Joseph P Harmon, DDS

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(410) 742-3000Visit WebsiteMap & Directions1310 Belmont AveSalisbury, MD 21804 Write a Review

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Primary: Dentist

Sub-Specialty: Primary Dental Care

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Extra Phones: Fax: (410) 742-3653
AKA: Harmon Joseph P
Other Link: http://www.delmarvadentalservices.com
Categories: Dentists, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Clinics, Dental Hygienists, Dental Labs, Endodontists, Implant Dentistry, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontists, Periodontists, Physicians & Surgeons, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontists & Denture Centers, Teeth Whitening Products & Services

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Details

Phone: (410) 742-3000

Address: 1310 Belmont Ave, Salisbury, MD 21804

Website: http://www.delmarvadentalservices.com

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Joseph P Harmon, DDS

Dental Examination
®, depending on your unique needs and goals. After evaluating your teeth in a comprehensive exam, we can provide a more detailed treatment plan.
X-rays
Dr. Elizabeth B. Claus, an epidemiologist at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, led a study published in a journal entitled “Cancer” (April 2012) suggesting an association between mouth x-rays and tumors called meningiomas. The tumors, which take their name because they arise in the meninges (the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord) account for about a third of brain tumors detected in the United States. Although they’re most often benign and slow-growing, they can cause disability by exerting pressure on the brain. Claus and her research colleagues reviewed histories of dental x-rays among 1,433 patients diagnosed with meningiomas between the ages of 20 and 79 in 2006-2011 and compared them with dental x-ray histories of healthy subjects matched for age, gender, and geography. All were asked to recall from memory all dental x-rays they’d ever received. What the Yale study found was that people who developed the tumors were more than twice as likely as those in the control group to report having received bitewing x-rays at least yearly. The study’s authors’ conclusion states: “Exposure to some dental x-rays performed in the past, when radiation exposure was greater than in the current era, appears to be associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma. As with all sources of artificial ionizing radiation, considered use of this modifiable risk factor may be of benefit to patients”. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Oral Cancer Screening
Surprisingly, oral cancer can kill more people every year than skin and cervical cancer. This is almost always because oral cancer goes undetected in its early stages. If caught early, the chances of survival are significantly increased. We take the potential for oral cancer very seriously at Delmarva Dental Services and offer oral cancer screenings for all of our patients.

Teeth Cleaning
Our experienced dentists are dedicated to improving our patients’ oral health. Our oral check-ups and professional dental cleanings allow us to clean your teeth and gums and check for tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Delmarva Dental Services not only corrects the damage but believes in prevention as well. That is why we offer saliva testing for bacteria, viruses, and genetic susceptibility to disease. Delmarva Dental Services can also provide many preventive measures, such as probiotics, for your oral health.
Fluoride Treatment
This is an appointment designed for children under 3 years old who have never been to the dentist. It is a positive “get acquainted” visit with the hygienist. We proceed cautiously in a stepwise manner, not going beyond what the child will tolerate. An infant and many toddlers will sit in their mom or dad’s lap in the dental chair. We first show them the dental chair and light. Then ask them if they want to take a ride in the chair and show their face on a video screen. Next, the hygienist counts and shows them their teeth on a video screen using an intraoral camera. Then we ask them if we can tickle their teeth with a “tooth tickler” and we may polish one and then more teeth with a dental polisher. The hygienist can stop at any point along the way if the child feels anxious. We go over brushing technique with the child and/or parent and recommend a specific toothbrush for their age. We will discuss diet and things you can do at home to clean the teeth. We may discuss the family’s cavity rate and the use of the probiotic, Evora. The dental hygienist discusses the fluoride level in their drinking water with the parent and recommends a fluoride supplement if needed. We may give a fluoride treatment or take x-rays depending upon the child’s age and level of cooperation at the next visit. The most important goal is to make every dental visit a positive and pleasant experience for your child, so he or she will look forward to their next visit.
Dental Sealants
Delmarva Dental Services wants children to enjoy coming to the dentist without any fears or apprehension. We plan on achieving this by initially performing simple procedures, progressing to the more complicated ones. Prior to scheduling children for the first filling appointment, we usually schedule them with a hygienist to place preventive sealants. This allows time to become familiar with the instruments, holding their mouth open, staying still, having cotton rolls in the mouth and tolerating unpleasant tastes. It also lessens the chance of needing fillings in the future. When several fillings are needed, we start out with the easiest, progressing to the more complicated and even to multiple fillings. Of course every child is different and we evaluate each one individually. This allows us to customize our treatment accordingly. In order to make children’s dental visits comfortable, the staff will need the help of parents, caregivers, and siblings. Statements with the intent to lessen fear can actually cause children to be apprehensive, create suspicion and mistrust, or have anxiety toward the dental visit. It’s important not to use such phrases as: “It won’t hurt.” “If you’re really good I’ll give you a prize.” or “It only stings for a minute.” Relating your own dental experiences can do the same and are not relevant to what will necessarily take place. Of course, teasing a child about what might happen is even worse. Children are able to sense a parent who is fearful, regardless of the attempts to hide the fact. Many times during treatment a fearful parent, attempting to comfort an unafraid child, will make statements or place their hand on the child. This can unintentionally alarm a child. Our staff sympathizes with concerned parents but our primary goal is for the child to have a pleasant experience. When a parent is fearful, it is best for a more relaxed parent to bring the child or for the fearful parent to remain in the reception area during treatment.

