Pacifiers are a subject that causes many parents to be on the defensive, but the reality is that sucking is a natural reflex for babies. Infants start sucking their thumbs while still in the womb and the action continues to soothe them once they’re born. Sucking on a thumb or pacifier comforts them in times of stress and relaxes them when they’re trying to fall asleep. In other words, the use of a pacifier is perfectly natural, healthy, and not anything to feel on the defense about when talking to a dentist. The key is to be sure you’re using your baby’s pacifier appropriately. Here are the facts.
Pacifiers Can Impact Teeth––But Maybe Not as Much as We Thought
Many of those who tsk-tsk pacifier use believe that they cause cavities, crooked teeth, and even receded gums in children. Parents whose babies use pacifiers may believe this too, and feel guilty over the habit, even going so far as to tell white lies about it during dental exams.
The truth is, pacifiers––and thumb sucking for that matter––do impact dentition. The good news is that most studies have concluded that these problems only occur with prolonged use after the age of 5 or when parents dip pacifiers in sugar, juice, honey, or other sweeteners. While openbites, overbites, and crossbites are associated with pacifier use, these risks increase with age. In other words, a baby using a pacifier is very unlikely to cause occlusion problems.
How to Use a Pacifier Appropriately
Pacifiers soothe babies when they’re upset and relax them when they’re falling asleep. There’s even an association between pacifier use and a decreased risk of SIDS. A pacifier habit is much easier to break, and much less harmful to the teeth, than thumb sucking, so there’s no reason to feel bad about choosing to give a pacifier to your baby. That said, here are some guidelines to follow to minimize potential harm to the teeth.
- Choose an orthodontic pacifier that’s made without PVC or BPA.
- Weaning should be an ongoing process. By this, we mean that as your baby gets older, gradually decrease the amount of time spent with the pacifier. After the baby’s first 6 months, give the pacifier only when they’re falling asleep, then only at nighttime. This will make it easier for your child to give up the pacifier when it’s time.
- Never sweeten your baby’s pacifier. The calming action of sucking is reward enough for them; there’s no reason to incentivize them with sugar for an action that is instinctive and reflexive.
- Pacifier use should be stopped by age 4, but ideally by age 2; however, keep in mind that if you can break the habit at a younger age, it will be easier.
- Do not clean your child’s pacifier with your own saliva. It can transmit cavity-causing bacteria.
- Find other ways to soothe your baby, like swaddling, singing, rocking, and massage, to make the weaning process go more smoothly.
Make an Appointment to Discuss Your Child’s Pacifier Use
If you have concerns about how your child’s teeth have been impacted by their pacifier use, contact us at 408-996-8595 to schedule an appointment.
Whether it’s your own tooth or your child’s, it’s hard not to panic when you’re dealing with a knocked out tooth. You may be surprised to learn that if the proper steps are taken, it’s very easy for us to place the tooth back into the socket and repair the damage, but acting quickly is crucial. Here are the steps to take to save a tooth that’s been knocked out.
1. Find the Tooth, But Don’t Touch the Root
First thing’s first: take action to stop any bleeding from the mouth. Rinse with water, then use a washcloth or piece of gauze soaked in cold water as a compress; bite down to hold it in place and control bleeding. If the tooth has fallen onto the ground or another surface, it’s important to grab it by the crown (the portion above the gum line), not the root.
Sometimes, a tooth falls out in pieces. In this case, locate every fragment you can find. Again, do not touch the root.
2. Rinse the Tooth
Even if the tooth has fallen out onto a surface that appears to be clean, it needs to be rinsed to remove particles of dust and bacteria. If you have saline rinse on hand, use that. Otherwise, use dairy milk or, as a last resort, tap water.
The key here is to rinse, not wash. If you’re using water from the tap, use a small stream of water without a lot of pressure. While rinsing, continue holding the tooth by the crown only. You don’t need to scrub or even rub the tooth; a brief rinse is sufficient.
