Month: August 2019

Sleep apnea is an incredibly common disorder that affects a patient’s breathing at night. It may be caused by excess weight, smoking, and other issues, but it is incredibly disruptive to your everyday life. Not only is sleep apnea problematic to how you feel throughout the day, but it can lead to more serious health conditions like type two diabetes and heart disease. By treating your sleep apnea, you’re taking a proactive approach to your overall health and well-being.

Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea refers to a condition where a patient experience short cessations in their breathing throughout the night. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by the airway closing for short periods of time during sleep. When this occurs, your body’s natural response is to bolt awake before you can settle back in for restful sleep. Unfortunately, most patients who have sleep apnea rarely enter REM sleep, which is the most restful and restorative stage of sleep. Because you’re not getting a full night of sleep, you’ll find that you’re exhausted during the day, regardless of being in bed for eight or more hours. Likewise, you’ll be irritated and lethargic, and may find that you begin gaining weight as a result.

Your Dental Options for Sleep Apnea
In the past, one of the only options for treating sleep apnea was with a CPAP machine. While these machines are still great for some patients, especially those with advanced and severe sleep apnea, a simpler and more comfortable dental appliance can be worn that effectively keeps your airway open during the night. The device looks like a mouth guard you’d wear to prevent grinding, and it’s custom made to fit your mouth. The appliance helps to bring the lower jaw forward, allowing air to easily flow through your airway and into your lungs. This prevents the effects of sleep apnea, and allows you to get a restful night of sleep.

Seeking Treatment for Your Sleep Disorder
Seeking treatment for your sleep apnea is incredibly beneficial. Not only will you find that this has a positive impact on your health, but it will do wonders for your mood and energy levels. Because you’re able to enter REM sleep and get more restorative rest, you’ll have the energy you need throughout the day to spend with friends and family. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or believe that you might have this disorder, you may want to consider a dental device to help alleviate symptoms.

Orthodontic treatment is essential for improving severe dentition problems. Treatment can help with crowding, crookedness, overbites, and underbites. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is widely utilized as a method for obtaining a straight and flawless smile. Invisalign is ideal for teens and adults who want to straighten their teeth, but who do not want to wear metal brackets and wiring. We offer Invisalign treatment for those who are interested in straightening their teeth in a quick and inconspicuous way.

Getting to Know More About Invisalign
Invisalign uses a system of clear trays called aligners. These aligners are made for you using impressions that are taken every few weeks. You’ll wear the trays for about 22 hours every day, and they will work by applying gentle pressure to the teeth to gradually move them into alignment. This will slowly shift the teeth into place, improving the overall look of your smile. Because Invisalign is removable, it’s easier for patients to brush and floss their teeth, and to keep up with routine dental visits.

Is Invisalign Quicker Than Braces?
Many patients have found that Invisalign is faster than traditional metal braces. On average, you can expect to be wearing your Invisalign trays for a year and a half whereas a lot of patients with traditional braces need to wear them for about two years. In some cases, your treatment can take as little as six months depending on what type of work is needed. How long you’re in your Invisalign trays will largely depend on the severity of your orthodontic problems. Some patients have severe crowding and crookedness, as well as spacing, so they may need to wear Invisalign trays for a longer period of time when compared to someone else.

Tips for Improving Invisalign Treatment
The best way to improve your treatment using Invisalign is to wear your trays. While it’s a benefit that they’re removable, this can sometimes be a problem if you keep forgetting to put them back in after brushing your teeth or eating. The trays are meant to be worn for at least 22 hours every single day and night. You should also keep up with your routine orthodontic appointments to have new trays made for you as needed. This helps to keep treatment moving smoothly, and prevents hiccups in the way that your teeth are straightening. Invisalign has long been used as a go-to option for people seeking orthodontic treatment.