January 13, 2021
Did you know that unhealthy gums might put your brain at risk?
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, which harms your memory, ability to think, and can cause changes in your personality. It’s very common and usually affects people aged 60 and over. And, Alzheimer’s might be significantly more likely to happen if your mouth and gums aren’t healthy.
(more…)December 27, 2020
Very few opinions are universally shared, but we’re willing to bet on one: the best dental checkups are the ones where Drs. Bargainier, and Zuffi says the beautiful words: “No cavities!” At-home oral hygiene routines are the most effective tool people of any age have to keep their teeth healthy, but when it comes to pediatric dentistry, it also helps for caregivers to remember what stages children are in to encourage age-appropriate oral hygiene routines at home.
(more…)December 13, 2020
You might be surprised to hear that the state of your oral health has a lot to do with preventing a stroke. There’s a certain kind of bad oral bacteria that cause gum disease, travel to other parts of your body, and cause harm.
(more…)November 27, 2020
There are a lot of things teeth can tell you about yourself, even more that dentists can determine during examinations, and even more that can be discovered by scientists. For example, you can often feel when you have something stuck between your teeth, or when plaque is starting to build up and you could use some quality time with your toothbrush. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams can examine this, too, and with the assistance of our technology, we can also see cavities forming, enamel wear, the density of your jawbone, and more!
These details are key when it comes to helping you maintain a healthy smile for life, but if we wanted to compare the difference in size between your jaw and the jaws of our ancestors from 4 million years ago, we’d need to consult scientists.
Why would we be interested in obtaining this information? Partially because we find it fascinating, but also because it explains things like why our third molars (wisdom teeth) frequently cause issues when erupting or attempting to erupt.
Did you sing “Dem Bones” or “The Skeleton Dance” in elementary school? If so, you might remember that your jawbone is connected to your skull. Fossilized skulls and teeth can tell us things like what kind of food our ancestors ate through what some scientists call a “foodprint”. Scientists can even use teeth to determine if someone moved to and from places with dramatically different foods or soils.
As your Goose Creek dental team, we’re dedicated to learning all we can about teeth, past and present, so we can keep yours healthy and beautiful for a lifetime. To talk teeth and science with us, or just schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, contact Carolina Complete Dental today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
November 13, 2020
Life is full of unexpected surprises, and while we’d love for all of them to be smile-inducing, that’s not entirely realistic—and there may be many reasons you hide your smile. If you’re hiding your smile because of one or more missing teeth, we want you to know you’re not alone. In fact, 120 million people in the U.S. are missing at least one tooth, and more than 36 million Americans do not have any teeth at all.
Whether the cause is tooth decay, gum disease—#1 on the list of reasons, with 50% of Americans over the age of 30 having the most severe form of periodontitis—illness, or injury, there are solutions. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental would like to fill you in on your options, which have expanded and improved over the years thanks to technological advancements and continuing education.
You’re probably familiar with the cliché, but in case you’re not, the ending goes: “is worth a pound of cure.” At Carolina Complete Dental, we believe this to be true. We hope to see you smile regularly so we can catch problems in their earlier stages and help you avoid the need for more extensive procedures. If tooth decay and/or infection within your tooth’s pulp chamber is caught in time, we might be able to salvage your tooth with a root canal, inlay or onlay, or a crown.
If, however, the damage has been done and a tooth needs extraction–or has already left the building–you don’t have to abandon all hope. We can either bridge the divide, or implant some pearls of strength and wisdom. If you need to replace more than a few teeth, partial and full dentures are on your list of options as well, and the dentures of today are more comfortable and natural-looking than the dentures of decades past.
If you’ve got a separation between two or more teeth, a little bit of relationship counseling might be helpful… kidding! What Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams can do is design a dental bridge to restore your smile’s function and beauty.
If the space where your tooth was has neighbors, a traditional bridge can be placed using those neighbors, which will be prepared and crowned as anchors. If the gap is in the back of your mouth and has only one tooth for anchoring, what’s called a Cantilever bridge can be crafted and bonded for security. The third type of bridge that can replace a missing tooth is called a Maryland. Maryland bridges have metal wings that are bonded directly to your neighboring teeth for support, without the need for preparing and fitting them with crowns.