3. Put the Tooth Back in the Socket
It might make you feel a little bit squeamish, but if you can, insert the tooth back into the socket. In most cases, this shouldn’t cause pain and it’s the best way to protect the tooth until you can get to our office. Make sure it’s facing in the right direction before doing so, and once it’s in, continue to gently bite down on a compress to hold it in place.
4. Protect the Tooth If You Can’t Put It Back
If trying to place the tooth back into the socket is painful or if soft tissue damage makes it impossible, you’ll need to keep the tooth from drying out by placing it in a small cup of milk. It’s not an old wives’ tale––milk really does protect teeth that have been knocked out. It has a similar chemical composition as saliva. When milk isn’t available, place the tooth inside your cheek or spit into a small cup and put the tooth in there.
5. Call Us Right Away
Once you have the situation under control, call us for an emergency appointment. We will see you as soon as possible and do everything we can to save your tooth. A root canal is usually needed, but in most cases, your natural tooth can be put back into place and any soft tissue damage can be repaired.
A Word About Baby Teeth
What happens if a baby tooth is knocked out? When this happens, your primary objectives are to calm the child down and stop any bleeding by using a cool, wet compress, as described above. There’s no need to locate and rinse the tooth that’s been knocked out; primary teeth are not put back in when they come out accidentally. If your child is close to the age when the tooth would fall out naturally, it won’t be replaced. For younger children, a space maintainer is often necessary to keep the space open for the permanent tooth to erupt.
Even though it’s less serious when a baby tooth is knocked out, it’s still important to make an appointment with us so we can assess the damage.
Schedule an Emergency Dental Appointment
If you’ve knocked out a tooth and need to come in for an emergency appointment, contact us at 408-996-8595.
Sensitive teeth are a problem that can cut into your daily life and make eating excruciating. If you have sensitive teeth, your dentist may suggest switching to a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Many manufacturers have a sensitive toothpaste that should help protect and minimize the discomfort of sensitive teeth. However, many people are not convinced that sensitive toothpaste is worth the added cost or effort. If you have sensitive teeth, here is what you need to know about sensitive toothpaste.
They are (Mostly) the Same
One of the first things that you need to know about toothpaste, in general, is that, regardless of the brand or makeup, toothpastes are mostly the same. They all have ingredients that help remove plaque and protect teeth. In fact, there are very few differences between regular toothpaste and sensitive toothpaste. This is why you find reports of sensitive toothpaste not being worth it. A chemical analysis of the two will look very similar.
This leaves many people wondering why you should buy a sensitive toothpaste. In this case, the differences are small but can make a big difference in how the toothpaste helps you manage your dental health. By changing a few ingredients, or their portion sizes, a sensitive toothpaste can give you the relief that you need under the right conditions.
The Key Difference
The key difference between regular and sensitive toothpaste is that sensitive toothpaste has additives that help desensitize or protect the sensitive parts of your teeth. Dentin is the layer under the enamel of your teeth. As the enamel wears away, it exposes the dentin, which is sensitive to touch and temperatures. A sensitive toothpaste has more potassium nitrate in it to restore the enamel by filling it in over time. That way, it will rebuild the protective layer of your teeth so that the dentin is not exposed.
When Sensitive Toothpaste Works
Sensitive toothpaste can help when you have holes in the enamel of your teeth. Since this exposes the sensitive dentin underneath, sensitive toothpaste can rebuild that layer to protect the dentin. In some cases, sensitive toothpaste has fewer ingredients that normally irritate exposed nerves like sugar and abrasives. This also helps avoid irritating exposed sensitive parts of your teeth.
When Sensitive Toothpaste Doesn’t Work
Sensitive toothpaste cannot address other issues that cause tooth pain. For example, a cracked tooth will always be painful regardless of which toothpaste you use. Sensitive toothpaste cannot help with cavities, infected roots, exposed nerves, and damaged teeth. Gum disease is also a common cause of tooth pain, and sensitive toothpaste cannot cure gum disease on its own. These are all conditions that need to be treated by a dentist using a variety of other methods.
