Archive for November, 2009

Need help to stop snoring

Monday, November 30th, 2009

This is really embarrassing for me, but I finally just have to ask for help. My husband says I snore! I know I used to snore off and on when I was pregnant with my children, but now that we are older, he says it is every night, and it is keeping him awake. I don’t know of any other women that have this problem, and I am too embarrassed to ask my friends. What can I do?
–Monique in Little Rock, AR

Dear Monique,

It will comfort you to know that you are not alone—approximately eighty-seven MILLION Americans snore. What concerns me is that your snoring may be a sign of an undiagnosed sleep disorder that can have a serious affect on your health.

Snoring happens when your airway becomes partially blocked, such as when your tongue falls back as you sleep. This narrowed airway causes your throat to vibrate, which is snoring. In many cases, your body continues to get adequate oxygen and no harm is done.

However, snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is an interruption in breathing or an episode of shallow breathing while you sleep. If you experience any of the following, your snoring may actually be a symptom of sleep apnea:

  • decreased memory
  • depression
  • excessive daytime sleepiness
  • personality changes

Sleep apnea can have a detrimental effect on your long term health, up to and including strokes and heart attacks, so clearly it is to be taken seriously! You should consult your regular physician about this problem, to determine if and to what degree you have sleep apnea.

A dentist like Dr. Malone can help you stop snoring, and treat your sleep apnea. Dr. Malone can provide you with a custom made oral device such as a SomnoMed that you wear when you sleep. This comfortable device is very effective in treating snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Hope this helps you get back to sleep!

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Fastest way to straighten teeth?

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

I am getting married in a little over a year, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being embarrassed by the pictures! My teeth are so crooked I rarely smile, and when I do, I look uncomfortable and self-conscious.

I talked to an orthodontist who told me it would take more than two years with braces to straighten my teeth. I asked him if there wasn’t a faster way, and he kind of avoided answering. I did not feel like he was comfortable talking to me about anything except the regular braces.

Do I have any other alternatives?

Thanks,

Jordan from Kalkaska

Dear Jordan,

If the orthodontist you consulted was only comfortable talking about traditional braces, then you are smart to seek help elsewhere. Rather than consulting with a different orthodontist, you should seek the help of an accredited and experienced cosmetic dentist that can offer you some great alternatives to traditional wire-and-bracket braces.

If your teeth are crowded and crooked, two different kinds of treatment could give you a stunning smile in just a few months. Invisalign braces can straighten your teeth in as little as six to nine months, depending on how crooked they are. Even if they are very crooked, treatment with Invisalign rarely exceeds a year.

Even if your Invisalign treatment is not complete in time for your wedding, your teeth would certainly look much straighter, and the aligners could be removed for your wedding day pictures or other festivities.

The fastest solution would be porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers do not straighten your teeth, but make them appear to be in perfect alignment. This may be a great solution for you if your teeth are also stained or discolored.

A word of caution regarding veneers, though: be very, very careful when selecting your dentist! Many dentists think they can place porcelain veneers, but they lack the artistry and aesthetic sense to create a truly beautiful, natural smile makeover. Just because a dentist advertises that they do cosmetic dentistry does not mean you won’t be paying to have the whole thing redone down the road. Make sure they have received the specialized training, and have the artistic sense to do beautiful work.

The smartest thing you could do would be to talk to an expert cosmetic dentist who does porcelain veneers AND Invisalign braces. Only a dentist who is skilled in both treatments can give you a truthful, educated opinion on which procedure will work best in your individual situation.

I hope this helps!

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Posted in Crooked Teeth, Invisalign, Porcelain Veneers | No Comments »