Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Doctors believe that there are more than 18 million people living with sleep apnea and many of them are undiagnosed. Sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night.

More men than women have sleep apnea, but in women the incidences increase after menopause, most likely as a result of hormonal changes.

Obviously sleep apnea disrupts your sleep, however undiagnosed sleep apnea has been linked to high blood pressure, stroke, memory problems and diabetes.

Watch for these signs that you may have sleep apnea:

• Loud or chronic snoring - Snoring is a milder form of airway obstruction. If you’re snoring loudly, chronically and keeping your partner awake, it could be a sign of sleep apnea and you should talk to a sleep apnea dentist.
• You gasp for air – Sleep apnea suffers commonly pause in breathing. Those pauses are often followed by gasping, choking or snorting. In severe cases, you may experience frenzied gasps for air every 15 to 30 seconds throughout the night.
• Exhausted all day – Poor sleeping at night leads to sleepiness during the day. But this is one of the most often overlooked signs of sleep apnea. If you’re spending seven to nine hours in bed per night and still feel sleepy during the day, it could be a sign of sleep apnea.
• High blood pressure - Sleep apnea is linked to hypertension. When you stop or pause in breathing, this causes your blood pressure to spike.
• Use the restroom often at night – This could be linked to aging, but it is also a classic sign of sleep apnea. The stress on your body caused by not breathing triggers a full-bladder sensation.
• Wake up with a headache - Frequent pauses in breathing during the night decrease the oxygen levels in the brain, causing pain.

If you suffer from all or some of these signs, the best thing to do is to contact Dream Smile Dental, a sleep apnea dentist, and schedule a consultation. We will do some diagnostic tests in the office and then most likely send you home with a sleep monitor. This will give us the necessary information to determine the level of sleep apnea you suffer from and be able to recommend the ideal treatment option for you.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and three local professionals will donate their time to speak to parents about important health issues and answer questions that concern you.

• Address your dental questions and concerns
• Find out if your child needs braces
• Learn about common misdiagnoses of ADHD and other behavioral disorders that can be eliminated by the right bite to increase brain function
• Find out how Bed Wetting, Ear infections and Sleep Apnea are Dental Related
• Learn about the importance of mouth guards in sports

Speakers: Konstantin Ronkin DMD, LVIF. Courtney Wager RDH. Wes Barton DMD.

The Event will take place at The JFK Elementary School in Canton. 100 Dedham St. Canton, MA 02021. For more information Click Here or Call (781) 330-0900.

Why does Starbucks sell 256 thousand gallons of coffee every day? Because the average American generally doesn’t get enough sleep and needs to compensate in order to stay focused throughout the day. Although coffee is a temporary solution, the root of the problem is not really being addressed and we’re missing out on the benefits of a good sleep.

When a person gets the necessary 7 hours of good sleep, there are effects that occur which include enhanced concentration, enhanced mood, reduction of stress effects, optimized immune system and increased pain inhibition. Simply put, good sleep makes us healthier. In fact, it even makes the flu shot work better.

So how do we get this good sleep so we can avoid the ample caffeine intake and the fatigued feeling throughout the day? Well first we have to assess the reason why we’re lacking this sleep. In most cases it’s some form of sleep apnea. This is defined as a disorder in which breathing halts briefly but repeatedly during sleep. Although this sounds like something one would know they experienced, most people don’t even realize they do this.

Snoring is the most common sign that a person suffers from sleep apnea which explains why 23% of sleep partners sleep in separate rooms. But before you send your partner to the couch, consider that they may need to see a dentist that specializes in sleep apnea. Not only because of the daily drowsiness, lack of concentration and lowered immune system, but also because sleep apnea leads to serious health issues. These issues include respiratory disease, stroke and heart attack according to sleep apnea dentist Evetta Shwartzman D.M.D.

A CPAP (machine that forces oxygen through a face mask during sleep) used to be the only way to treat sleep apnea and it still is for severe cases. For less severe cases, a comfortable mouth guard is available that is worn at night. Referred to as The SomnoDent, this guard fits the teeth in such a way that it actually opens up the airway. This allows for more oxygen to enter the body and minimizes lack of breath events throughout the night.

As a result, you wake up feeling more rejuvenated, experience less stress and build up your immune system to handle sickness. More importantly, this actually prolongs your life. By minimizing your chances of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, you’re more likely to live a longer and healthier life.

For photos and more information please contact: Diana@dreamsmiledental.com or call (781) 330-0900.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and you feel tired even after a full night's sleep.
Snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea.  Your spouse or roommate can tell you if you snore or you may wake up gasping for air.  

There are other signs of sleep apnea that occur when you’re awake.  Daytime symptoms include mouth breathing, poor concentration, decreased performance at school or work, and daytime drowsiness.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and other heart related health problems.

In addition, untreated sleep apnea can be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

Severe sleep apnea is treated by a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).  An air compressor and mask delivers pressurized air through the nose when a person is sleeping.  With this method, the biggest obstacle is compliance.  People feel claustrophobic and others find wearing the mask to be offensive.  The strap of the mask worn around the head may even cause headaches.  