Schedule Your Next Regular Dental Visit with Us
If you have continuous tooth pain, then it is time to book an appointment with us. There may be an underlying problem that needs a more comprehensive treatment. Call Dr. Ryan Senft at 408-996-8595 in Cupertino, CA to schedule an appointment.
There are many short-term benefits of visiting the dentist regularly. The patients who see us often usually have brief visits because plaque and tartar haven’t had much of a chance to accumulate. Because regular dental visits are one of the best ways to prevent cavities and gum disease, usually their 6 month exams and cleanings are the only time they need to come to our office. This saves both time and money, a benefit most of our patients appreciate.
Then there are the long-term benefits of your regular dental visits. These are even more important than saving time and money––they could even save your life. Seeing your dentist regularly doesn’t just help your oral health, but your overall well-being too. Dentists can spot signs of serious diseases before you or your doctor even notice them.
Here are the best long-term reasons to never skip a dental check-up.
You’re More Likely to Keep Your Natural Teeth
Research shows a link between the frequency of preventive dental visits and long-term tooth loss. If you want your natural teeth to last well into your golden years, don’t skip your routine dental exams and cleanings. When we see you in our office regularly, we can stop potential problems before they start––and before they require expensive restorative treatments.
Dentists Screen for Oral Cancer
Like all cancers, early detection of oral cancer is critical for the best outcomes. Dentists are trained to identify suspicious tissue and growths that have the potential to be malignant. During your routine dental visit, your dentist will take time to examine your jaw, neck, lips, cheeks, and tongue for sores and other abnormalities. If anything is found during these exams, you will be referred to a specialist for further screening.
Heart Disease and Gum Disease Are Linked
Research is still being done to pinpoint why and how, but what we do know is this: there is a clear link between heart disease and gum disease. People who have gum disease have two to three times the risk of serious cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks. One hypothesis is that gum disease leads to an increase of systemic inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation is a contributing factor to atherosclerosis, which causes cardiovascular issues.
Preventing gum disease is as simple as good oral hygiene practices at home, including flossing and brushing twice a day, and regular dental visits.
Other Signs of Systemic Disease Can Be Spotted by Dentists
Several autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and diabetes, may have oral symptoms before signs appear elsewhere, so regular dental visits can spot these systemic diseases––even if you haven’t experienced any other symptoms.
Schedule Your Next Regular Dental Visit with Us
Whether you’re a brand new patient at our office or we’ve been seeing you for years, there’s no better time to schedule an appointment for a dental cleaning and exam. Contact our Cupertino, CA dental practice to schedule your visit at 408-996-8595.
Aside from vaccinations, there is no public health issue more controversial than fluoride. Fluoride has been added to most public water supplies in the United States for the past 70 years and many of our patients, particularly parents, worry about overexposure when fluoride is in the water we drink, the toothpaste we brush with twice a day, and in the fluoride treatments we get at the dentist.
Here at Ryan Senft, DDS, we adhere to the American Dental Association’s position on fluoride: that it is a safe, effective means of preventing tooth decay in children and adults. That being said, let’s go over some common concerns our patients have about fluoride.
Myth or Fact: Fluoride Is Toxic
Fact. With a caveat: yes, fluoride is toxic, but so are most things in excess.
It’s easy to scare people by labeling things toxic, but just about everything is toxic if the dosage is high enough. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to excess fluoride is a public health concern, but water fluoridation programs are not a cause and the contribution of fluoride-containing dental products to overall fluoride intake is minimal.
When adverse reactions to fluoride overexposure, such as skeletal fluorosis, occur, they are nearly always in areas with naturally high fluoride levels in groundwater, like parts of East Africa and China. The risk of skeletal fluorosis increases when fluoride levels are 6 milligrams per liter or above; the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that municipalities maintain a level of 0.7 milligrams per liter, well below the amount that would prove harmful.
