February 13, 2017
Kids are constantly growing and changing, and their mouths are no exception! Throughout childhood, kids lose their baby teeth, gain adult teeth, and they begin to take ownership over their own oral health. From brushing to braces to practicing their smile, oral health is important for every kid at every stage.
We know you love to see your child smile! Carolina Complete Dental does too. Read our tips to learn how to help keep your kid smiling for life. (more…)
January 30, 2017
Essential oils are time-tested treasures gaining new popularity among fans everywhere. These potent liquids are fun and fresh ingredients that you can customize for almost any oral hygiene need.
As with any DIY dental treatment, do your research and be cautious. Not all oils are safe to ingest and some may hurt you if applied directly onto your skin.
Essential oils are distilled from plants and usually sold singularly—one ingredient per bottle although you can also find oil blend products. Like other supplements, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate their safety or efficacy.
Using Essential Oils for Oral Health (more…)
January 13, 2017
We at Carolina Complete Dental understand that dental insurance can be a tricky thing to navigate. Evaluating dental plans and considering deductibles, benefits, which treatments are covered, and the mountain of other information insurance companies provide can be a headache in and of itself. Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams want every Goose Creek resident to have the power to control their own health, so here’s a simplified guide to the basics of dental health insurance. As always, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to give us a call!
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is an excellent investment that helps Goose Creek residents ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles. However, in order to get the best value from your dental insurance, there are a few things you need to know. Here are the answers to the most common questions we hear at Carolina Complete Dental:
What is dental insurance? (more…)
October 27, 2016
It’s common to see people wearing mouth guards in Goose Creek during all kinds of sports, such as football, basketball, and boxing, but did you know that lots of folks wear mouth guards at night for their dental health? People who grind their teeth (bruxism) and people with sleep apnea can get relief from their symptoms simply by wearing a specially-designed mouth guard at night. Dr. Jason Barganier has helped tons of Goose Creek residents improve the quality of their life with night guards, and we at Carolina Complete Dental invite you to come visit us today to find out more.
September 27, 2016
When you’re suddenly struck with a toothache, floating ideas of home remedies may quickly come to mind. Whether you heard it from your great aunt or saw it on Pinterest, at-home treatments are everywhere. Goose Creek dentist, Dr. Jason Barganier can explain more about how to care for a toothache and when to come in for a visit.
Common causes of toothaches are infections, cavities, damaged enamel, a cracked tooth or an exposed root are all good reasons to get yourself to the dentist! Home remedies for a toothache may work for immediate relief, but they’re not likely to last long, and they may not be completely safe.
If you like using household ingredients for personal care, you may go looking into your own pantry for something to relieve the pain, but do your research. And before things get too out of hand, call your Goose Creek dentist to prevent worse pain or problems.
September 13, 2016
You may think being exhausted simply comes with the territory of being a parent (and it does), but there may also be a serious medical condition causing your child to wake up often throughout the night – sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is most commonly found in adults, but can also, in rare cases affect children. Dr. Jason Barganier, dentist at Carolina Complete Dental in Goose Creek cares about treating your little ones. Read below to learn more about how dentists can diagnose and treat sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing becomes shallow or pauses completely while you’re asleep. It can be caused by your tongue or tonsils being too large and blocking your airway, the collapse of soft tissues in the back of the throat, or by your brain not sending the proper signals to keep breathing while you sleep.
Sleep apnea causes a lot of problems for children, the most obvious being restless sleep. Other problems can include failure to thrive, slower developmental milestones, excessive sleepiness in daytime, and attention or behavioral problems – all due to a lack of quality sleep. Sleep apnea is most common in children between two to eight years old.
About 2-4% of children have sleep apnea, but it is harder to diagnose in children than in adults. One major difference between sleep apnea in children and adults is that children with sleep apnea, unlike adults, often are not overweight. Since children spend half of their time asleep (a parent can dream), healthy sleep is hugely important for their health and development.
Among all primary care doctors, dentists are the most likely to see clues your child might have sleep apnea. A dentist is a trained professional who spends a lot of time looking at your mouth. By looking in your mouth, they can tell a lot about your overall health and how your body is functioning. Routine dental visits play an important role in preventing many health problems.
By the looks of your child’s mouth, gums, teeth, and throat, a dentist can easily tell if your child might have sleep apnea. Children with teeth, even as young as one-year-old, should regularly visit the dentist.
Dentists are experts in helping your entire mouth, face, and neck work together to be as healthy as possible. This goes for everything from good nutrition to good sleep. If your dentist believes your child may have sleep apnea, they will work with other doctors to confirm and treat the diagnosis.
In many cases, your dentist will be able to offer an oral appliance, or mouthpiece, as a non-surgical solution. While weight is rarely an issue for children with sleep apnea, in some cases, weight-loss will be recommended. Treating allergies may also improve your child’s breathing while he/she sleeps. In some serious cases, surgery will be recommended.
If you think your child may have sleep apnea, or if you’d like to learn more about caring for your child’s dental and oral health, call your Goose Creek dentist, Dr. Jason Barganier today to make an appointment at Carolina Complete Dental.
Sources
http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-103/issue-6/features/childhood-sleep-apnea.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3304178/
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sleepapnea
August 27, 2016
Oral hygiene is the foundation of good dental health. Brushing and flossing regularly is the best way to keep your Goose Creek smile healthy and clean. Consider this your personal tutorial on the art of dental hygiene, instructed by Dr. Jason Barganier and the expert hygienists at Carolina Complete Dental. If you have any questions or would like to test your skills in person, feel free to give us a call!
Before we get to talking technique, we need to make sure you have the right tools for the job. You’re going to need a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and floss. Pick whatever floss is most comfortable for you and any toothpaste that you like, provided it has fluoride. Mouthwash is not required, but some Goose Creek folks really like the extra oral health boost you get from a good swish and gargle.
July 13, 2016
Most Goose Creek folks have had some exposure to the concept of wisdom teeth. Perhaps you have had yours removed, are considering a removal, or Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams has just shown you an X-Ray with the infamous third molars creeping into view. It’s common to hear patients ask how they are removed, but we rarely hear people talking about the reasons for getting rid of wisdom teeth. Today, we at Carolina Complete Dental are going to explain what wisdom teeth are, why they don’t deserve to stay in your mouth, and how we can help! As always, feel free to call us with any questions or concerns. (more…)
According to the American Dental Association, at least 13% of all injuries to the mouth occur during sports activities. While helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards, and the like do a great job of protecting most of the body, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams would like to make sure that every athlete knows how to keep their teeth safe from harm. No Goose Creek parent should have to worry about their child’s teeth during the game, so at Carolina Complete Dental we would like to talk about how to take sports safety to the next level.
Mouth Guards and Sports Safety
June 27, 2016
Traditionally, dentists have used what’s known as amalgam, or special metal alloys, to fill cavities. However, modern dental medicine has advanced to the point that Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams can offer Goose Creek patients a much better option for filling holes caused by tooth decay: composite fillings. At Carolina Complete Dental, we would like to educate you on the benefits of tooth-colored, composite fillings, so please let this article serve as your personal fillings fact sheet.
The History of Fillings
Once upon a time, the choices for dental restoration materials were limited. Records dating back as far as 659 A.D. tell us that amalgams (mixtures of silver, mercury, tin, and/or copper) have been used widely for more than 1300 years. There have been a number of scientific disputes (referred to as the amalgam war) over the health concerns of using mercury, but the American Dental Association has always defended the safety of amalgam fillings. Until recently, amalgam fillings were favored because of their strength, resilience, and relative ease of preparation and placement. That being said, amalgams have three main drawbacks: