Paint My Teeth! Paint My Teeth!

 

Fluoride treatments for children are highly recommended and should continue right up until the eruption of their last permanent tooth. It is a long time and it does take commitment, but it really is the best practice for the healthiest start! :D 

 

 

For your child to become accustomed to and enjoy visiting the dentist, Drs. Dargan and Miller suggest bi-yearly office visits, at which time one of the team members will paint your child's teeth with a fluoride varnish. It's just a quick application and kids really seem to enjoy it, probably because it tickles a little a bit ... and the team members make it FUN. Upon check-out, we will provide you with a prescription for fluoride vitamin supplements for your child to take in between his/her visits to our office.

 

 

Here's to healthy teeth!

 

Whiten Up!

 

 

Professional Whitening

 

Many Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. patients opt for this type of whitening prior to big event, because it is a highly effective treatment and the quickest way to achieve terrific results. With in-office bleaching, the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth. Very good results are seen in only one treatment. To achieve a dramatic result, several appointments may be necessary.

 

Tray Whitening 

 

Tray-based teeth whitening systems involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with a whitening solution containing a peroxide-bleaching agent. The tray is worn for a period of time, generally from a couple of hours a day to every night. The length of time to use this method is a personal decision, as achieving the desired level of whiteness varies from patient to patient. 

 

First, the Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. team will take an impression of your teeth and make customized trays, enabling maximum contact between the whitening agent and your teeth. Another excellent reason to be fitted with customized trays, rather than using the over-the-counter kits, is that the perfect fit minimizes direct contact of the whitener with your gums and soft tissue. The extreme sensitivity caused by the one size fits all kits often motivates patients to switch to using the customized whitening trays.

Please ask us about Professional Whitening and/or Tray Whitening the next time you visit our office, or call us at 410-535-4050 or 301-855-1008 to inquire. We look forward to helping make your smile shiny, white, and bright!

Beauty of the Bite Guard!

 

 

Have you been waking up with headaches, tired jaw muscles, tooth sensitivity, or pain in your jaw, face, or ear? Have you noticed that your teeth are starting to look worn down, flattened, or chipped? Do you have damage to the inside of your cheek or tongue? Has your sleep partner mentioned being disturbed by your teeth grinding at night? Do you find yourself often clenching your teeth during the day? It is quite possible that you have a condition known as Bruxism - the grinding, gnashing, or clenching of your teeth.

Possible physical or psychological causes of Bruxism may include:

• Anxiety, stress or tension
• Suppressed anger or frustration
• Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type
• Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
• Other sleep problems
• Response to pain from an earache or teething (in children)
• Complication resulting from a disorder, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease
• A common side effect of some psychiatric medications, including certain antidepressants

Note to parents: If you notice that your child is grinding his or her teeth or has other signs or symptoms of this condition, please be sure to mention this to us at your child's next appointment.

 

Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. will gladly meet with you to examine your teeth and determine whether or not you may have this condition. If so, it is likely that we will suggest that you be fitted for a bite guard to wear at night. There are two types of bite guards which offer the most relief and enhance your overall dental health: the soft bite guard and the comfort hard/soft bite guard. We will gladly speak with you about the advantages of both and help you decide which appliance will be best for you.

 

The Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. team understands that it can be difficult for you to get used to wearing a bite guard. We suggest that you try it every night for two weeks and by that time, you should adjust to the feeling and it will become second nature to you. The benefits of using a bite guard far outweigh all of the problems you experience.

 

 

 

One patient's experience:

 

"After years of waking up in tremendous discomfort and seeing several cracks in my teeth, I finally decided to use a bite guard. Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. told me exactly what to expect, took impressions of my teeth, and made minor adjustments to the appliance for optimum fit & comfort. At first, it was such a weird feeling to have something surrounding my teeth and I didn't think I would ever be able to get used to it. However, after a few weeks, I started to wake up in the morning feeling well-rested and with absolutely no pain in my teeth, gums, and jaw. That was all it took to convince me that this was the best course of action. Now I cannot get to sleep without having my bite guard in place!"

Please contact Dargan and Miller, D.D.S.
(410) 535-4050
(301) 855-1008

Our Patients Give the Best Recommendations & Referrals

Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. are hoping our current patients will help us by referring our dental practice to your family and friends. After all, your recommendations are more powerful and far more effective than any amount of advertising could ever be. As you have experienced for yourself, we all do our very best to provide top-notch dental care for you. Why not share your positive experience with your nearest and dearest?