The best way to protect against fluoride toxicity in children is to keep their toothpaste and mouth rinses out of reach–several hundred cases of fluoride toxicity each year involve children eating a large amount of toothpaste or drinking fluoride mouth rinses while unsupervised.
Myth or Fact: Fluoride Damages Teeth Instead of Protecting Them
Myth. Or at least a myth with a little bit of fact thrown into the mix.
Dental fluorosis occurs when children are exposed to too much fluoride; the result is that their adult teeth come in with white spots. These white spots are cosmetic and often barely noticeable.
Cavities are far more damaging to teeth than fluorosis, so the benefits of fluoride outweigh the risk of fluorosis. The American Dental Association calls fluoride ‘nature’s cavity fighter’ because of its ability to strengthen enamel and even reverse early signs of tooth decay.
Myth or Fact: Children Should Not Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Myth. There was a time when the American Dental Association recommended that children under 3 brush their teeth with water instead of toothpaste to protect them against swallowing too much fluoride.
After further research, the ADA reversed this recommendation and instead recommends that children under 3 use an amount of toothpaste equal to the size of a grain of rice, which offers the protection of fluoride without the potential risk of swallowing an excess amount. Always supervise your children while they brush their teeth and don’t leave them with their toothpaste unattended.
Myth or Fact: Fluoride Causes Low IQ in Children
Fact. This is another fact that has been distorted by opponents of municipal water fluoridation programs. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives suggests that prenatal exposure to fluoride can lower children’s IQ scores.
While that may be true, the study was done in Mexico, where naturally occurring fluoride levels are higher in community water and fluoride is also added to salt. The ADA stands by its position that water fluoridation programs in the United States are safe and effective and has concluded that this research is not applicable to the US.
You’ve heard the recommendations. You’ve seen the commercials. Maybe you’ve even had one of our hygienists tell you all about the benefits of upgrading to an electric toothbrush during your last dental cleaning–but you still haven’t taken the leap. In a world full of gadgets and new technologies, it’s easy to see why many of our patients are skeptical about electric toothbrushes. But if there’s one gadget that really does live up to the hype, it’s the electric toothbrush.
It’s not just our team here at Ryan Senft, DDS singing its praises either. There’s an ever-growing body of independent scientific research that shows the benefits of using an electric toothbrush over a manual one. Here are 3 reasons to upgrade to an electric toothbrush today:
Electric Toothbrushes Will Make You a Better Brusher
Most people think of the moving brush head as the biggest reason to make the switch from a manual brush, but electric toothbrushes are superior in other ways too. They have an array of features that enable better brushing habits. While the features will differ depending on the price point you’re looking at, some of our favorites include:
- Built-In Timers. These let you know when your 2 minutes of brushing are up.
- Reminders to Brush Equally on All Sides. Some brushes offer a vibration to remind you to brush each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds.
- Pressure Sensors. You only need a light touch when brushing with an electric toothbrush; if you’re using too much pressure, your brush will let you know when to ease up.
- Reminders when to change brush heads. Because no, you’re not supposed to use the same toothbrush for a year!
You’ll Have Cleaner Teeth with an Electric Toothbrush
Studies in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry, the Journal of the International Society of Preventive and Community Dentistry, and the Journal of Clinical Dentistry all show that patients using electric toothbrushes are able to remove more plaque than patients who use manual toothbrushes. Indeed, most of the research on electronic toothbrushes concerns plaque control and the findings are encouraging.
You really don’t need all of these scientific studies to tell you how clean your teeth will be with an electric toothbrush, though. Just ask anyone you know who uses an electric toothbrush and you won’t be able to get them to stop talking about it–with an electric toothbrush, you’ll have that smooth just-had-a-dental-cleaning feeling every single day. Electric toothbrushes use rotation oscillation and/or vibration to loosen and then brush away plaque, something manual toothbrushes just can’t match.