Moderate sleep apnea can be treated using a much more comfortable alternative.  A customized night guard called the SomnoDent is created for your specific bite and actually positions your jaw in such a way that it opens up your airway.  This allows more oxygen to enter your body and prevents or minimizes symptoms of sleep apnea.

With the SomnoDent you’re not restricted to sleeping in only one position and you’re much more likely to use it, which is the main aspect of successful treatment. 

At Dream Smile Dental, we are sleep apnea dentists. Contact us for a consultation.

Obstructive sleep apnea, often just called sleep apnea or OSA for short, is a serious sleeping disorder that disturbs your normal breathing during sleep. This is caused by a blockage in your airway caused by the soft tissue in your throat "over-relaxing” while you sleep.

CPAP for Sleep Apnea

Presently, one of the most common sleep apnea “cures” is CPAP, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP delivers continuous air to your upper airway keeping it open and unblocked throughout the night for a deep and restful sleep. The airflow is created through a sleep apnea machine, and it is delivered to the airway by a sleep apnea mask. These masks come in 3 different styles and are worn all night while sleeping.
 
All sleep apnea masks take some getting used to. In fact, there are many people who are not interested in this solution. For many, sleeping with a machine while wearing a mask is not an option. Like any treatment, it does not work if you don’t comply. Many people feel claustrophobic wearing the mask and others find wearing the mask offensive.  Often times, the strap of the mask can cause headaches.

A Better, Alternative Sleep Apnea Cure

Moderate sleep apnea can be treated using a much more comfortable alternative.  The SomnoDent MAS, or Mandibular Advancement Splint, is a clinically proven treatment for sleep apnea. The SomnoDent treats mild and moderate cases of sleep apnea by moving the lower jaw slightly forward. This customized night guard actually positions your jaw to open up your airway.  It tightens the muscles and soft tissue of the upper airway, preventing blockage during sleep, allowing more oxygen to enter your body and preventing or minimizing symptoms of sleep apnea. The SomnoDent also prevents the tissues of the airway from vibrating as air passes over them which is one of the main causes of snoring.

The Somnodent is a customized medical dental appliance created for your specific bite. It is more comfortable and effective, and with the SomnoDent you’re not restricted to sleeping in only one position. Best of all, you’re much more likely to use it, which is the main aspect of successful treatment.  
 

Snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea and is a noise created by the partial blocking of the airway. When you fall asleep your muscles relax, including those that control the tongue and throat. The soft tissue at the back of your throat can sag, narrowing the air passage. Incoming air then makes the tissue at the rear roof of the mouth, the uvula, and the throat vibrate: a sound we know as snoring.

Moderate sleep apnea can be treated using multiple methods. However, studies have shown positive results with the use of a dental sleep apnea device with regular follow up visits may be a long term solution for sleep apnea sufferers. A customized night guard called the SomnoDent is created for your specific bite and actually positions your jaw in such a way that it opens up your airway. This allows more oxygen to enter your body and prevents or minimizes symptoms of sleep apnea.

The SomnoDent also prevents the tissues of the upper airway from vibrating as air passes over them, which is one of the main causes of snoring. This is a custom made medical dental appliance by combining a number of key design features which represent vast improvements on existing snoring appliances. SomnoDent has been reported to be a more comfortable and effective sleep apnea appliance. With the SomnoDent you’re not restricted to sleeping in only one position and you’re much more likely to use it, which is the main aspect of successful treatment. Feel free to contact us to learn more about sleep apnea and be sure to schedule your next appointment with us.

Have you had your dentist ask you questions like “Are you snoring or sleeping bad?” or “Do you suffer from halitosis no matter what you eat or do?” or “Do you suffer from acidity?”Aside from Invisalign or other cosmetic procedures, don't be surprised if the dentist decides to do a sleep apnea evaluation. This is mainly because very often poor dental health is actually a pointer to other medical conditions that you might be suffering from without knowing.

Recent studies show that even heart diseases could be detected through the analysis of the condition of your oral health. Tooth infections and abscesses can influence the immune system to such an extent that the heart would be affected as well. When there are acute and continuous recurring infections of the jaw bone in particular, it is often a pointer that the heart is under threat as well.

Mouth odor which is so terrible and everyone hates, could be the result of poor digestion, bad eating habits, gastroenteritis, and many other similar problems. High acidity also causes yellowing of teeth, plaque and even cavities. Snoring is another example where oral health points to underlying health problems - in this case it is respiratory disorders.

This is why it is important to visit your dentist at least every six months so you would not only ensure the health of your teeth but also your health overall. The dentist would be able to tell you whether what you are suffering from is owed to poor dental hygiene, poor eating habits or other ailments in the body that reflect in the oral health problems.

It is very important therefore that you maintain good oral health and take the trouble to immediately remedy any problem you find with your teeth or gums. Most people still suffer from dentist phobia and would do anything to postpone a visit. If you are among this bracket of people, please note that there is help out there and postponing a visit will only worsen your teeth. Even a simple cleaning can make all the difference. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about oral hygiene or dental issues.