Signature Dental
How Your Dentist Can Help Relieve Minor Sleep Apnea
Sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, have become a significant health issue in the United States. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, it is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea still undiagnosed.
When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to a myriad of problems, such as high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, strokes, and even traffic accidents (due to the persistent drowsiness from the chronic failure of not getting a good night’s sleep).
Is there a difference between snoring and sleep apnea?
The first step to effectively treating these conditions is understanding the differences between sleep apnea and snoring. For all those people across the country who are constantly getting nudged or elbowed throughout the night from annoyed bed partners, it’s important to understand what their snoring could mean.
Snoring
Snoring is the result of tissues in the throat relaxing to the point that they partially block the airway. This blockage causes vibration and, ultimately, the sound you hear when someone is snoring. Snoring can be caused due to being overweight, the position of sleep, and even lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption (as alcohol relaxes your jaw and throat muscles).
Snoring once in a while isn’t usually a serious problem, but if you’re a long-term snorer, you may be hindering your quality of sleep.
When Snoring Could Mean Sleep Apnea
Loud, frequent snoring is one of the first indicators that you or a partner may have sleep apnea. You will also start to notice pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. When people with sleep apnea fall asleep, they can stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, even up to a minute! This pattern is often followed by gasping or choking, as the person starts to breathe again.
If you or your partner regularly snore loud, stop breathing, gasp or choke during sleep, experience excessive restlessness at night, or feel excessively sleepy during the day, you should definitely address it with your primary care doctor to determine whether a sleep study is necessary.
How Your Dentist Can Detect Signs of Sleep Apnea
In addition to loud snoring and gasping for breath, people with sleep apnea typically have the following issues:
- Grind their teeth. Your dentist will be able to see excessive wear on the teeth
- Cracked teeth. The pressure on the teeth by clenching your jaw may also cause cracks on the tooth surfaces.
- Dry mouth or even a sore throat upon waking up.
- Pain in the jaw or teeth.
If you’re not ready to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor, you should at least ask your dentist for their expert opinion. They will be able to assess oral health cues that can possibly confirm your concern about sleep apnea. Your dentist will then be able to work with you and your doctor in order to provide you with the best treatment plan possible.
Dental Treatment For Minor Sleep Apnea Cases
One way your dentist can help treat minor sleep apnea is by providing you with a specially designed mouth guard that can be worn during sleep. This mouth guard keeps the jaw and tongue in a position where airflow is not obstructed.
Note, although you may be able to find commercially available mouthguards, it is recommended that you consult your dentist or doctor before using any dental device for snoring. This will ensure that you are not self-diagnosing sleep apnea and possibly overlooking other related serious medical condition(s).
It is also important to be aware that in more severe cases of sleep apnea, it will require a doctor’s help. Some advanced treatment options include surgery to correct the obstruction or using a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system.
First Step is to Get Evaluated
If undiagnosed or untreated for a long period of time, sleep apnea can result in a number of serious health problems. If you think you or a partner may be suffering from sleep apnea, we’d encourage you to call us to schedule a time for a dental sleep apnea evaluation. We can assist with your initial assessment and guide you onto a path to improved sleep and overall health!
Posted by
buckeyescott
on
Mar 20th, 2020
1:23 pm
Posted in
General Dentistry |
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Tags: Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorder
The Benefits of Having Straighter Teeth
You already know that having a straighter, brighter smile will improve your overall physical appearance, but straightening your teeth can do so much more for your health than simply giving you better-looking selfies. Straighter teeth can also improve your overall health as well.
Let’s examine six unexpected benefits of straight teeth:
Straight Teeth are Easier to Clean
Crowded or crooked teeth can be much trickier to clean properly, as it can be harder for your toothbrush to cover all of your teeth’s surface areas. In addition, flossing between overlapped teeth can be very difficult. Both of these factors could lead to the accumulation of unwanted plaque and bacteria, eventually causing decay, gum inflammation or even tooth loss. Straightening your teeth allows your oral routine to be more manageable and considerably reduces the chances of having any of these issues occur.
Improves Chewing
Misaligned teeth can cause difficulties with proper chewing. Straighter teeth will align your bite and will remove any gaps or overlaps that are present, therefore allowing you to fully chew your food down to a level where it is easier for your stomach to digest. Straighter teeth also allow for less food to be trapped in-between teeth and, in turn, fewer bacteria will build-up in those hard to reach areas. As an added perk, less food trapping and fewer bacteria build-ups provides you with fresher breath and can kick your sugar-free breath mint habit – which is often filled with unhealthy aspartame.