Target Different Oral Care Needs
You can pick up simple battery-powered electric toothbrushes with features no more complicated than an on and off switch. If your budget allows you to spend a little more, you’ll have a wide array of features to choose from. Electric toothbrush settings can include:
- Whitening
- Sensitive teeth
- Gum health
- Deep cleaning
- Tongue cleaning
The most advanced electric toothbrushes on the market even connect with apps you install on your phone to help you better track your brushing habits. If you’re a tech junkie or oral hygiene fanatic, this might just be the brush for you!
That said, the most important benefit of electric toothbrushes is the vibration and oscillation. Even if you don’t want to spring for the brush with the most bells and whistles, you’ll still see an improvement in oral health from even the most affordable electronic brushes.
Get Our Toothbrush Recommendations
Our staff is always happy to discuss which type of toothbrush is right for you. Feel free to ask us for recommendations during your next dental cleaning and check-up or contact us at 408-996-8595.
Estimated to affect up to 64.8 percent of the population, dry mouth is quite common. It results from an insufficient amount of saliva in the mouth.
The condition, which is formally called xerostomia, can be caused by a number of factors, such as dehydration, medicinal side effects, or smoking. Even stress can impact your salivary production. Although dry mouth may seem like a relatively harmless condition, it can negatively affect the health of your teeth and gums.
Here are a few ways that dry mouth can be detrimental to your oral health.
Increased Likelihood of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay takes place as acid dissolves the minerals that make up the tooth material. As the dissolution occurs, the tooth enamel weakens, and holes, which are called cavities, may begin to form.
The bacteria in the mouth produce acid as a byproduct of their digestive process. Thus, whenever they feed, they release the decay-causing substance.
The mouth’s natural defense against the acid is saliva. The clear liquid, which is produced by the salivary glands, helps to neutralize acids in the mouth. The pH of normal saliva is relatively neutral. Thus, the secretion helps to raise the pH of acids, making them less corrosive.
When too little saliva is produced, the acid remains quite concentrated. As a result, it is more corrosive to the tooth material and can more rapidly incite decay.
Saliva also helps to prevent tooth decay by rinsing away particles of food that may be left in the mouth following a meal or snack. Since these leftovers become the food source of oral bacteria, by eliminating the particles, saliva helps to reduce the amount of acid produced through bacterial digestion.
Increased Likelihood of Gum Disease
Dry mouth can also increase your chance of developing gum disease. Gum disease begins due to inflammation that is often caused by the exposure of the gingival tissues to acid. When gum disease presents, the inflamed tissues may appear red or swollen. Additionally, they may bleed more easily during brushing and flossing sessions. Just as the saliva’s neutralization of acids lessens the likelihood of tooth decay, it may also reduce the occurrence of gum inflammation.
Increased Incidence of Bad Breath
Dry mouth also causes halitosis, which is commonly called bad breath. Halitosis is largely due to the presence of oral bacteria in the mouth. Many of these microbes live on the tongue, where they produce volatile sulfur compounds. The malodorous gasses are released in the mouth and subsequently into the atmosphere as the mouth is opened.
Normal levels of saliva help rinse away oral bacteria, lowering the number of smelly microbes in the oral cavity. However, when too little saliva is present, there may be an overgrowth of odor-causing bacteria, resulting in halitosis. Saliva also helps remove leftover bits of food from the mouth before they start to rot and emit a foul odor.
Increased Accumulations of Tartar
Tartar develops as plaque that is allowed to remain undisturbed for lengthy periods. The tartar is actually plaque that has hardened in position.
Plaque is a sticky mixture of oral microbes and food particles. The components that comprise the plaque are rinsed away when sufficient amounts of saliva are present in the oral cavity. However, plaque production that results in tartar development may remain unchecked when an insufficient amount of saliva is available.
If you are suffering from dry mouth, contact Ryan Senft, DDS at 408-996-8595 to schedule an appointment.
