Carolina Complete Dental Blog

Should I Let My Teen Whiten Their Teeth?

August 27, 2023

Goose Creek, dentists at Carolina Complete Dental Care, talk to parents about when it’s safe for teenagers to whiten their teeth and why professional treatments are best. Do you remember feeling like standards of beauty were unattainable when you were a teenager? Heck, many of us feel this way as adults! It makes sense that teenagers might be concerned with the appearance of their smile and pine for bright white smiles the same way adults do because they’re often exposed to the same media that displays stunning smiles nonstop.

There’s a lot to be said for defying those expectations, but if there were a simple, safe, and widely available treatment that could make a world of difference for your teen’s self-confidence, would you be ok with it?

Your Dentist Can Help

If your teen has expressed that they’d like to have their teeth whitened, you might be inclined to gasp and reply, “Your smile is perfect as it is!” We understand, and at Carolina Complete Dental Care, we do love how unique smiles are from person to person, and we want everyone to feel comfortable with their natural smile just as it is.

However, maybe it can lead to a productive discussion and informed decision. First, there’s the question of whether teeth whitening is a suitable treatment for adolescents, and if it is, what type of treatment will be the most effective and economical.

If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation with your Goose Creek dentists, please contact us at Carolina Complete Dental Care today! We want all of our friends and neighbors to have healthy smiles they feel proud to share.

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.

Time & Orthodontics Can Silence Bullies

August 13, 2023

Goose Creek, dentists of Carolina Complete Dental Care give parents, kids, and teens some positive ideas and techniques to handle being bullied about crooked teeth. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, teeth were the #1 feature that increased a child’s chances of being bullied. A person’s smile and teeth are often the first things people notice, and kids are no exception. The dentists at Carolina Complete Dental Care would like to share some ideas that can help kids feel better about their teeth—with parents’ help!

Explain that baby teeth are not all lost until kids reach their early teens, so their smile will continue to change as they grow—and this will be happening to the kids making fun, too.
Google “celebrity teeth before and after” for hundreds of examples showing successful grownups who were once kids that probably didn’t feel so great about their teeth. This reinforces that things will eventually get better.
During your child’s first evaluation for orthodontics, ask Carolina Complete Dental Care to show before and after results to reassure your child they can have a beautiful smile at the end of their treatment. And that today, they don’t necessarily have to settle for traditional metal braces, there are discreet and invisible options available.

If you have any questions about orthodontic treatment for kids and teens or would like to schedule an appointment, get in touch with Carolina Complete Dental Care today!

Life Hacks: One Simple Way to Protect Your Child’s Smile

July 27, 2023

Goose Creek dentist, Dr. Jason Barganier at Carolina Complete Dental Care tells parents why their little athletes should wear mouthguards. Did you know that sports-related injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits for children and teenagers between the ages of 12-17? For children between the ages of 5-14, recreational activities (e.g., riding a bike) account for an estimated 3.2 million emergency room visits.

With statistics like these, it’s no wonder parents want to find ways to keep their children safe while they play, and when you learn that the most commonly injured areas are to the face, head, eyes, and mouth, preventive wear like helmets and mouthguards become even more important!

Don’t Leave Home Without It

The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for many sports and recreational activities that you might not think would require a mouthguard, so it’s important to do your research and give your child the best protection available!

If you’re wondering whether your child should be wearing one, don’t hesitate to contact Carolina Complete Dental Care today. Dr. Jason Barganier loves fitting Goose Creek kids for mouthguards so they can play hard—safely!

Will the Gap in My Child’s Teeth Ever Close?

July 13, 2023

Diastema Goose Creek dentist Dr. Jason Barganier of Carolina Complete Dental Care talks about potential causes and treatments for gapped teeth in children. is the medical name for a space or gap between two teeth. While the most commonly gapped teeth are the two at upper front and center, a gap can occur between any two teeth. There are many potential causes for gapped teeth, including:

Teeth that are too small for the jawbone
Teeth that are missing or undersized
An oversized labial frenum (the piece of tissue that connects the inside of the upper lip to the gum just above the two front teeth)
Thumb sucking
Bone loss from gum disease

When children still have baby teeth, we recommend waiting it out until their permanent teeth come in. But what if the gap is in their permanent teeth? Will the space ever close? In the case of a size mismatch between permanent teeth and jaw size, the bad news is that the gap is likely there to stay without orthodontics. Gaps caused by gum disease will expand over time, so consistent oral hygiene is the best method to prevent those spaces from widening.

Other situations where gapped teeth occur may require restorative dentistry or frenectomy procedures. If you are concerned about a gap in your child’s teeth, contact Dr. Jason Barganier of Carolina Complete Dental Care and schedule a consultation today.

Strategies for Teasing: Helping Kids Feel Better About Their Smile

June 27, 2023

Goose Creek dentists Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental Care give parents and children some positive ideas and techniques to handle being bullied about their teeth. Every kid feels uncomfortable in social situations sometimes, especially when they feel they “look different”—and studies show the #1 reason kids are bullied for their appearance is the way their teeth look. Bullies sense this discomfort and annoy, anger, and confuse kids who already feel vulnerable—and if the child being teased is openly reactive, the bullies may choose to step up their efforts.

Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental Care would like to share some guidelines for positive self-esteem that our pediatric patients have found helpful. Parents can share these skills, which may help with more than just feelings about their teeth!

Effort: Suggest kids take extra care with their appearance to help them approach situations with more confidence—and remind them they are worth the effort!
Assertion: Encourage kids to be polite but direct. Consider ways they’ve answered past questions, and prepare to respond to things that might come up again—and to look mean kids straight in the eyes and smile at them, which will surprise the bullies (they feed off negative reactions).
Positive Self-Talk: Tell kids to repeat “I can do this” and similar messages to themselves, even if they don’t quite believe it yet.
Humor: If your child is comfortable cracking a joke or two, others laughing with them can have positive results—and make sure they are jokes everyone can laugh at without hurting anyone else’s feelings or putting themselves down.
Awareness: Avoid any location their bully or bullies seem to hang out. Let them know that staying away from a situation like this is smart—not cowardly.

Encourage kids to practice skills like these with you, friends they trust, or even in front of a mirror to help them get used to and feel more comfortable with these confident responses.

If you need to schedule a checkup or your child has any dental questions, contact Carolina Complete Dental Care today!

Baby Bottles & Water: It’s Complicated

June 13, 2023

Carolina Complete Dental Care w Goose Creek dentist Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental Care discusses using only water in baby bottles and sippy cups to prevent tooth decay. ants to tackle the issue of babies and water intake in today’s blog. Of course, water is the healthiest beverage available for kids and adults, particularly when it comes to oral hygiene, but in babies less than six months of age, water is a no-no.

Until babies are six months old, they have a liquid diet of formula or breast milk. Both of those are made up of 80-90% water, providing plenty of hydration and nutrition as long as they remain undiluted. Water intake for infants is detrimental because it makes them feel full, interfering with proper nutrient intake and healthy weight gain.

Once a baby is six months old, they can have small sips (a few tablespoons) of water, but caregivers should still use caution until kids are at least a year old. At that time, it is safe to give a quarter- to half-cup of water to your little one because they will be eating solid food. Whether your baby is breastfed, bottle-fed, or has graduated to solids, their gums and new teeth should be wiped with a wet washcloth or gently brushed after each feeding and before going to bed.

Putting only water in their bottles (but not before six months, and not too much!) between feedings is the best practice for your baby’s oral health. This will not help prevent acidic buildup that would otherwise lead to baby bottle tooth decay, which can happen when babies are put to bed with a bottle of milk.

If you have more questions about baby bottle tooth decay, pediatric dentistry or your baby’s first teeth, contact Carolina Complete Dental Care and schedule an appointment to talk to Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, or Dr. McAdams today!

Teens & Prescription Opioid Use

May 27, 2023

Goose Creek dentists Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental Care discuss prescription opioid use in teenagers and how their dental health may be affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 40 Americans die from prescription opioid overdoses every day. As the opioid crisis grows, so does our expanded public knowledge—such as the realization that addiction to this family of drugs often begins with an innocent prescription.

