Survery: Dr. Robert Harrell is a best Charlotte dentist

Another year, another acknowledgment that Dr. Robert Harrell of Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne is one of the best dentists in Charlotte. He has been named to the distinguished list of outstanding dentists and specialists compiled by industry leader topDentists. The honor is based on the results of an extensive peer-review survey of Charlotte-area dentists and specialists. Dr. Harrell has made the list a number of consecutive years, a sign of the high regard his fellow dental professionals have for him.

The letter announcing Dr. Harrell’s impressive achievement also explains the selection process in greater detail. It is reprinted below.

Dear Dr. Harrell:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected by a vote of your peers to be included in the 2016 database of topDentists. The listings for the Charlotte metro area now appear online at http://ift.tt/2cBfpUN and will also be publishd in the November issue of Charlotte Magazine.

Because topDentists is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which hundreds of dentists and specialists throughout the Charlotte area cast thousands of “votes” on the abilities of other dentists and specialists, and because listings cannot be purchased (and no payment is required to be listed), inclusion in topDentists is considered a singular honor.

With over fifty years in combined experience compiling peer-review professional referral guides, we have been able to use our experience along with the input of dentists across the United States to create a methodology that has been refined and improved over previous superlative guides.

Again, our congratulations on being honored by your peers.

Sincerely,

Mark Barkley

Managing Partner, topDentists, LLC

When it comes to the Best Charlotte Dentist, Dr. Robert Harrell is the name to remember and the one to see. Book an appointment today. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on the website to set your appointment.

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Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne: Is Your Smile Fall Fabulous?

After a summer of entertaining and indulging, how is your smile looking these days? Have those extra glasses of wine with all your entertaining and those additional s’mores around the campfire dulled your gleam? Well, not to worry. Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne has everything necessary to restore the brilliance of your pearly whites.

Whitening Treatment

Did you know that our teeth naturally yellow with age? This can inadvertently add years to your smile and your overall appearance. Dr. Robert Harrell and his top-notch team at Adult Dentistry can transform your smile easily and efficiently. Book your ZOOM! Whitening treatment today to prepare for the upcoming holidays and all of the photos that accompany them.

 

Let’s take a closer look at what happens when your teeth darken.

Most causes of tooth discoloration fall into two broad categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Yellowing can also be caused by a wide array of health factors.

Extrinsic stains

You’ll find extrinsic stains on the surface of the enamel, the hard, outermost layer of your teeth. While enamel is harder than bone, according to the Mayo Clinic, it can still be easily stained.

“The No. 1 cause of teeth yellowing is lifestyle,” said Dr. Justin Philipp of J. Philipp Dentistry in Chandler, Arizona. “Smoking, drinking coffees and teas, chewing tobacco are the worst.”

Not surprisingly, other dark-colored foods and beverages, including red wine, colas, dark sauces and various fruits, such as grapes, blueberries and pomegranates, also have potential to stain teeth. These items are high in chromogens, pigment-producing substances with a penchant for sticking to tooth enamel.

Acidic foods and beverages can worsen matters by eroding tooth enamel and making it easier for chromogens to latch onto the teeth. Tannin, a bitter compound found in wine and tea, also helps chromogens attach to tooth enamel.

Intrinsic stains

Intrinsic stains occur within the tooth, when various factors alter the light-transmitting properties of the enamel and the underlying dentin.

Numerous medications can cause intrinsic stains. If children take the antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline while their teeth are still developing (before the age of 8), their teeth may turn brownish-yellow. During adulthood, chlorhexidine, an antiseptic used in prescription-strength mouthwash to treat gingivitis, can cause discolorations. Likewise, the acne-fighting drug minocycline, a derivative of tetracycline, stains teeth. Chemotherapy directed at the head and neck and chemotherapy drugs can also result in intrinsic stains. Even relatively common drugs, such as antihistamines, Albuterol and blood pressure medications, can sometimes yellow teeth. See more at Live Science

We Specialize in Confident Smiles

Dr. Harrell has been helping residents in the Charlotte metro region enjoy healthier and happier smiles for nearly two decades. A glowing smile is much easier to achieve and maintain with regular dental hygiene appointments. Detecting any underlying issues as they arise, rather than allowing them to wreak havoc and spread throughout your mouth, is key to your dental health. Decay can cause dramatic discoloration so we must remain vigilant in our mouth care.

