Sleep Apnea (Obstructive) Important Key Points It is very important to know that sleep-related breathing disorders can comprise a variety of diagnoses, from snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome, central sleep apnea, hypopnea, and even obstructive sleep apnea better known as (OSA). OSA is the top prevalent form of sleep apnea, to date it accounts for over 80% of sleep-disordered breathing cases in the U.S alone. OSA occurs with recurrent narrowing or collapse of the upper airway during sleep. This results in partial or complete cessation of airflow despite the continued respiratory effort. There are multiple risk factors associated with OSA from oral or craniofacial abnormalities (e.g., large tongue or tonsils, retrognathia), to anthropometric features (e.g., obesity), male gender and advanced age. OSA also comes with several health consequences, ranging from excessive daytime sleepiness and often times impaired cognitive function to chronic hypertension, coronary heart failure, neurocognitive dysfunction and even ischemic stroke. OSA is a common sleep disorder and should never be left untreated. Surprisingly, OSA is also often underdiagnosed, and the risk factors and predisposing symptoms of OSA can be identified in various clinical settings, including dental practice. See your local dentist today! Treatment Options As of today their are various treatment options available for patients with OSA, which includes the use of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Oral appliance therapy is also a often recommended modality for patients with mild to moderate OSA (or even people with severe apnea who may not be able to tolerate the use of PAP). Dentists work collaboratively and with great effort with primary care physicians and sleep specialists, dentist have become a part of a multidisciplinary care team, dentist are able to assist in providing very optimal long-term care for patients with OSA, to include periodic dental and periodontal assessment, fabrication and maintenance of properly fitted oral appliances that has been proved to be found safe over time.

FAQ 1. What is one of the main signs of having sleep apnea? Snoring has been found to be one of the main signs of having sleep apnea. If you or your partner snore it could be a sign of having sleep apnea. 2. Are silver fillings a danger to my health? What are the alternatives? Dental amalgam, or silver filling material, is a mixture of mercury, and an alloy of silver, tin and copper. The release of mercury in silver fillings is so small that it is much less than what patients are exposed to in food, air and water. There are, however, other materials that can be used for restorations. These include gold, porcelain, and composite resins. 3. Do over-the-counter bleaching products work? There is some evidence that over-the-counter bleaching products do whiten teeth, however, many of the products are too abrasive and can damage the teeth with extended use or misuse. Supervision by your dentist is always the safest and most effective way to whiten your teeth. 4. What causes tooth decay? Tooth decay is caused by plaque in your mouth reacting with sugary and starchy deposits from food. This reaction produces acid which damages the enamel over time and weakens the tooth. 5. Are there any alternatives to dentures? Dentures are no longer the only way to restore a mouth that has little or no non-restorable teeth. Strategically placed support, or implants, can now be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost tends to be greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble the “feel” of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative of choice to dentures, but not everyone is a candidate for implants. Call your dentist for advice. 6. What are dental implants and how do they work? Dental implants are substitutes for natural tooth roots and rely on the jawbone for support. Strategically placed, implants can now be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost tends to be greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble real teeth. 7. What is a root canal? A root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal. The canal is filled with gutta percha, a rubberlike material, to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed with possibly a post and/or a gold or porcelain crown. This enables patients to keep the original tooth. 8. At what age are my children supposed to see a dentist? The general rule is between 18 and 24 months. Some children require a bit more time to be comfortable. If an area of concern is noticed, then the child should see a dentist as soon as possible. 9. Why is it important to fix baby teeth that have decay? Aren’t they going to come out soon anyway? It is very important to maintain the baby teeth because these teeth hold space for the future eruption of the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment. Infected baby teeth can cause the permanent teeth to develop improperly resulting in stains, pits and weaker teeth. 10. When will my child lose his/her baby teeth? Children will begin losing their teeth at approximately age 5. They will usually lose their front teeth first. Children will continue to lose baby teeth until the age of 12 or 13 when all of the permanent teeth finally erupt. 11. Does bleaching damage my teeth? No. When carbamide peroxide, the active whitening agent, contacts water, hydrogen peroxide is released which whitens the teeth. Bleaching does not soften, demineralize or weaken the teeth. Schedule your appointment today!

Clear aligners are an affordable and convenient way to achieve a beautiful new smile. The treatment process begins with a consultation at Dental Choice PC. Clear aligners address many cases from simple to more complex. Your consultation will assist you in determining if this is the best process for straightening your teeth. You will be provided with answers to your questions including: the length of the process, cost, payment options, restrictions, any effect on speech, and more. Come to your appointment with your questions ready. Typical questions include: what happens if an aligner is lost or broken; can I still play sports or my musical instrument; will my treatment be painful. Your consultation will assist you in determining if this is the best process for you. Dental Choice PC is a Preferred Provider of clear or invisible braces. The clear aligners system uses a series of specially designed, custom fit, clear teeth aligners that easily and comfortably straighten the teeth. This is a perfect solution for teens and adults. This is a fairly simple process with only occasional checkups required. Every two weeks new aligners are provided. A checkup with the doctor is usually required every six weeks. This frees up the time of patients and makes the process easy and convenient. Clear aligners are designed to be pain free and as comfortable as possible. A series of clear aligners are custom-made for each patient. The aligners are made of comfortable, smooth material that will not irritate the cheeks or gums, unlike traditional metal braces. They must be worn throughout the day and can be removed while eating, brushing, or flossing. Each set of aligners gradually and gently shifts the teeth into position. They are designed to be virtually invisible and most people do not notice when they are being worn. Each case is different, but the adult treatment length is approximately one year and the teen treatment process is generally typical to that of traditional braces. Teens generally see improvement much sooner than with traditional braces, because their teeth are not covered with metal brackets and wire. The aligners should be worn 20-22 hours a day for best results and a timely outcome. A broad range of cases can be treated through clear aligners at Marlton dentist. Some of the issues that can be handled effectively through the use of clear aligners are: spaced teeth, overly crowded teeth, crossed-bite, under-bite, overbite, and more. Each of these issues can create more serious complications if left untreated. Spaced teeth can increase the risk of periodontal disease; overly crowded teeth can lead to plaque accumulation, tooth decay, and ultimately gum disease; a cross bite occurs when the upper and lower jaws are misaligned, which can lead to abnormal wear, chipping, and gum disease or bone loss; and under-bite can prevent the normal function of the molars and teeth, which leads to tooth wearing and painful joint and jaw problems; an overbite can lead to gum disease or chipped and fractured front teeth. Clear aligners at Marlton dentist provide professional solutions for each of these issues in a convenient and easy to manage process. Contact Dental Choice today to find out if clear aligners are an option for you to obtain the beautiful smile you so greatly desire.