Many teens first experience opioids when a dentist prescribes them to control the pain of wisdom tooth extraction, root canal treatment, or other oral surgery. While legitimate, this initial exposure increases the likelihood of future opioid addiction by 33%. Teens are also prone to opioid abuse due to the fact that the prefrontal cortex region of the brain—the portion that manages reason and impulse control—is not fully developed until reaching the early- to mid-20s.

Carolina Complete Dental Care wants your child’s dental care to be effective, comfortable, and above all—safe. If you have any concerns about dental surgery and your teen or you’re just looking for a kind, knowledgeable dentist, contact Carolina Complete Dental Care to make an appointment today. We’ll answer all your questions and put your mind at ease!

Can My Child Skip Visits to the Dentist?

May 13, 2023

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental Care share information with parents about the importance of pediatric dentistry. You may think of our team at Carolina Complete Dental Care as part of your child’s defensive line keeping them safe from gum disease and tooth decay, but we’re also myth busters! You’ve probably heard one of the most common misconceptions we have to challenge: dentistry isn’t important until after children lose their baby teeth.

The truth is that oral health routines should be developed right from the beginning, and visiting the dentist is a foundational part of creating healthy habits.

From the beginning?

That’s right! There are tips you’ll want to follow as your little one’s smile forms and grows, and around the time you’re celebrating their first birthday, you’ll want to schedule their first dental visit. For an overview of why early introductions are crucial and what you can do to keep them on the right track before this milestone, we invite you to come to see us!

If you have any questions or you’d like to schedule a visit with Goose Creek dentist, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, or Dr. McAdams to get your kids started on their smile journey, contact Carolina Complete Dental Care today!

Prepare Your Child for Dental Visits with a Good Book!

April 27, 2023

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams at Carolina Complete Dental Care give parents a list of books they can read with their children to prepare them for dental visits. When you’ve got your child’s first dental visit noted on the calendar, you might feel more anxious than they do as you approach the big day. At Carolina Complete Dental Care, we want to help both of you relax and see there’s nothing to fear about having your smile cared for. Our team is kind and gentle, and though our technology might seem intimidating, it’s all geared toward increasing comfort while we get a clear picture of the condition of your little one’s oral health.

Knowledge is Power

We think one of the main reasons visiting the dentist can seem scary is because of the unknown. If you know more about what to expect, it’s easier to get comfortable in the chair! We want you and your young one to be informed and as prepared as possible, so we’re sharing this list of children’s books you can read together before we have the pleasure of sharing smiles with you.

Do you and your child have a favorite children’s book about going to the dentist? We’d love to hear about it! Contact us to let us know, and to schedule a visit with your Goose Creek dentist at Carolina Complete Dental Care.

Down Syndrome & Dental Issues

April 13, 2023

Goose Creek dentists, Dr. Barganier, Dr. Zuffi, Dr. Williams, and Dr. McAdams of Carolina Complete Dental Care share the dental characteristics specific to individuals with Down Syndrome. Today, Carolina Complete Dental Care would like to discuss the unique dental characteristics of those with Down Syndrome.

- First teeth may arrive later. Children who have Down syndrome can get their first teeth anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age; they may not have a complete set of baby teeth until age 4 or 5. The eruption of front permanent teeth and 6-year-old permanent molars may also be delayed until 8-9 years of age—and it’s not unusual for any or all of these teeth to show up in a different order than anticipated.

- Teeth and tongue attributes are different. People with Down syndrome have teeth that are smaller than usual—their tooth roots may even be shorter than those of the average population. Another marker of Down syndrome is a small upper jaw, which can cause a misaligned bite and mouths that do not comfortably accommodate their tongues.

- Gum disease tends to be more prevalent in people that have Down syndrome. An impaired immune system is present in people who have Down syndrome, so their bodies do not have the natural protection against disease than is typical—so oral hygiene is very important.

Consistent dental care is important for every person, and your Goose Creek dental team would love to help your little one with Down syndrome enjoy optimal oral health and wellness. Get in touch with Carolina Complete Dental Care today to make an appointment!