Being able to greet loved ones, acquaintances, and strangers alike with a beautiful bright smile is something everyone should be able to experience. Not only does being able to show the world your pearly whites give you more self-confidence, but it projects an outward appearance of healthiness that others are attracted to. Read more from Gary Nishimura, DDS

Book Your Smile Consultation Today

To learn more about ZOOM! Tooth Whitening and other cosmetic dentistry treatments, schedule a free, no-obligation smile consultation with Dr. Harrell. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your treatment is complete.

The post Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne: Is Your Smile Fall Fabulous? appeared first on Dentist Charlotte NC 28277 | Cosmetic | Sedation | Dental Implants | Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne.

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Top Oral Hygiene Tips for a Radiant and Healthy Smile

Dr. Robert Harrell and his outstanding team at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne enjoy nothing more than seeing patients improve their oral health from one office visit to the next. Following a daily protocol of healthy oral hygiene habits can help your smile remain its very best between appointments.

Maintain Adequate Nutrition

The snacks and meals we choose to indulge in directly impact our oral health. Include extra calcium in your diet to ensure you are meeting the daily requirements for your age. Yogurt, almond milk, cheese, cream cheese and dairy milk are excellent sources.

You need plenty of calcium for your teeth. It is essential for the teeth as well as your bones. It is better to drink milk, fortified orange juice and to eat yogurt, broccoli, cheese, and other dairy products. You can also take a calcium supplement, taking different doses according to your age and necessity as per prescription. Calcium and Vitamin D are necessary for maintaining the health of gums and teeth. Vitamin B complex is also essential for the protection of gums and teeth from cracking and bleeding. Copper, zinc, iodine, iron and potassium are also required for maintaining healthy dental hygiene. See more at Arrow Smile Dental

Update Your Gear

Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush once every three months on average. If you suffer from cold sores, a cough or a cold, you can switch it out even sooner. Try out different fluoride toothpastes until you find your family’s favorite flavor, and use a high quality mouth rinse to address any post-brushing germs and plaque.

Correct Angle Brushing

Utilizing your toothbrush on the correct angle is directly related to how effective your brushing is. Use gentle motions to sweep plaque away from the sulcus (the space between a tooth and the surrounding tissue) and keep the gum-line free and clear.

When brushing your teeth, position the bristles at an angle of 45 degrees near the gum line. Both the gum line and the tooth surface should be in contact with the bristles. Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth using a back-and-forth, up-and-down motion, making sure to be done gently in order to avoid bleeding. To clean the inside surfaces of the teeth and gums, place the bristles at a 45-degree angle again and repeat the back-and-forth, up-and-down motion. Lastly, brush the surfaces of your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bacteria, which might cause bad breath. From Arrow Smile Dental

Don’t Forget to Brush Your Tongue

Brush your tongue. The best way to combat bad breath is to clean the tongue every week with a Tongue Scrape. The majority of bad breath is caused by substances called “Volatile Sulphurous Compounds” and these are very commonly found on the surface of the tongue. A Tongue Scrape removes the build up of white matter from the tongue and shifts the smelly bits with it. More details at Stone Rock Dental Care 

Brush Up on Your Flossing Technique

Waxed dental floss and flossing picks definitely help break up the plaque on your teeth, but they aren’t your best option. The sleek profile of this type of floss typically doesn’t allow for the sticky plaque to attach itself easily. The results obtained with expanding dental floss are superior, as explained below.

Expanding floss is a dental hygiene product meant to clean between the teeth. It grows thicker when it comes in contact with moisture, like saliva. The friction caused by running the floss between teeth can also cause this type of floss to expand. This expansion may help to produce better results and more effective flossing, because expanding floss is thought to clean more surfaces and wider spaces more thoroughly than other types of floss. Learn more at Wise Geek

Maintain Your Regular Visits With Us

One of the best tips for maintaining a healthy, brilliant smile is keeping regular oral hygiene appointments for check-ups and cleanings. Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne is your smile headquarters in the Charlotte metro region. Call us now at 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to make an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Is Tooth Sensitivity Wreaking Havoc On Your Life?

If biting into an ice cream cone or drinking from a cup of hot coffee creates a painful experience, you may have sensitive teeth. Let’s take a closer look at this condition.

Teeth sensitivity is one of the main issues that dental patients report. Enjoying anything that is hot or cold can lead to extreme discomfort for some patients, while others have no issues with temperature but find smiling in the wind unbearable. Whatever the trigger, too many sufferers put off their hygiene appointments due to the fear of uncomfortable teeth cleanings.