Fillings
Believe it or not, using ice is only second to sugar in creating the need for dental treatment. Chewing ice creates not only abnormally high forces on teeth but concentrates it in very small areas. Teeth with large metal amalgam fillings develop cracks and many times create or eventually lead to cracked tooth syndrome. Most cracked teeth need will either need dental crowns, a root canal, or extraction. Alternating from cold to hot during eating and drinking will cause expansion and contraction cracks. An example would be eating hot soup and drinking cold soda with ice. Americans have more of these types of cracks than Europeans due to America’s love of iced drinks. At Delmarva Dental Services the magnification of our intraoral cameras allow us to see these very fine cracks before our patients do. The cracks on front teeth usually don’t lead to cracked tooth syndrome; however, they will absorb stains, causing discolored lines and the gradual darkening of the teeth. We have offered tooth whitening services since 1989 and the majority of patients requesting this service have overused ice. So think twice before you use ice.
Resin Composite
Dental fillings are some of the most common treatments performed at a dentist’s office. A filling addresses cavities and decay that can compromise the health, structure, and even the very survival of a tooth. In years past, the standard material utilized for dental fillings was amalgam, which created a metallic appearance on the teeth and often contained elements such as mercury. Here at Delmarva Dental Services, we typically use mercury-free, “white” filling materials for these types of procedures. Also known as “composite” or “tooth-colored fillings,” these treatments allow our dentists to fill cavities with a stronger, more durable material while avoiding negative aesthetic effects on the tooth. Tooth-colored fillings create a more natural-looking blend with the tooth. The composite resin material can also improve the tooth’s health and enhance its support with results that are less prone to becoming loose or falling out altogether. Tooth-colored fillings can be effective for cavity treatment in both adults and children.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers have been in existence since the mid-1980s. We at Delmarva Dental Services have been providing our patients with this service since 1987. Our dentists in Salisbury can address numerous common dental concerns with these effective treatments and help you enhance the appearance of your smile for years to come!
Crowns
This can be felt as sharpness on the cheek or tongue side of the tooth. Most often it requires a dental crown (cap).
Bridges
A “fixed” dental bridge is a replacement for missing teeth. It consists of an attachment of one or more artificial teeth affixed to the teeth next to the space. Therefore, it requires at least one natural tooth on each side of the space to serve as strong support for the artificial teeth that are “bridging the gap.”
Restorative Dentistry
A native of Salisbury, Dr. Leigh Auchey spent six years in York, Pennsylvania as part of a private practice before coming back to the beautiful town for which she is most familiar. Dr. Auchey is skilled with a full range of advanced dental care procedures, particularly treatments that require restorative dentistry and options that can enhance both dental function and aesthetics.

Root Canal Treatment
Lasers are used in many fields from industry to medicine and dentistry is no exception. Lasers are not all the same. Different types of lasers and different wavelengths of the same laser are used for a variety of procedures. The advantages of lasers are precision cutting, minimal bleeding, excellent disinfection and faster healing. This cannot be said about any other device. We at Delmarva Dental Services use lasers to diagnose cavities, stimulate healing of wounds and injuries, anesthesia, sterilization of gum disease bacteria, sterilization during root canals and other procedures, and preparation of teeth for fillings.

Periodontal Surgery
Gum disease destroys bone and gum tissue around the tooth. The primary goal of periodontal surgery is to keep the patient from losing a tooth. This goal is achieved in one of two ways: by either replacing some of the lost gum and/or bone, or by making it easier for the patient to clean their teeth. The majority of the time, our dentists at Delmarva Dental Services recommend nonsurgical gum treatment and medications as the primary treatment for periodontal disease. The deeper the pockets and the more bony craters present, the more likely periodontal surgery will be needed as well. Our patients will receive a thorough examination and treatment plan as well as alternatives prior to initiating any treatment. Delmarva Dental Services also reevaluates results and modifies treatment as situations change.
Deep Cleaning

Dentures
Missing teeth can be both functionally and aesthetically disruptive, leading to issues such as jawbone decay, gum disease, difficulties when chewing or speaking, and even altered facial proportions. Dentures are designed to replace either full arches or partial sections of adjacent missing teeth in order to protect your long-term health and improve the appearance of your smile. Our dental team here at Delmarva Dental Services offers several different types of dentures, each of which is designed with your comfort and cosmetic needs in mind.