 

Have you ever noticed how terrific it is to call our office and actually hear one of our team members smiling over the phone? Yes, you can hear a smile. Our Business Manager, Tracey gladly answers any questions you may have about insurance plans and billing. Missy will schedule your appointment and will be the first one you meet when you arrive at 55 Stoakley Road in Prince Frederick, extending a warm welcome/welcome back. Before long, one of our friendly clinical team members - Karen, Jeanine, Jackie - will escort you back to the treatment room. Whether you are in for your regular dental cleaning with one of our professional dental hygienists - Bernice or Mande - or in for a procedure with Dr. Dargan or Dr. Miller, we make you feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. We remember things you have shared with us from your previous visit - not just what the procedure was (we have your file for that), but also things about your life. That is because we care about you as person.

We hope you will share with others about Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. and we look forward to seeing you at our office again!

 

Floss for Better Dental Health

OK, it's Honesty Time:

Do you only floss when you have popcorn (or some other food) lodged between your teeth?

 

Do you only floss before your regular dental visit?

 

Or do you just not floss at all?

 

Or are you among the rare group that flosses daily 
or even rarer, several times a day?

 

The benefits of routine flossing:

Healthy gums!

Removes food!

Removes plaque!

Removes bacteria!

Some patients don't like to floss because their gums bleed, the smell is less than terrific, and they don't have the time to add it to their routine. Our hygienists at Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. will gladly demonstrate the proper technique for flossing - it is not a sawing motion, so it's likely you have caused your gums more harm than good in the past. Once you begin a flossing routine, it won't be long before your gums will cease bleeding. As far as the smell, you are experiencing the undeniable scent of rotting food and decay. Definitely best to get the source of the smell out of your mouth! As far as time constraints, flossing will only take between one and two minutes - that's all. Food, plaque, and bacteria reside in between your teeth (out of the reach of your toothbrush), often leading to gum problems and tooth decay. Flossing regularly is an outstanding preventative measure for better dental health.



Meet Dr. Miller!

For the past 30 years, Dr. Robert Miller has been practicing dentistry, putting patients first and treating each one as a VIP. He genuinely cares about his patients and tries to apply the "golden rule" of treating others as he would want to be treated on a daily basis. 

Originally from Haddonfield, NJ, Robert Miller headed to Gettysburg College where he graduated in 1975 with a B.A. degree in Biology. In 1981, he earned the title of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and two years later joined Dr. Stephen Dargan in practice. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Maryland State Dental Association, the Patuxent Dental Society, Fellow - Academy of General Dentistry, and the Chairman of Dentist Well-Being Committee - Maryland State Dental Association.

Dr. Miller shares his life with his wife, Eileen, his stepchildren Luke (U.S. Army) and Rose (soon to graduate from Smith College), and a wild and wonderful yellow lab named Sunny. When away from the office, he sails the Chesapeake Bay on his Ericson 35 sloop, enjoys traveling, landscapes his Calvert County yard tirelessly, and pursues a spiritual life. In addition to being passionate about his profession, he is also passionate about his “other job” as Chairman of the Dentist Well-Being Committee, working with dentists who have personal problems causing impairment in their personal and professional lives - particularly problems with addictions and depression. Dentists who have addressed well-being issues and have worked to become more physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually fit are better for their patients and dental practices, as well as in their families and other relationships.

Dr. Miller is grateful for and to his patients, for the high level of professionalism of the Dargan and Miller, D.D.S. staff (receiving positive feedback continually from patients about just how incredible they all are), and for the opportunity to be of service to this great community.

Introducing Dr. Dargan!

Dr. Stephen Dargan has been a practicing dentist for 35 years, 34 of which have been in Calvert County. His admirable practice philosophy has long been to provide quality dentistry with a gentle, caring, friendly approach tailored to the desires and needs of each and every patient. 

Graduating from West Virginia University with a B.A. degree in 1973, the then Stephen Dargan was accepted into the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. In 1977, he became a Doctor in Dental Surgery and soon began his rewarding career, striving for excellence in his profession. He is an active member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA), and the Patuxent Dental Society (PDS). He continues to attend education seminars to not only keep current with licensure, but to also stay current with latest techniques, products, and technology.

 

Dr. Dargan has been married to his wife, Carol for 37 years and is the father of Patrick, Westley, and Stephanie, father-in-law of Aly, and grandfather of Avri. He is an avid golfer, having played some of the best courses in the world. He also enjoys skiing out west, boating on the Chesapeake Bay, and working in the yard of his Calvert County home.

 

He is grateful for his dedicated staff (the majority of whom have incredible longevity with the practice), for all of his patients (long-term and new), and for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful Southern Maryland community.