4 Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea

Posted on April 9, 2018December 1, 2022 by cara

Sleep apnea affects up to 22 million Americans in one of its three main forms: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, or complex sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when the tongue closes the airway. In central sleep apnea, the airway is free, but the brain refuses to signal the muscles to allow breathing. And complex sleep apnea combines both situations. In all forms of apnea, the brain attempts to at least partially trigger breathing after a minimal break. Up to 25% of children, including infants, suffer from pediatric sleep apnea as well. If ignored too long, sleep apnea can lead to serious complications including diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Of course, the right treatment can reverse all concerns. But what are some warning signs of sleep apnea?

Dry Mouth in the Morning

Xerostomia is the medical term for the sensation of dry mouth. This can be caused or due to a number of issues including medications, vitamin deficiencies, and serious health issues. But more often, dry mouth is due to sleeping with your mouth open. While there may be various reasons for that sleep apnea is among the most common. When you have trouble getting enough air during sleeping hours, the mouth opens in response. So waking up parched may be a sign of sleep apnea.

Painful or Stiff Teeth and Jaw

Bruxism is the term for grinding your teeth and it’s usually brought on by stress. Teeth grinding can occur at any time, but it’s most prevalent during sleeping hours. It also becomes habitual quickly. When teeth grinding is combined with other apnea signs, the condition is likely due to the apnea. If you have stress, strain, stiffness or pain in the teeth and jaw and it’s not for an obvious reason, chances are you grind your teeth. Fortunately, your Red Bank dentist has some simple and effective solutions for bruxism. But taking away that sign isn’t a cure for sleep apnea.

You’re Always Tired or Continuously Yawning

The human body needs REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep to refresh and renew. But breathing fluctuations cause the body to be forced into a lighter stage of sleeping so it can remind the muscles to work correctly. When this happens regularly, the result is often grogginess and irritability. However, changes in appetite and difficulty concentrating may also occur. Your alarm clock may show “proof” you got your full eight hours of beauty rest, but if you’re yawning and tired most of the day, chances are you haven’t gotten close to that amount.

You’re a Loud or Noisy Sleeper

Snoring is often the most obvious sign of sleep apnea, but not all snoring is equal. However, if your snoring is loud, jagged, and seems to have a “sawing” edge, it may be apnea-related. This snoring may become loud enough to wake you up or it may cause relationship issues as it continually wakes up your partner. Even if you don’t snore, loud or regular gasping during sleeping hours may occur as your body remembers to breathe. These common warning signs of sleep apnea should be taken seriously, but a simple and effective cure could be as close as your Red Bank dentist. Give us a call when you’re ready to sleep easier.

Over 40? It’s Never Too Late for Lumineers

Posted on April 9, 2018April 26, 2020 by cara

Poor dental hygiene and care not only leads to premature aging, but it can also lead to several potentially serious health issues. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), just a few generations ago, middle age was associated with serious tooth loss for most Americans. Fluoride, better dental hygiene, and more dental care options helped slow and even reverse that trend in many states. But still today by the time women, specifically, reach the age of 40 or 50 serious changes in their teeth occur. Top teeth become shorter while the bottoms lengthen. Gums begin to recede, and bone density weakens, leaving the jawline to shift and often concave inward. But it’s never too late to get the smile you deserve. In fact, your Manhattan cosmetic dentist can give you a brand new smile in just two visits thanks to Lumineers.

Lumineers Correct Multiple Dental Concerns

It’s no secret dental work can be quite expensive and nerve-wracking, especially if you need to correct multiple issues individually. Cosmetic dentistry is specifically meant to provide aesthetic solutions to improve your smile and overall dental health. Gaps, chips, cracks, and deep stains are some main reasons people opt to visit a cosmetic dentist. And there are plenty of options to correct each issue. However, if you have several at once, Lumineers can easily cover and correct them all simultaneously.