If all or most of your teeth require replacement, dentures are another option—one that has expanded and improved over time. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams can help you choose which type is best for your case, between conventional, immediate, and overdentures. Going the conventional route means allowing for a healing period before they’re fitted, which can take several months. Immediate dentures can be placed after remaining teeth have been extracted, thanks to measurements being taken and models being created of your mouth and jaw during a preliminary visit. Overdentures are a great option if you have healthy teeth remaining, as they can fit over the top of your tooth roots along with implants, which gives them a more natural feel and appearance. You may experience discomfort during your adjustment period, but we will do all we can to ensure your oral health and function return.
Whether you’re missing one tooth, a couple of teeth, or all of them, the #1 recommended solution by doctors and patients is dental implants. Their versatility and ability to preserve your jawbone by mimicking your tooth root are unmatched. Dental implants are small posts made of biocompatible titanium that are inserted into your jawbone, fitted with an abutment, and then capped with a beautiful, durable, porcelain crown, bridge, or a full set of dentures. Besides them bearing the closest resemblance physically and aesthetically to your natural teeth, they can also last a lifetime with proper care.
The jury is not out when it comes to replacing missing teeth. It’s important not just because the hole they leave can hurt your self-confidence—it can also hurt your oral health. Surrounding teeth may shift and alter your bite, and without that root, your jawbone starts to deteriorate, causing a sunken-in facial appearance. If you’ve been missing one or more teeth for a while, you know it also impacts your diet and the way you speak. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams would be honored to restore your smile to the healthy, beautiful state it deserves. Call Carolina Complete Dental today to make an appointment!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
October 27, 2020
According to the American Association of Orthodontics, over four million people in the United States are undergoing orthodontic treatment at any given time, and about 25% of those people are adults. These statistics include different types of orthodontic treatments, such as clear aligner systems that have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Clear aligners can be removed to eat, drink, and clean teeth, so diets are not as limited for patients that use them, but Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, and Dr. Bal advises wearers of more traditional braces (constructed with brackets and wires) to modify their diets for the duration of treatment to avoid damaging their hardware and their teeth!
The list of beverages to avoid with braces is shorter than the list of restricted foods, so let’s get beverages out of the way first! There are two key categories for restricted beverages: fizzy and acidic. Avoid sodas and other carbonated beverages, natural fruit juices, and sports drinks—all can be very acidic and high in sugar, which encourages enamel erosion and tooth decay—this is true for all teeth, but especially ones with braces!
Fizzy drinks can also stain the brackets of your braces. If you do indulge in this type of drink now and then, sip with a straw to lessen these effects. If you like ice in your drinks, that’s fine, but do not chew it. Chewing ice is one of the easiest (and most common) ways to damage braces!
When wearing braces, limit chewy, crunchy, sticky, hard, and sugary foods whenever possible, and try to avoid biting into harder foods with your front teeth. Steaming vegetables will soften them considerably without stripping them of flavor, and if you like apples, they are soft and tasty when baked with a little cinnamon. Meat, burgers, ribs, and sub sandwiches are good examples of foods that should be cut into smaller pieces. When in doubt, slow down and try smaller bites, but be especially wary of the following:
After a list like that, did you think we wouldn’t also give you a list of foods you can enjoy? Try to envision your future smile while you snack on a few of these soft and delicious goodies (as your other dietary considerations allow):
If the brackets and wires that make up your braces become loose, damaged or need adjustment, your treatment time can increase, sometimes significantly. As hard as it can be with so many temporary restrictions, maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet is very beneficial for your oral and overall health—and your orthodontic treatment! The healthier you are, the more likely it is that your orthodontic treatment will produce the results you’ve always wanted!
If you have any questions about orthodontics or foods we recommend and don’t recommend during treatment, contact Carolina Complete Dental in Goose Creek today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
October 13, 2020
Whether you’ve never been thrilled with your smile, or it lacks the luster it once had, dental bonding is a multipurpose cosmetic and restorative dental procedure that can be performed on patients of all ages. Bonding has the capability to fill gaps, correct damage, and refurbish the overall structure and look of your teeth. Carolina Complete Dental wants every patient to feel good about their smile, but if you feel less than confident in yours, we may recommend a simple and affordable treatment called dental bonding.
There are two different types of dental bonding: direct composite bonding and adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonding attaches a separate restoration to a tooth, so that type of bonding is used for veneers, crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays. This article will focus on direct composite bonding, which is its own minimally invasive smile makeover procedure—and the one most people think of when they hear the terms “bonding” or “dental bonding.”