Approximately half of American adults suffer from gum disease. In the condition’s earliest stage, which is called gingivitis, relatively minor symptoms, such as gingival reddening and swelling, may present. However, as the condition worsens, so do the symptoms.
Periodontitis is a serious form of gum disease that includes the formation of pockets, or spaces, between the gums and the teeth. These pockets incite an accumulation of bacteria-filled plaque and tartar that could lead to gingival infections. The deeper the pockets, the more severe the condition.
In some instances, an infection of the gums can spread to the bone of the jaw, causing additional complications. Bone infections may result in jawbone atrophy, leading to the loosening and eventual loss of the teeth. In addition, the infection-causing oral bacteria, which may enter the bloodstream, are linked to other conditions, such as heart disease and dementia.
If you have been diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, your dental provider is likely to prescribe a dental scaling and root planing procedure. Here is a bit of information about this treatment to help you better understand it.
Why Are Dental Scaling and Root Planing Needed?
In order to help the diseased gums to heal, the dentist must treat the source of the inflammation. A primary cause of gum inflammation is the gums’ exposure to bacterial acids that irritate the sensitive tissues. As the microbes in the mouth feed on available carbohydrates, they release acids as digestive waste products.
The pockets in the gums, which develop as the gums pull away from the teeth, may trap bacteria, allowing them to accumulate and produce increasing amounts of inflammatory acid. If the plaque and tartar that contain the microbes are not removed, the acid production continues, and the state of the gums may steadily deteriorate.
The gums are also inflamed by their contact with rough or abrasive surfaces. When plaque is allowed to remain in the same position, undisturbed, it begins to harden. The hardened plaque, which is called tartar, is a porous, hard substance that is not smooth to the touch. Dental scaling and root planing smooth the rough surfaces of the tooth material to help alleviate the gingival inflammation.
What Happens During a Dental Scaling and Root Planing Treatment?
The dental scaling and root planing procedure is a two-part, deep-cleaning process. The scaling involves the scraping away of tartar and plaque from the tooth material, above and below the gum line. As the dentist performs the procedure, the pockets or spaces that have developed between the teeth and gums are cleared of debris. The root planing is the smoothing of the roots of the teeth to promote the reattachment of the gums.
What Should You Expect After Dental Scaling and Root Planing?
After a scaling and root planing procedure, you can expect your gums to heal quickly. You may notice that your gums appear tighter and less red as the swelling and irritation dissipates.
For a few hours to a couple of days following your procedure, you may experience mild discomfort, and your teeth may be a bit more sensitive to heat and cold. Nevertheless, any uncomfortable sensations usually subside rapidly.
If you are concerned about the health of your gums, contact Ryan Senft, DDS at 408-996-8595 to schedule a consultation.
When you are a new patient at a dentist’s office, the first step is usually to schedule an initial consultation. A consultation is basically an evaluation of the current condition of your teeth. If you haven’t seen a dentist in a while, you may be worried or embarrassed about the current state of your teeth.
A good dentist won’t be judgmental or make you feel bad about your current dental health. He or she simply wants to help restore your teeth to the best possible condition, improving your health and well-being. But if you’re still feeling a little uncomfortable about that first appointment, it may help to know what to expect. Here’s what happens during a typical new patient dental consultation.
Paperwork
Anytime you visit a new office, you’ll be required to fill out some paperwork. They’ll want to know basic things like your name and address, as well as your health and dental history. Be sure to bring your insurance card with you if you have dental insurance. If you are transferring from a previous dentist’s office, call and request that your records be sent to the new office.
Dental Examination
Next, you’ll be called back to an examination room for a dental exam. A dental hygienist often performs the basic examination, making notes for the dentist. Your teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw bone will be evaluated, looking for things like cavities, enamel erosion, and receding gums. The dentist will then perform a more thorough examination, also making notes in your file (most likely on a computer or tablet).
It’s important for your dentist to establish a baseline of your current dental health in order to make decisions about further treatment. If you are in need of fillings, crowns, implants, or other dental procedures, your dentist may prioritize needed work based on urgency.