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of your teeth—the part above the gum line. Under the gum line a layer called cementum protects the tooth root. Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin.
Dentin is less dense than enamel and cementum and contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). When dentin loses its protective covering of enamel or cementum these tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. Dentin may also be exposed when gums recede. The result can be hypersensitivity. See more at Mouth Healthy

Communicate With Your Dental Team

If you are experiencing any sensitivity issues, the best thing you can do is let your dentist and hygienist know. Take note of where and when your sensitivity issues occur so you can describe the circumstances during your next dental visit. Your dental team can use the clues you provide to start the search for the cause, determine why it is happening and set the best course of treatment. Helping your teeth look and feel their very best is what Dr. Robert Harrell and his talented team at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne do every day.

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth can be caused by the following dental issues:

• Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush and using a hard grip while brushing aggressively.
• Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages.
• Tooth decay, worn leaky fillings and broken teeth that expose the dentin of your tooth.
• Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed.
• Grinding your teeth at night.
• Post dental treatment sensitivity – common, but temporary, especially with procedures such as crowns, fillings and tooth bleaching.

 

Preliminary Dental Treatment

Having a conversation with your dentist is the first step in finding relief from your discomfort. Describe your symptoms, tell your dentist when the pain started and let him or her know if there’s anything that normally makes it feel better, such as warm compresses.

After your dentist determines the reason for your sensitivity, he or she will treat the underlying cause. Treatment may be as simple as fixing a cavity or replacing a worn filling. However, if your discomfort comes from gum loss exposing root surfaces, your dentist may suggest a gum graft that a periodontist would conduct to protect the root surface and support of the tooth. More details at Colgate

Unknown Night Grinders

Tooth grinding is another major cause of sensitivity. Many patients are shocked to find out that they grind their teeth because they only do it while sleeping. The tell-tale smooth grooves and flat, worn crowns typically lead to this surprising discovery during a regular dental check-up. If you are experiencing sudden sensitivity, sleep apnea, headaches or a sore jaw upon waking, it might be time to make a near-date dental appointment, even if your regular cleaning is just a few months away. The grinding at night can lead to exposed root surfaces that cause sensitive teeth. Wearing a custom mouth guard to sleep can help you protect your teeth.

Voted one of Charlotte’s best dentists year after year, Dr. Harrell is ready to give you the brilliant, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed of. Call Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne today at 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to set up a new patient exam or dental cleaning. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Road closed – Alternative Entry until ~Aug. 22

The Stonecrest side of our Business Park (Colony at Piper Glen) will be closed from August 1st – approximately August 22nd.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Here is the alternative route:

1. Drive towards Rea on Piper Station Drive
2. Left onto Rea Road
3. Left onto Ballantyne Commons Parkway
4. Make 1st U-turn and head southwest on Ballantyne Commons
5. Make immediate right into Colony at Piper Glen

 

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Fruit Sugars: The Secret War On Your Teeth

How many times have you gone to your dental checkup expecting perfect results only to discover that early decay has been detected? Many patients are shocked to learn that a follow-up appointment for tooth-colored fillings looms in the near future. “But, I hardly eat any candy and never drink sugary soft drinks,” is a common response by bewildered patients. Many have no idea just how much sugar they are actually consuming on a daily basis. In fact, one common source of excess sugar is considered very healthy by conventional wisdom.

Fruit Sugars: Hidden Gremlins

If you believe your teeth are free from the ravages of sugar because you don’t partake in daily cupcake consumption, think again. For example…

If you take away the most nutritious parts of a fruit, what are you left with? Sugar water and natural flavors, aka fruit juice.

When a fruit is juiced, all of the sugar comes out of it and into the solution of juice.  This sugar is no different than much of the sugar that is in candy today.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry even recommends restricting the amount of fruit juice that you give your small children to less than one cup per day.  They have recognized the devastating effects that fruit juice can have on kids’ teeth.

Is Dried Fruit Good for Your Teeth?

Dried fruit is a convenient, portable snack. It would be an ideal alternative to eating fresh fruit if it weren’t for one thing: Dried fruit is not good for your teeth. For instance, you may be surprised to learn that grapes have relatively little affect on your teeth, but when dried into raisins they can cause cavities. Let’s take a closer look at why dried fruits are an issue.

1 – The sugar is super-concentrated. When you dry fruit, almost all of the water is lost, but no sugar is lost.

2 – Dried fruit is very sticky. I used to eat dried mangoes all of the time and found that they kept getting stuck in my teeth.