Dental bonding is a noninvasive treatment where tooth-colored material—either composite resin or a modifiable ceramic—is applied directly to the teeth. Once complete, the bonding procedure restores and rejuvenates the teeth, both in appearance and in structure. Unless bonding is being used to correct decay, the procedure rarely requires anesthesia and can be performed in a single dental appointment!
Before bonding itself can begin, the tooth surface is abraded and treated with a conditioning liquid, which facilitates the adherence of the bonding material to the tooth. Since preparation to bond teeth is not very extensive, the bulk of existing natural tooth structure can be saved—and the bonding resin can fuse itself to the natural tooth, strengthening it in the process. Bonding resin has a consistency that resembles putty and is color-matched to natural teeth before being applied, molded, and smoothed to the preferred shape.
Once bonding resin has been applied and the desired effect has been achieved, an ultraviolet (UV) light or laser is used to harden the material. Once the bond has hardened, it is trimmed, shaped, and polished to match the rest of the tooth’s natural sheen and shape. The overall bonding process averages 30 minutes per tooth.
Every dental situation is different, but here are some situations where bonding may be recommended:
Bonded teeth look, feel, and function like natural teeth and should be cared for with a sound oral hygiene routine. Beverages like soda, dark-colored juices, and sports drinks should be avoided whenever possible to prevent stains. If you bite your fingernails, eat ice or chew pencils and pens, you should consider quitting because these habits chip away at bonding material (and natural teeth!)—so if you recognize yourself in any of these vices, quit it!
While bonding composite isn’t quite as durable as natural tooth enamel, with proper care, it can usually last for an average of ten years before repair is needed. Bonding resin, just like natural enamel, does show visible wear and tear, dulling with age, and staining over time. Depending on your individual dental situation, a more permanent restorative procedure like a crown or veneers may be the best long-term decision.
If you just had a bonding treatment, or are considering bonding, here’s what you should know following the procedure to ensure the best results. Avoid eating or drinking foods that stain (coffee, tea, red wine, etc.) for the first 48 hours. Call Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams if you notice sharp edges, if chips or pieces fall out, or if your teeth feel strange or “off” when biting down.
It’s hard to tell dental work has been done on bonded teeth—all people notice is that your smile looks fantastic. Contact us today if you have questions or would like to learn more about dental bonding. Your Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental looks forward to increasing your smile confidence. Get ready for lots of compliments!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
September 27, 2020
You had braces when you were younger and never experienced any jaw pain or other TMJ symptoms prior. Then, after you completed your orthodontic treatment, you developed a pain in your jaw, maybe accompanied by popping, locking, clenching and grinding. Maybe you developed these symptoms shortly after having your braces removed, maybe it was a decade later. Either way, could these two things be related?
First, let us explain a little bit about TMJ—what it is, what causes it, and how it’s treated. TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, or the jaw joint. TMD stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and is used to describe any condition affecting the jaw joint—but TMJ is often used to describe the dysfunction as well.
Your TMJ is a complex structure made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bones, lubricating systems, and shock-absorbing discs—all of which are subject to strain, sprain, and injury just like your other joints like your knees and shoulders. There are many factors that may contribute to TMJ dysfunction, including stress, injuries, habitual behaviors, as well as tooth alignment and bite problems.
There are many treatment options for TMJ, including:
If your primary concern is not your tooth alignment, but your TMJ pain, it’s likely you will seek out a doctor who understands the delicate balance of the jaw joint and your alignment and bite. This may be a highly-trained general dentist, orthodontist, or a TMJ specialist.
Used strategically, orthodontics can help bring your teeth and bite into a healthier alignment to relieve tension that’s causing your TMJ. But if orthodontics is often used to treat TMJ, how could it also be a cause of TMJ?
Most orthodontic treatments are only meant to straighten teeth, especially if there were no pre-existing TMJ problems, and unfortunately, some orthodontists and general dentists providing orthodontic services are not well-trained in the relationship between the alignment, bite, and TMJ. So they slap some braces on you and straighten your smile so it looks beautiful, with little to no regard to how these changes may have disrupted the balance of your natural bite and jaw joint.
The short answer to the question, “Can orthodontics cause TMJ?” is yes, sometimes—but it can help treat TMJ as well! TMJ dysfunction is complex and may be the result of multiple factors, not just orthodontics alone—especially if you developed symptoms many years after completing orthodontic treatment.
The most important thing to remember if you had braces in the past and now you’re suffering from TMJ is to choose a dentist, orthodontist, or TMJ specialist that is well-trained in treating TMJ disorders if you choose to seek treatment. If you’re considering braces for the first time and concerned about developing TMJ dysfunction, be sure to choose a dentist or orthodontist that understands the delicate balance of tooth alignment, bite, and the TMJ, and express your concern with your doctor.
Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams is one of these qualified professionals who understand these complexities and is highly experienced in treating both malocclusion and TMJ. If you have any questions about orthodontics and TMJ, or you’d like to come to see us in person, contact your Goose Creek dentist at Carolina Complete Dental today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
September 13, 2020
A lot of healthy lifestyle choices benefit more than one system within your body. Eating well, exercising, good sleep, and fresh air all support a lot of your physical needs. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that what hurts one area of your health can easily hurt another area, too. An important (though less known) connection in your health systems is the connection between oral hygiene and heart health.
Your mouth is home to countless kinds of bacteria. Most of these bacteria are normal and good, but some may put you at a higher risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease. Heart disease is an umbrella term that covers a wide array of less-than-desirable conditions in your heart and its connecting vessels. Your heart muscle, valves, and rhythm can all be affected by heart disease.
If something prevents your heart and blood vessels from working properly, the consequences can be devastating. That’s why it’s important to know how your oral health and other lifestyle factors can support (or hurt) your heart health. If you have gum disease or dental plaque, you are at an increased risk of developing heart disease.
Gum disease isn’t always obvious, though somewhere around 50% of all adults will get it. Warning signs include redness, swollen, and receding gums. The same bacteria that cause these problems also put your heart at risk.
Science shows that some bad oral bacteria can travel through your bloodstream and harm not only other parts of your body but the arteries they travel through.
Harmful oral bacteria can cause:
You can see how keeping a close eye on your oral health can compound positive effects. And the good news is that oral hygiene is simple and anyone can do it. (Even children need daily oral hygiene habits and should be taught how to care for their mouths.)
Prevent oral problems and heart disease by:
Bonus: eating a diet rich in unprocessed foods and vegetables supports heart health, too! See, everything really is connected.
The health of your mouth can affect countless other health concerns and desires you might have. Oral health supports your sleep, heart, digestion, immune system, brain, and pregnancy.
The field of research that studies these kinds of connections is called the oral-systemic link. As research grows, we know a few things for sure. Prevention is everything, and knowing your risk factors is always important. Having relationships with a doctor and a dentist you trust can help give you the life satisfaction you desire.
Your health is truly a tightly woven map of interconnected parts and systems. Don’t be overwhelmed by everything there is to know, but find the right health care providers, and definitely make use of all the simple ways you can take care of yourself.
Dentists are medical professionals who can take care of a wide range of health and wellness needs. If you are looking for a Goose Creek dentist who can get you on the right track, come to see Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental. Make an appointment and let our team of caring, knowledgeable staff give you the smile and the life you want.
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
August 27, 2020
Baby teeth, also called deciduous, primary, milk, or lacteal teeth, have many different purposes. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental is asked the purpose of baby teeth often. So what’s the answer?
Child-sized mouths are not large enough to accommodate a full set of adult teeth, so the primary teeth become placeholders in the jaw, saving spaces for adult teeth to grow in as they begin to surface from under the gums. Baby teeth usually begin to erupt around 6 months of age, but may begin forming in the womb even before birth!
By the age of 3 years, children should have all 20 of their baby teeth, which remain in the mouth for the bulk of childhood—roughly 8-10 years. The presence of baby teeth allows children to eat solid foods and helps as they learn to speak clearly and quickly.
The first adult tooth erupts where the baby teeth have been lost around 6 years of age. By age 13, all permanent adult teeth—except wisdom teeth which tend to emerge between the ages of 17 and 21 years—will have taken up residence in the mouth.
Baby teeth are even more prone to cavities than adult teeth because small children lack the dexterity and knowledge to properly care for them. Statistics estimate that more than 50% of kids will be affected by tooth decay before the age of five years. So baby teeth can be very useful tools to educate kids about the importance of good oral hygiene. Premature baby tooth loss can allow permanent teeth to shift into available space in the jaw, causing improper placement and causing further dental problems down the road.
Poor dental hygiene in childhood can lead to difficulty speaking and eating, infection, pain, and can affect their overall appearance and self-esteem. Baby teeth will be gone for good by age 12 or 13, but good dental hygiene habits formed in childhood will last a lifetime.
If you have any questions about your child’s baby teeth or would like to schedule a hygiene appointment for your little one, please give us a call and schedule an appointment today!
The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.