Sleep Apnea

If something affects you when you’re alseep, how can you tell? That’s one of the problems with sleep apnea. Many people are affected and don’t even know it.  Even their sleep partners often mistake sleep apnea as snoring and don’t recognized the serious health effects until it’s too late. Fortunately, there are a few common signs and symptoms that may indicate you or someone you care about has sleep apnea.  If you notice any of the following, please be proactive in seeking a diagnosis and any necessary treatment:

• Daytime sleepiness, fatigue or regular drowsiness


• Dry mouth, sore throat and/or headaches that frequently occur upon waking


• Abrupt awakenings followed by shortness of breath, as well as gasping or choking while asleep


• Loud snoring, which remains the most prominent though easily dismissed sign of sleep apnea.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can amount to some serious health risks that include stroke and heart disease.  Thankfully, there are a variety of treatments, therapies and procedures that can correct sleep apnea and eliminate its harmful effects.  We can help sleep apnea patients here at our practice; so if you or someone you love may be affected, please call us for more information on how we can help.

Invisalign

Should you choose Invisalign? If you are in need of mild to moderate smile alignment, and you’re seeking a discreet way to correct cosmetic crowding, gaps or tooth misalignment, Invisalign may be a great choice for you. However, there are a few things to consider when it comes to clear tooth aligners:

• Invisalign takes some getting used to.  When you first wear your aligners, you’ll notice they don’t totally conform to your teeth. Even though they’re custom created for you, they are designed to gradually shift the alignment of your teeth. Each aligner is design to suit a projected smile design increment, so when you initially wear them they may feel snug or ill-fitting. That is inherent to the process and shouldn’t be cause for concern.

• You will need to remove your aligners when you eat or drink beverages that are hot, acidic or could potentially stain your tooth enamel. Drinking cool water with Invisalign is fine and actually quite beneficial for your teeth, but other beverages can stain the plastic of your aligner or get trapped between your tooth surface and the aligner, causing staining and decay.

• Invisalign aligners should be cleaned separately from your teeth and require a specific cleansing solution, in which the aligners are submerged. You should also keep a separate toothbrush exclusively for manual cleaning of your aligners.

• You can remove Invisalign for special events, but remember, if they aren’t on your teeth, they aren’t treating your teeth. Make sure you promptly return them to your smile when possible and wear them on an everyday basis.        

There are a number of other factors to keep in mind when you decide to try Invisalign, but they remain one of the most popular and convenient methods for discreetly correcting cosmetic misalignments.  The best way to determine if Invisalign is right for you is to visit for a complete consultation. We look for forward to seeing you and answering all of your Invisalign questions.

Porcelain Laminates

Porcelain laminates are one of the best ways to achieve that red carpet-ready, movie star smile. As they’re able to address multiple cosmetic issues efficiently and reliably, porcelain laminates, or veneers, are regarded as a highly efficient means to a gorgeous cosmetic smile makeover. If you’re not familiar with them or you’re shopping around for a way to successfully renew your smile, here are some advantages to consider when choosing porcelain laminates:

• Porcelain laminates can be used to address staining, chips, gaps, fractures and other cosmetic surface issues. They are a multipurpose solution in one.


• Porcelain laminates look real because of specialized translucent porcelain that captures light like natural tooth enamel. They are totally indistinguishable from a naturally beautiful smile.


•  Porcelain laminates retail their pearly, white beauty through staining resistance. If you enjoy red wine, tea, coffee, or use tobacco products, you can still rely upon veneers to stay bright.


• Porcelain laminates can close gaps and eliminate the need for minor cosmetic orthodontic treatments.


• Porcelain laminates can last a lifetime. Provided you brush, floss, stay consistent with professional exams and cleanings, and do your part to retain the structural integrity of your teeth, you shouldn’t need to replace or update your veneers as you would with bridges and crowns.

If these advantages sound favorable to you and you’re ready for the ultimate in cosmetic smile improvements, we look forward to answering your questions on porcelain laminates, veneers and Lumineers.