3 – When fruit is dried, it releases a lot of the intrinsic sugars from inside of the fruit. These sugars are then available to feed the bacteria in your mouth, which can hurt your teeth.

4 – Dried fruit often has added sugar. This is another one of the ways that manufacturers can sneak sugar into our diet. Popular dried fruit like Craisins Dried Cranberries and many brands of dried mangoes contain added sugar. Read more at Oral Answers

Beware: Sugar is Everywhere

Whatever you do, don’t get into the habit of crawling into bed or falling asleep without completing your nighttime brushing and flossing routine. Not making time to brush for as little as a few weeks can wreak havoc in your mouth.

Q: How bad is falling asleep without brushing your teeth?

A: Most people are shocked to hear this, but going to bed without brushing your teeth is like going to bed with poop in your mouth.

How can that be? Every time you have a meal, the bacteria that naturally reside in your mouth feast on the food you eat. Just like every other living organism, these bacteria excrete waste after a meal. This waste is highly acidic and breaks down tooth enamel, causing root decay and cavities.

When you hit the sack without brushing, plaque starts to harden and calcify on your teeth. Once plaque has calcified, it’s impossible to remove with a toothbrush and floss and can only be removed by the hygienist during a teeth cleaning. More details at Ask The Dentist

We Look Forward to Seeing You Soon

At Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne you can count on receiving the most advanced, most relaxed dental visit possible so schedule your checkup today. If you are unhappy with the quality of your smile for any reason, let Dr. Robert Harrell know. He will explain your cosmetic dentistry options and help you decide which best suits your needs. In addition, a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how your smile will look when your cosmetic dental work is complete. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to schedule your exam or consultation appointment.

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Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne: Your Smile Care Team

When is the last time you had a comprehensive oral exam with X-rays? For many people, the first suspicion that they may have dental issues is based on pain. This often also means that the problem has reached a critical stage because it wasn’t detected early. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a thorough dental exam, you should schedule a check-up at Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne, one of the top dental practices in Charlotte. Dr. Robert Harrell and his devoted team utilize the latest technology to create and maintain gorgeous smiles.

Who needs more frequent or regular X-rays?

• Children and teenagers — Children and teens who have a history of many cavities may need X-rays every six months or every year, depending on age. So may those who have a high risk of decay for other reasons. X-rays also help to keep track of tooth development

• Adults with many fillings, crowns, bridges or other restorations — X-rays help the dentist find decay beneath your fillings and crowns or in new places

• People with periodontal (gum) disease — X-rays can reveal signs of bone loss. If this has happened, then you may need periodontal (gum) surgery

• People with dry mouth, also called xerostomia —Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by regulating the acid levels (pH) in the mouth. In a dry mouth, the pH decreases. This causes the minerals in the teeth to break down, resulting in more cavities. Many medicines can cause dry mouth. It also can be a result of cancer treatment or a long-term disease.

• Smokers — Smoking increases the risk of bone loss around the teeth and periodontal disease.

• Users of chewing tobacco — Chewing tobacco is sweetened with sugars and can lead to more cavities. See more from Colgate

Potential Health Concerns

Many don’t realize how intricately connected their mouth is with the rest of their bodies. For example, cardiovascular health, respiratory health and being pregnant directly correlate to how healthy your mouth is.

Brushing your teeth, flossing and visiting the dentist keep your teeth and gums healthy, but maintaining good oral hygiene is also important for your overall health, research suggests.

In some cases, oral problems can be a symptom of other diseases, such as diabetes. Research has also linked gum disease to heart disease, premature birth and even knee arthritis.

“The mouth is a portal into the rest of the body,” said Dr. Donald Ratcliffe, chairman of the department of dental medicine at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Growing research shows “there’s a relationship between the bacteria — and the inflammation that bacteria cause in the mouth — [and] a lot of other diseases,” More details at Livescience

Don’t live with pain because of fear

If your you are continually putting off your dental appointments due to anxiety and fear, we understand. This is a common issue, and one that we can address. Advise our office of your feelings and we will be able to relieve your concerns with sedation dentistry. Keeping our patients comfortable and relaxed throughout their procedures is a priority for us. We have a variety of sedation options available, from deep relaxation to full unconsciousness.

Schedule Your Check-up Today

Don’t put off caring for your smile any longer. Schedule a comprehensive dental exam with Dr. Harrell. Call 704-541-9888 or use the contact form on this page to set your appointment. We look forward to seeing you.

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