Sleep Apnea - More Common Than You Think

Light snoring is no more than an occasional inconvenient habit. But chronic, heavy, loud snoring may signal a condition called obstructive sleep apnea which is frequently associated with hypertension, stroke and cardiopulmonary problems. Dentist are often the first health care provider to identify sleep apnea because its salient signs and symptoms often are recognizable in the dental office.

I have specifically trained in sleep medicine to work with my patients and their primary care physicians to diagnose a sleep disorder. Most people who have sleep apnea - a special type off snoring in which oxygen intake is actually halted for several seconds - do not realize the harmful side effects that it can have. Poor supply of oxygen to the brain, heart problems, high blood pressure, and increased risk for tooth decay all go hand in hand. Children can be affected too - studies show upwards of 20% of all children exhibit snoring and severe tooth grinding (sleep bruxism). Clinical symptoms of untreated sleep disorders may include excessive daytime sleepiness, failure to thrive, bed wetting, behavioral problems and other symptoms. It is critical to you, your spouse or your child's health to be diagnosed! Wouldn't you like ot greet every day again feeling rested and re-energized? Call the office to schedule a consultation.

Let's Work Together

Healthcare is certainly making news these days! The amount of information available today is changing the way that people make decisions about their health. It is more about “let’s work together”. This empowering change helps people to be their own health care advocate. An on-going shift is on its way in medicine that highlights the role of dentistry as an equal partner in wellness and disease prevention. Collaborative efforts always produce better results and you, the patient, must be your own advocate.

I believe that patients should learn that their teeth and gums play a very important role in their overall health and well-being. More information is being uncovered about this everyday and I pledge to continue to investigate and help my patients understand how good oral health can make them healthier overall. In particular, if you suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea then I invite you to schedule a wellness exam at our office.

Give Your Child A Beautiful Smile They Will Love!

Lengthy and expensive orthodontic treatment may be prevented with early intervention.
More than 50% of children have one or more problems with their teeth or jaws. Typical trouble could include front teeth that protrude because of thumbsucking, spaces, badly aligned bites, clicking jaws, and crowded or missing teeth. And even though they can’t all be prevented, they can all be corrected. The key is early orthodontic care.

Between the ages of five and ten, permanent teeth begin to appear, and bones and muscles develop rapidly. This is when we can best influence growth to create the best bite. We can actually prevent some problems from ever developing. That’s why it’s important to bring your child in for a first dental evaluation early. We can do a thorough check and, if necessary, begin early treatment.

Don't Forget to Floss Your Arteries!

Can a toothbrush help clean out your heart? Surprisingly, yes!

Brushing your teeth has been shown to be the first step in preventing periodontal disease that can lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes complications. Over 80%of adults have periodontal disease and most cases go undetected. The disease raises the level of harmful bacteria in the mouth, which travels through the bloodstream to other organs in the body, and can lead to a plaque buildup in arteries surrounding the heart. Your dentist can be your first line of defense in reducing the risk for many diseases.

Brushing and flossing are effective means of preventing periodontal disease, but diabetes can counteract these efforts. Diabetes can weaken your mouth’s ability to fight germs, increase blood sugar levels, and make periodontal disease more difficult to control. Your dentist may suspect diabetes if you brush and floss regularly and still have symptoms of periodontal disease. Nearly 21 million children and adults in the US have diabetes, yet one-third of them are not aware they have the disease. Regular gum disease therapy and treatments can help avoid diabetes complications as serious as death.

As periodontal disease worsens, surgery may be needed to save your teeth. The more teeth a person has lost, the greater the risk for cardiovascular problems such as heart disease. Bleeding gums is just one of many symptoms of periodontal disease. Studies have shown links between periodontal disease and diabetes and heart disease. Diseased gums have even been found to raise the risk of pancreatic cancer. Periodontal disease works to destroy gums and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Be Proactive! Come to see me if you any of these symptoms/warning signs of periodontal disease:

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Fums that have pulled away from teeth
• Bad breath

No More Loose Dentures

Comfort and confidence again

Would you like to speak or bite into an apple knowing your denture won't slip? How about smiling with absolute confidence or enjoying the simple pleasure of going to bed without removing your denture? Are you missing one or more teeth? Then dental implants, artificial substitutions for natural tooth roots to which replacement teeth can be attached, may be right for you.

Mini implants are a scientific breakthrough in denture stabilization. This new technology allows for a minimally invasive procedure with a quick healing time - in one short procedure you can have a stable denture with no surgical sutures or the typical months of healing. Your denture will feel secure and will be held firmly in place at an extremely affordable price.

It's hard to imagine, but more than 55 million teeth are removed every year as a result of infection, gum disease or accidents. Dental implants replace the form and function of missing teeth, whether it is one tooth or a whole jaw. They can be used to anchor dentures to prevent soreness and clicking noises when you talk, or as replacements for partial dentures and bridgework. Although you have a number of restorative options for the treatment of missing teeth, none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as implants. In many cases, dental implants may be the only logical choice for the restoration of all necessary functionality of the teeth and supporting structures. We can help you to decide if mini implants are the right solution for you.

BEAUTIFUL FACES WITHOUT BRACES

I believe in a health centered approach by helping to guide the growth of your child’s jaws. In recent years, the dental profession has realized that many bite problems can be recognized and treated earlier than was once thought...proving that expensive and lengthy orthodontic treatment in teen years can be avoided by taking early preventive steps when the child is young. The idea is to create an ideal setting for adult teeth to grow into.

Early orthodontics can also be an effective way to deal with bad habits that can deform your child’s bite. Habits such as tongue thrusting, biting the lower lip and thumb sucking can lead to problems once permanent teeth come in. Early treatment can prevent these habits from causing bite problems later on.

How can you tell if your child needs orthodontic treatment? Early warning signs may include:
• mouth breathing or snoring
• difficulty chewing or biting
• crowded or crooked teeth
• jaw clicking or teeth grinding
• protruding upper teeth, teeth that do not meet well or at all
• jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
• history of finger sucking
• long-term pacifier use

Snoring – It's not all just noise!

Do you experience daytime fatigue, headaches, or have difficulty concentrating? These symptoms can be warning signs of sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnea, which means you may be experiencing repeated interruptions of breathing during sleep. Light snoring can also be a warning sign of a sleep disorder. Chronic, heavy, loud snoring may signal a condition called obstructive sleep apnea which is frequently associated with hypertension and even stroke and cardiopulmonary problems. Most people who have sleep apnea – a special type of snoring in which oxygen intake is actually halted for several seconds – do not realize the harmful side effects that it can have. Poor supply of oxygen to the brain, heart problems, high blood pressure, and increased risk for tooth decay all go hand in hand.

Children can be affected too – studies show upwards of 20% of all children exhibit snoring and severe tooth grinding (sleep bruxism) and of this group, 20% will have the more sever forms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Clinical symptoms of untreated sleep disorders may include excessive daytime sleepiness, failure to thrive, bed wetting, behavioral problems and other symptoms.

Sleep apnea is more common than you might think. Utilizing the state-of-the-art technology available in our office (Cone-beam 3D and Watch-Pat, an ambulatory home sleep study appliance) I have helped diagnose more than 9 patients with sleep apnea in just the past month. Many people are not aware that their dentist may be the first health care provider to identify sleep apnea because its salient signs and symptoms often are recognizable in the dental office. I have been specifically trained in sleep medicine and will work with you and your physician to diagnose a sleep disorder.

It is critical to you, your spouse or your child’s health to be diagnosed!