Most patients are used to hearing questions about their flossing habits from the dentist. “How often do you floss?” “Do you floss between every tooth?” “Do you experience discomfort or bleeding during flossing?” Almost universally, our Greenbelt dental patients dread these questions. In a recent video, Dr. Jay McCarl takes the time to answer some of the most common flossing questions patients ask him. Watch this informative video from McCarl Dental Group or keep reading to find out more.
All Your Flossing Questions Answered by Your Dentist in Greenbelt – McCarl Dental Group
December 2, 2015
Why are There White Spots on my Teeth?
November 9, 2015
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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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.
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
Panorex Dental X-Rays
February 21, 2012
When is a Panorex X-Ray the Best Choice?
Panorex or Panoramic x-rays are a one of a kind radiograph that is taken outside of the patient’s jaw. Panorex x-rays can show dental practitioners an overall look at structures like impacted teeth, jaw anatomy, nasal sinuses, and any suspected pathology around the mouth.
Panorex films are most commonly known for being taken on young adults with orthodontic consultations or when dentists are beginning to monitor wisdom tooth development. Because smaller x-rays taken inside of the mouth cannot show dentists much of the jaw, the panorex films are the best way to do this.
Individuals considering dental implants also need to have panorex films taken in order to evaluate the bone levels and anatomy of the nasal sinuses. This helps the dentists with McCarl Dental Group determine whether or not our patient are an ideal candidate, or if other procedures like bone grafts or nasal surgeries would first need to be completed. It also helps dentists know what type of implant needs to be placed in the mouth, as each implant is designed for different anatomical needs. Panorex films are the x-ray of choice for accidents such as a broken jawbone.
For routine dental appointments, the dentists at McCarl Dental Group recommend a panorex film every 5 years. Most of our new patients have a panorex taken on their first appointment with us. This complies with the ADA standard of care, which is developed to help dentists monitor their patient’s oral health care needs. (1) Because some conditions like cysts, cancers, infections or tooth damage cannot be seen without the view that a panorex x-ray gives, it is important to have these taken regularly for preventative care. Patients who are undergoing orthodontic, or implant therapy may need to have these films taken more often to evaluate the progression that their treatments have made.
At McCarl Dental Group we have a digital Panorex. This allows us to share x-rays with patients and other health professionals at the request of our dental patients.
Each type of dental x-ray is designed to view different features. The image that the panorex provides cannot be replicated with other types of intraoral x-rays. For example, bitewing x-rays that are taken once a year to evaluate dental decay will not show areas around tooth roots, wisdom teeth, or relationship of teeth to the sinuses.
Panorex films are easy and painless. These films are taken with a machine that rotates around the head in just a few seconds. Digital panorex films are ready for instant viewing and use a minimum of radiation. All our patients feel it is exceptionally easy to have done. Panoramic x-rays eliminate gagging and discomfort sometimes caused by holding a film in the mouth.
If have more questions on dental x-rays or are looking for a dental care provider we would love to hear from you. McCarl Dental offices are conveniently located near Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Bowie and College Park Maryland. You can contact our Millersville, MD dental office at (410) 987-8800 or call our Greenbelt, MD location at (301) 474-4144. Please visit the McCarl Dental Group website at https://www.mccarldental.com/
Reference:
1. Choi JW.; Assessment of panoramic radiography as a national oral examination tool: review of the literature.; Imaging Sci Dent. 2011 Mar;41(1):1-6. Epub 2011 Mar 26.