Preventive Dentistry Greenbelt

Dental Exams

The American Dental Association and the team at McCarl Dental Group, PC recommend a professional dental checkup & teeth cleaning once every six months. During these visits, a member of our team will make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed before performing a thorough cleaning & assessment of your teeth and gums. These routine checkups are the perfect opportunity to ask any questions you may have about treatment and your oral health.

Dental Hygiene

All of our registered dental hygienists keep up with the latest procedures and innovations in dentistry through routine continuing education classes. These include the latest periodontal therapies as well as current dental products and materials. We are all trained in nutritional counseling and oral cancer screening. Our dental hygienists were named the best hygienists in What’s Up Magazine.

We recommend a professional dental hygiene visit at least twice a year. Your visit will include professional cleaning, tartar removal, plaque removal, X-rays (if needed), and fluoride treatment. Your healthy, beautiful smile is our mission.

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Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that fortifies the strength of tooth enamel. With fluoride treatments, we can ensure that your teeth are better protected against the acid-causing bacteria responsible for tooth decay. This type of treatment is particularly helpful for children and adults who are at high risk for dental caries.

Oral Cancer Screening

You may not think 'dentist' when you hear the words `cancer screening,' but part of every dental checkup involves looking for early signs of oral cancer. During your dental hygiene exam, our doctors and hygienists perform routine oral cancer screenings by inspecting your tongue and the floor and roof of your mouth. If these preliminary screenings warrant additional investigation, our doctors or hygienists may suggest additional steps.

Nightguards for Bruxism

Bruxism is described as the unintentional grinding of the teeth, most commonly at night while you are asleep. The immense amount of pressure placed on the chewing surfaces of teeth can cause severe damage if left untreated, including cracked and worn enamel. A nightguard is a comfortable, custom oral appliance that prevents the damage caused by bruxism, saving your teeth and your smile from repeated grinding motions at night.

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Mouthguards / Sportsguards

According to the American Dental Association, properly fitted athletic mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries in collegiate and high school football every year. Custom-fitted to your unique dentition, our athletic mouthguards have been shown to reduce the risk of serious injury to the lips, tongue, teeth, gums, and jaw. Athletic mouthguards can even diminish the severity of concussions sustained during gameplay. Ask about custom sportsguards for yourself or your children today.

Dental Sealants

To minimize the risk of harmful bacteria reaching the pits and grooves of molars and premolars, dental sealants can be used. These ultra-thin layers of coating are applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth located toward the back of the mouth. Because the molars and premolars feature deep grooves along their chewing surfaces, they are more susceptible to dental caries. Once applied, sealants provide several years of increased protection from cavities. The sealant application process takes only a few minutes per tooth and is completely painless.

Digital Dental Scanners

With digital dental scanning technology, our team can capture crisp, accurate images of the teeth and gums for use in the creation of custom restorations and oral appliances. Digital scanning eliminates the need for messy impression materials, improving patient comfort and precision of measurements. You can relax as our scanner creates clear digital images of your teeth, no sticky impression putty required.

Digital Dental X-Rays

Unlike traditional X-rays, digital radiography exposes patients to significantly less radiation and is substantially more accurate than film X-rays. In addition, digital X-rays require no caustic chemicals or developing time, so they are faster, more efficient, and better for the environment. Because we care about the health and safety of our patients, our office uses only digital X-rays for radiographic evaluation and assessment.

Intraoral Cameras

Even with the brightest of lights and a good mirror, it’s impossible to see the entire landscape of your mouth. Crevices behind rear molars and the surfaces closest to your tongue are nearly impossible to view from any angle. With an intraoral camera, you can finally see exactly what the dentist sees in stunning clarity on a nearby chairside monitor. Intraoral cameras afford us a closer and more accurate look into the oral cavity, improving diagnosis and treatment.

EMLA Cream

While the administration of local anesthesia is an important part of most dental procedures, we understand that patients (young and old alike) may be fearful of injections or needles. That’s why our dentists use EMLA cream, which can be applied directly to the oral tissue before the actual treatment begins. This cream will numb the area, allowing for an injection that’s comfortable and pain-free. Most patients won’t even feel anything at all.