X-Rays
You can expect to have x-rays made of your teeth during that first visit. X-rays are another tool to gain information about your current dental health. The images show things that can’t be seen by the naked eye. For example, dark, shadowy areas in your teeth suggest cavities. The health of your jawbones can also be evaluated through x-ray images, which is a key factor when making decisions about the possibility of implants.
Conversation Between You and Your Dentist
Your dentist will want to know what you hope to gain through dental treatment. Are you looking for better oral health? Do you hope to improve your appearance through teeth straightening, whitening, or other cosmetic dentistry? Your dentist will want to know why you are seeking dental care, and it’s best for you to be as honest as possible so that you are both on the same page and working toward the same goals.
Making a Plan for Further Treatment
Taking into consideration the results of your examination and x-rays, as well as your dental goals, your dentist will formulate a treatment plan. This is an outline of the best course of action and the necessary steps to get the desired results. In some cases, the next steps may just be regular exams and cleanings. If you need more in-depth dental procedures, you may be scheduled for additional appointments.
Looking for a New Dentist?
Dr. Ryan Senft, DDS, provides advanced comprehensive dentistry in Cupertino, CA and the surrounding area. Contact us today to schedule your consultation: 408-996-8595.
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a chronic medical condition that causes sufferers to stop breathing for short periods during the night. It is relatively common, affecting an estimated 18 to 30 million adults in the United States, but it can be dangerous. Sleep apnea raises the risks for other health conditions and can even cause sudden death.
Snoring is one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea, yet snoring can also be caused by a myriad of factors including allergies, colds, and even the shape of your sinuses. Here is what you should know about snoring and sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Besides snoring, sleep apnea can cause a variety of symptoms. Each person is different, so you may or may not experience these common signs:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Nighttime teeth grinding
- Noticeable pauses in breathing during sleep
If your symptoms are mild, they may be nearly unnoticeable or easily chalked up to simply getting a poor night’s sleep. People with worse symptoms often report a feeling of drowning when waking during the night or a sense that they are physically unable to stay awake during the day.
Sleep Study
A sleep study is the only way to get a definite diagnosis of sleep apnea. These are traditionally held in medical sleep labs. You will arrive between 8 and 9 p.m. to check in and change into your sleeping attire.
You will then be hooked up to a variety of wires, including electrodes, to track your movements and sleep stages, an EKG to monitor your heart rate, an oxygen sensor on your finger and a nasal monitor to track your breathing. You may also have elastic bands around your stomach and chest to monitor your breathing effort and a microphone at your throat to check for snoring.
You will sleep in a hospital bed until 6 or 7 a.m., and then be awakened, disconnected, and allowed to shower and change. Your physician will schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss your results.
Home Sleep Tests
Though sleep labs try to make patients comfortable, they are not the most pleasant places to spend the night. Increasingly, physicians are ordering home sleep tests when possible instead. You will receive a small handheld monitoring system that is about the same size as a telephone handset. Following the provided instructions, you will connect the monitoring devices before you go to sleep and leave them on overnight. You will not have the electrodes that are used in sleep labs.
You may need to use the equipment for up to three nights. When you are finished, you will return the device to the coordinating office, get your results, and share them with your dentist.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
The traditional treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. However, many people struggle to breathe normally with the machine. Others find the bulky equipment and elaborate setup difficult to manage, especially when traveling.
There are other variations on the CPAP machine, but patients and dentists are increasingly turning to the sleep apnea mouthguard instead. These small, easy to carry devices look similar to sports mouthguards, but they are carefully designed to pull the lower jaw forward and prevent overnight airway collapse. Though no single treatment is right for everyone, it is worth asking your dentist if this is the right solution for you.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start your journey to better oral health with a Cupertino dentist you can trust, contact Ryan Senft, DDS today at 408-996-8595 to schedule your first appointment.