Dental Implants
Delmarva Dental Services is excited about our 3D Dental Scanner. Cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT), or 3D for short, is a refinement to the computerized assisted tomography (CAT scan) used in medicine. The main difference is that the dental 3D CBCT is a highly focused beam to a small area, which drastically reduces the radiation exposure. (See “ X-ray Exposure ”, “Radiation Table”). It is an important tool in dentistry because it shows teeth and jaws in 3 dimensions instead of the typical 2 dimension. It can show the actual size of roots on teeth to be extracted, proximity of roots to the maxillary sinus, bone width prior to implant placement, and abscesses on teeth that don’t appear on conventional x-rays. There is also program that can show a 3 dimensional model of the scanned area. We can virtually place dental implants in the 3D model and make surgical guides prior to implant placement. This makes implant procedures more predictable, more accurate, less timely, less invasive, less uncomfortable and more successful.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral Surgery
Pam began her career with Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and radiology classes in 1993. She has worked in endodontics, general dentistry, and oral surgery in both hospitals and surgery centers. Pam brings this experience to each patient at DDS, providing expert knowledge and meticulous care during dental procedures. She is also a loving mother to daughter, Ella, and their four pets: “Chichi” (Conure parrot), “Olive” (Conure parrot), “Rosie” (Schnau-Tzu dog), and “Baxter” (Bluetick Coonhound dog).
Jaw Surgery
Gum Surgery
®. The laser beam activates a water stream which does the work. It can be used for nonsurgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgically, the Waterlase can be used to sterilize infected pockets. Surgically, it can be used to remove tissue. It is more precise than traditional methods of gum surgery, and can decrease healing time.
Tooth Extractions
An immediate denture is created before the teeth are extracted. The denture is then placed immediately after the extractions are done, cutting out the usual waiting period between tooth extraction and final denture placement. That said, this method is not as accurate as the traditional method, which entails allowing the mouth to heal for around 6 to 8 weeks following the extraction before the new denture is created. There will generally be more sore spots under an immediate denture and you may experience a more difficult adjustment period, as your mouth will have had less time to heal. Patients typically need one or more relines to compensate for post-healing shrinkage. The other disadvantage is that you cannot view or test the denture prosthesis prior to receiving it. At Delmarva Dental Services, we will often make a more cosmetically pleasing traditional denture for you about a year after you receive your immediate denture.
Bone Grafting
Replacing missing gum tissue is called gum grafting. Replacing lost bone is called bone grafting. Many times grafts will make it easier for the patient to clean their teeth as well.

Orthodontics
These things can be corrected most of the time with orthopedics and orthodontics. There are many important events coming up for your teen in their high school years. Make sure they have a smile they can be proud of. Call Delmarva Dental Services for more information.
Invisalign Orthodontics
Take a look at the information below to find out more about how orthodontic options, including the advanced Invisalign
Braces
Some clinicians believe that clenching and bruxing are caused by an abnormal bite. This occurs when teeth hit unevenly or interfere during various jaw movements. The theory is that the body is trying to grind away portions of tooth that interfere. In prehistoric times the coarse diet wore away these areas, but our modern diet fails to provide this service. Other theories are that clenching and bruxing are caused by stress, hormonal changes, or vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Lastly, some dental clinicians believe that it is caused by airway restriction. The body attempts to increase air intake through the processes of bruxing and snoring. There are many environmental factors that cause airway restriction such as swollen tonsils or adenoids, nasal obstruction, and allergies.The average biting force of a human is about 200 to 300 pounds per square inch (psi). It takes 28psi to chew a carrot. Most people bite for about 30 minutes a day with a biting force of 30 psi. Clenchers and bruxers have over developed jaw muscles and can generate 500 to 900psi over a period of hours. These kinds of forces can cause tooth wear, tooth cracking, filling fracture, loose teeth, earaches, headaches, and migraines. The best treatment is using preventive measures before any damage can occur. Preventive treatment for bruxism can involve bite guards, braces, bite adjustments, stress reduction, and medication. Acute pain can be treated with BOTOX

Teeth Whitening
The latest online teeth whitening rage is HiSmile, which contains sodium bicarbonate. The compound sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is a mild abrasive. Abrasives can only lighten teeth by removing surface stains. Most toothpastes are more abrasive than baking soda and are more effective at removing surface stains; however, some toothpastes can be too abrasive and can abrade your teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Whether you would like to improve the appearance of your smile or you are simply looking for affordable treatment that can help you maintain excellent oral health, the team at Delmarva Dental Services truly believes that every individual seeking quality dental care should be able to obtain it. Our practice offers updated specials and discounts on general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry options that can make a big difference for both the look and health of your teeth and gums.
General Dentistry
Dr. Jessica Harrison was born in Salisbury, MD. After graduating from Parkside High School, she moved to North Carolina, where she received her Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University in Biology, as well as a minor in Psychology. Dr. Harrison received her dental degree from University of Maryland School of Dentistry in 2012. She completed a one-year residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry through NYU Langone. Dr. Harrison then joined Chesapeake Healthcare for the next seven years before joining Delmarva Dental Services.

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