Speech Functions
In addition to chewing, straightening your teeth can improve your speech as well. Individuals with gapped or misaligned front teeth can often have awkward whistling noises when speaking, lisps or other speech hindrances. The use of orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth can facilitate clearer speech, which can tremendously benefit your self-confidence, your personal life, and even your career.
Healthier Gums
This one is fairly simple. When your teeth are straighter, your gums are healthier. Proper tooth alignment allows the gums to fit better around each tooth, which gives bacteria fewer places to hideout and thrive.
Prevents Premature Tooth Wear
A crowded mouth may cause teeth to rub against one another, especially when chewing. Over time, this can gradually wear down tooth enamel. Straighter teeth reduce the extra pressure placed on each tooth, preventing your teeth from wearing out prematurely.
For Improved Confidence and Happiness
Numerous studies have shown that having a straight smile is an important social asset and has a big impact on first impressions. Research also suggests that a better-looking smile increases confidence and even the amount of time you smile, which allows you to take advantage of all the health benefits smiling has to offer.
To learn more about the ways we help our patients get straighter smiles, please give us a call and we’d be happy to answer all of your questions!
Posted by
buckeyescott
on
Feb 22nd, 2020
9:15 am
Posted in
Cosmetic Dentistry |
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Tags: Beautiful Smile, Straight Teeth
What are the Differences Between Dental Bonding and Veneers?
If you have a smile you don’t like due to teeth that are discolored, chipped, misaligned, uneven, or gapping, you probably find yourself refraining from showing your teeth. Perhaps you smile with closed lips or you cover your mouth when laughing. It is likely that you unintentionally walk around with an unfriendly, straight face. Do you realize that not being able to smile at your full potential can hurt your social life, as well as deprive you of some of the amazing benefits? Below are just a few of these benefits you may be missing out on.
5 Benefits of Smiling
- Your entire body relaxes when you smile.
- Smiling, even if forced, has been proven to immediately improve your mood.
- Smiling releases those feel-good endorphins.
- Smiling people are viewed as more attractive, sociable, and approachable.
- Smiling gives the illusion that you look younger than you actually are.
- And a whole lot more!
Two Ways to Easily Improve Your Smile
While there are many ways to improve your smile, two of the most popular methods are dental bonding and veneers. These are very similar dental cosmetic procedures, but they do have some important differences. Let’s take a look at each option.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a low cost and simple dental cosmetic procedure that is used to improve the appearance of heavily discolored or chipped teeth, lengthen teeth that are too short, and even close-in unwanted gaps.
After you and your dental provider select a shade of white that is right for you, your dentist will then etch and roughen each tooth with a special tool. This process is painless and does not require anesthesia. One at a time, the teeth are coated with a special bonding liquid and then with a resin. Before hardening the bonding liquid, the resin is molded to the ideal shape. Then, using a high-intensity light, the resin is hardened into place. If needed, further trimming and shaping are completed to perfect the appearance. Last, but not least, you’ll receive one last polish. You are finally ready to fully smile and enjoy all the benefits that come along with it.
Veneers
Dental veneers, like dental bonding, are also used to improve the appearance of your smile. However, veneers are custom-made, thin coatings that are typically comprised of porcelain. The material for veneers is hard from the very start, unlike with dental bonding, and may not be shaped after they are made.
At your first visit, a dental impression will be made of your teeth and then sent to a dental laboratory, where your new veneers will be made to fit your teeth. This process only takes 1-2 weeks. When your dentist is ready to apply your veneers, they will sculpt your existing tooth to make room for the veneer. This is a painless process and allows the final tooth thickness to look even and natural. With this final step completed, you permanently trade-in your natural teeth for porcelain veneers.
Choosing Between Bonding and Veneers
The decision to choose between dental bonding and veneers usually can be decided after reviewing these five significant factors…
- Cost: Bonding is more affordable than veneers.
- Durability: Veneers are far more durable than bonding; they won’t stain, chip, or break easily.
- Time: Bonding is a faster process.
- Permanency: Once you apply veneers, you cannot go back to your natural teeth.
- Appearance: Veneers have a nicer, subtle sheen to them; both options look natural.
If you are looking to smile with confidence, dental bonding and custom porcelain veneers are two great options to consider. To learn more about which option might be best for you, our dental team encourages you to give us a call and we’d be happy to address all of your questions.
Posted by
buckeyescott
on
Jan 22nd, 2020
11:11 am
Posted in
Cosmetic Dentistry |
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Tags: Dental Bonding, Veneers
Our New Blog!
Our blog has recently been set up. Please check back soon!
Posted by
award
on
Dec 10th, 2019
2:35 pm
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Blog |
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