Lumineers Are Non-Invasive and Reversible

Traditional porcelain veneers are somewhat invasive because the dentist needs to remove a small amount of enamel from each affected tooth. This ensures the porcelain shells affix properly to the teeth. As such, local anesthesia and numbing agents are often required as well. That’s not an issue with Lumineers. While porcelain veneers are around the width of a contact lens, Lumineers are around half that width. The thinner shells are easier to affix and require no anesthesia or medication. That translates to no potential medication side effects and no unexpected, unnecessary, or painful recovery issues. And because no enamel needs to be removed during the treatment, Lumineers can be reversed or removed if the patient changes their mind down the road or opts for another dental solution.

Lumineers Are Efficient and Convenient

Lumineers are digitally created and constructed, so the patient can see exactly how they’ll look once the treatment is completed. Made of Cerinate porcelain, Lumineers are only about 0.2 millimeters thick, so there are no concerns regarding discomfort or a bulky appearance. And just like traditional veneers, Lumineers allow you to get a beautiful new smile in just two visits.

Lumineers Are Durable

Don’t let the thin construction of Lumineers fool you. They’re far tougher than they may look. The special dental-grade porcelain and chemical composition help to resist leakage and cracking better than traditional porcelain veneers. And as for durability, with proper care and maintenance, your Lumineers may easily last around 20 years which is actually longer than the average lifespan expectations of traditional veneers. Give your Manhattan cosmetic dentist a call when you’re ready to see if Lumineers are right for you.

Wedding Ready: Top 3 Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures Before the Big Day

Posted on April 9, 2018April 26, 2020 by cara

Every marriage-bound couple dreams of a flawless wedding day, but getting there can be quite the adventure. There is no right or wrong way to plan your perfect day, but the average wedding in America costs around $28,000. That includes food, entertainment, and all the incidentals to capture your dream day in the hearts of everyone in attendance for hopefully the rest of your lives. Whether you’re the bride or groom, all eyes will be on you at one point or another… and for years to come thanks to the wedding photos. However, all the planning, hopes, and dreams for that one special day can be crushed in an instant the second the photographer tells you to say cheese. Your Manhattan cosmetic dentist can help ensure your smile is as ready for the big day as you with one of the following procedures.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Anyone can pick up a home whitening kit just about anywhere nowadays. But while those shiny boxes make huge promises, few actually deliver on those. Home kits are designed as one-size-fits-all solutions, but since everyone’s different how can that work? In fact, since boxed home kits only deliver one to two shade differences on average, you may feel the need to repeat the process over the course of several months just to notice any real difference at all. That, however, can lead to other problems such as weakened enamel, sensitivity, and mouth sores. Professional teeth whitening, however, is custom designed to fit the needs and desires of each patient. Just a one-hour appointment with your Manhattan cosmetic dentist can lighten, whiten, and brighten your teeth up to 8 shades. And the results last for far longer than over-the-counter options.

Invisalign

The average engagement lasts 14 months before the nuptials take place. That’s plenty of time to get your teeth picture perfect. While traditional braces may be off-limits for multiple reasons, Invisalign may fit the bill. Invisalign is the clear solution to several moderate orthodontic correction needs, including gaps, misaligned teeth, and bite issues. In many cases, Invisalign takes less time to complete the corrections than traditional braces. And unlike the metallic option, Invisalign is practically invisible and offers far more freedom. So even if you’re still in mid-treatment by the time of your wedding day, go ahead and eat those gooey treats or wedding cake. And smile freely without worrying about your dental progress being the highlight of the day.

Porcelain Veneers

If you’re in a hurry and can invest in a quick smile makeover, porcelain veneers can make you ready for your close up in just a couple dental visits. Porcelain veneers are the celebrity secret for perfect smiles, and they can easily be yours as well. The wafer-thin porcelain shells are custom-designed and fitted to ensure a natural, seamless appearance that will leave your guests wondering if you were born with perfect teeth. Porcelain veneers are an irreversible procedure as some enamel needs to be removed to affix the shells. But they’re a quick solution, generally requiring just a couple visits. And when taken care of correctly, they can last well over a decade without any major issues. Call your Manhattan cosmetic dentist when you’re ready to get the perfect smile for your big day.