The Smile Design Center of Baltimore

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sufficient sleep is an important element of a healthy lifestyle. Sleep apnea can keep you and your partner from getting a good night’s rest and may cause future health problems if left untreated.

Sleep apnea occurs when there is an obstruction to the airway that prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching the organs and brain. This disorder can often go unnoticed because it is difficult to self-diagnose. Snoring, constant fatigue, irritability, and daytime sleepiness are not only detrimental to quality of life but can also be indicative of obstructive sleep apnea. Watch this video to learn more about how to recognize and treat sleep apnea.

Contact our dentists at The Smile Design Center of Baltimore to learn how they can help you treat your sleep apnea. Call us at (443) 275-9821 or visit our website to schedule a consultation.

How Can a Dentist Help With Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes blocked or narrowed. This reduces the amount of oxygen flowing to the brain and vital organs and can lead to a variety of health problems. Typically, moderate to severe sleep apnea is treated by using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping, but some people find the machine to be a nuisance. There are other options for treating sleep apnea that can be administered by your dentist.

Oral Appliance Therapy

This option utilizes a simple plastic device, similar to a retainer, to keep airways open during sleep. There are various types of devices available, but they fall into one of two categories based on whether they hold the tongue in place or reposition the jaw. Your dentist will help you determine what type of oral appliance you need, custom fit the device to your mouth, and make adjustments as required. Oral appliances are small, comfortable, and convenient, presenting a great option for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Upper Airway Surgery

Surgery should only be considered when all other treatments fail. Your dentist will have to identify the specific causes contributing to your sleep apnea; depending on the site and level of obstruction, the procedure varies in complexity. The most effective procedure, maxillomandibular advancement, pulls forward the upper and lower jaws; this treatment boasts an almost perfect success rate. The most commonly performed but less effective procedure, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, trims the soft palate. Talk to your dentist to weigh the pros and cons of each surgery to decide which is best for you.

If you do require oral surgery, sedation dentistry might be an option worth exploring. The Smile Design Center of Baltimore offers a host of amenities to make you feel comfortable and improve your oral and overall health. Call us at (443) 275-9821 to set up a free consultation to see how our cosmetic and general dentists can help you.

Looking for More Great Dental Information? Visit These Sites!

Your quality of life is greatly influenced by your dental hygiene, so look through the following resources to learn more about the dental treatments that can help you look your best and be healthier. 

• If you would like to learn more about mini dental implants, take a look at this detailed webpage. You’ll learn about how these implants differ from traditional implants and how they benefit patients.
• For more information about traditional implants, check out this WebMD.com article.
• Sedation dentistry is helping millions of people get the dental care they need. Find out how you can benefit from sedation dentistry by visiting this webpage.
• If you would like more information before you consider implant dentistry, visit the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
• For a comprehensive look at cosmetic dentistry, read through this article from the American Dental Association.   

If you’re dissatisfied with your smile, call The Smile Design Center. Our goal is to improve every smile we see, whether by performing general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, or orthodontic therapy. Learn more about how we can restore or enhance your smile’s beauty and health by calling us at (443) 275-9821 today.

Learn about Sedation Dentistry with this Video

Dental care is vital to your health but visiting the dentist isn’t always easy for those with dental anxiety. Fortunately, many dentists offer sedation dentistry to help calm their patients’ nerves. To learn more about sedation dentistry, check out this video.

You’ll learn about what sedation dentistry is and how it allows for safe, comfortable, and relaxing dental treatment. With sedation dentistry, more work can be performed in a single appointment and most patients have no memory of the details of treatment. Nearly 30% of Americans avoid the dentist even when in pain and may even postpone treatment for years. Find out how visiting the dentist can be a positive experience by watching this clip all about how sedation dentistry is revolutionizing dental care.

If you would like to experience the relaxing benefits of sedation dentistry, visit The Smile Design Center. Our comprehensive dental practice offers restorative, orthodontic, cosmetic, and general dental services, providing the entire family with the dental care they need. Learn more or schedule an appointment by calling us at (443) 275-9821.

Mini vs. Regular Dental Implants

If gaps in your smile are making you feel self-conscious, it may be time to talk to your cosmetic dentist about implant dentistry. Your smile can be the key to a great first impression, so get the smile restoration you need by consulting The Smile Design Center.

Traditional Implants
A dental implant includes a porcelain tooth placed over a metal root that is drilled into the jaw bone. The procedure is performed in order to replace a lost tooth. During the dental implant procedure, the patient is administered IV sedation so that the oral surgeon can effectively implant the metal root that will hold the porcelain tooth in place. The oral surgeon uses a series of gauges to drill the right-sized hole into the oral bone. Then, a screw is put in place to integrate with the bone and eventually hold the porcelain prosthetic. Dental implants provide a natural look and feel, and patients won’t have to worry about them loosening or falling out. You will still need to brush and floss to protect your gums from bacteria buildup around the implant.

Mini Implants
Mini dental implants differ from traditional implants in that they require a less invasive surgical procedure. The procedure for mini implants doesn’t include an incision at the gums, requiring less sedation. In fact, the mini dental implant procedure can be performed with a local anesthetic. In both procedures, a titanium screw is implanted into the jaw bone. But the mini-implant procedure uses a smaller screw that is only two millimeters wide. A smaller screw allows for a smaller incision and shorter recovery. Instead of being topped with a porcelain replacement tooth, most mini implants are used to stabilize dentures. Mini dental implants also cost less than traditional implants and the procedure time is shorter. Mini implants were designed for people who don’t have enough healthy oral bone to allow for traditional implant surgery. They also provide a more affordable solution to tooth loss.

To learn about whether traditional implants or mini implants are right for you, call The Smile Design Center at (443) 275-9821. We specialize in repairing the smile and helping patients regain their confidence. We offer tooth whitening, composite fillings, veneers, orthodontic therapy, and more. For a complete list of services, visit our website today.