affordable.
There are circumstances for which a dental implant has replaced root canal therapy as the preferred dental treatment. When the root of a tooth is too short or too badly damaged to support restoration with a dental crown, it may be best to extract the tooth and place a dental implant. The implant will provide greater support for the restored tooth and improved long term success. Our dental patients love the look and feel of natural teeth that a crown restored with a dental implant provides.
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, in many cases, implants restored with crowns will last longer and cost less than ongoing repair efforts.
When you lose a tooth, your jawbone gradually loses strength and firmness. This leads to bone loss and can even cause changes in facial features. The loss of just one tooth can cause uneven chewing and an unstable bite. The remaining teeth shift and proper cleaning becomes more difficult. A misaligned bite can also contribute jaw joint dysfunction and headaches. Unlike a denture or bridge, a dental implant can prevent bone loss at the site of the missing tooth.
“My lower molar implants, strengthened my jaw bones, consequently improving my bite and virtually eliminating my TMJ issues. And as a side, I benefited aesthetically with improved facial symmetry.”
Many patients tell us that having a dental implant placed is more comfortable than they expected. Unlike teeth, implants do not experience temperature sensitivity or decay. Many patients are pleasantly surprised that the cost of dental implants is much lower than they expected.
If you are missing teeth, please call to schedule an appointment at our Greenbelt Dental Office 301-474-4144 or our Millersville Dental Office 410-987-8800 to learn how dental implants can improve the health of your smile. Visit the McCarl Dental Website at www.McCarlDental.com
Severna Park Dentist supports Annapolis Wellness House
September 26, 2012
McCarl Dental Group at Shipley’s Choice is delighted to sponsor the Wellness House Sporting Clays Classic. The Wellness House is a non-profit organization in Annapolis, Maryland dedicated to providing free programs and services to people whose lives have been touched by cancer. Wellness House programs compliment clinical care that cancer patients receive and are provided in a home-like setting.
You may be wondering, what is the relationship between dentistry and cancer care? Your dentist is an important member of the health care team during your cancer treatment. Excellent oral hygiene is vital prior to and during chemotherapy. Side effects of chemotherapy can include:painful mouth and gums,dry mouth, burning, peeling, or swelling tongue, infection and change in taste. Side effects happen most often when a person’s mouth is not healthy before they start chemotherapy.
Ideally, you should visit your dentist at least a month before starting chemotherapy or radiation therapy to check for plaque build-up on your teeth or periodontal disease as well as bacterial infections and nerve abscesses. Chemotherapy is given to kill cancer cells, however it can also damage normal cells – especially the cells in the mucosal lining of the mouth and throat that grow rapidly. Chemotherapy can compromise your immune system by lowering the number of white blood cells your body produces. This puts chemotherapy patients at higher risk for developing infections and decreased ability to fight infections. An oral infection that travels through your bloodstream can have very serious consequences.
At McCarl Dental Group, we frequently receive letters from physicians of our patients who are preparing to start chemotherapy asking us to ensure there are no oral diseases present that would jeopardize the success of their treatment.
For more information about dental care as it relates to chemotherapy, please visit https://www.mccarldental.com/blog/dental-care-for-chemotherapy/ .
Visit Annapolis Wellness House! All Wellness House programs and services are free of charge and available to cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones and caregivers. For a list of programs, please visit https://www.annapoliswellnesshouse.org/home
Is Smokeless Tobacco Harmful?
January 2, 2012
YES! Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States.
At McCarl Dental Group we care about your oral health and also your overall health! We recently had a question regarding a YouTube video that one of our patients requested that we post on our website. Unfortunately, this patient was diagnosed with oral cancer. Fortunately his treatment was very successful. The cancer was located at the base of the tongue beyond visible range and was not visible upon oral examination. It was diagnosed by an ear nose and throat doctor. The question asked what percentage of people who dip everyday will get mouth cancer? We researched and were not able to find those specific statistics. Here is the information we found.
Wishing you a healthy and blessed New Year!
Harmful health effects of smokeless tobacco include:
- Mouth, tongue and throat cancer
- Cancer in the esophagus
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke
- Addiction to nicotine
- Leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can become cancer)
- Receding gums (gums slowly shrink from around the teeth)
- Bone loss around the roots of the teeth
- Abrasion (scratching and wearing down) of teeth
- Tooth loss
- Stained teeth
- Bad breath
Smokeless tobacco products are a major source of cancer-causing nitrosamines and a known cause of human cancer. They increase the risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat, esophagus and pancreas. (Source: Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts and Figures 2010)
Smokeless tobacco products are considered less lethal but are NOT a safe alternative to smoking. Use of tobacco in any form harms health and can also lead to nicotine addiction.
Results from a large American Cancer Society study showed that people who switched from cigarettes to snuff or chewing tobacco had higher death rates from heart disease, stroke, cancer of the mouth and lung, and all causes of death combined than former smokers who stopped using ALL tobacco products.
The American Cancer Society, the World Health Organization, the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. National Toxicology Program have all issued strong reports warning on the adverse health effects of smokeless tobacco.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2011)
Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society. (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2011)
Lung cancer estimates for 2011 (Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2011):
New cases of lung cancer: 221,130
Males: 115,060
Females: 106,070
Deaths from lung cancer: 156,940
Males: 85,600
Females: 71,340