Our Denver Dental Blog

If you or someone you know has always wanted to whiten their teeth professionally, contact us today because we have a special offer just for you that has just been extended through the end of 2010. Book your teeth whitening appointment by December 31, 2010, and you’ll get professional teeth whitening for only $199!

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Heidi Clark, her face swollen from surgery, embraces her daughter Marisa in 2000. Image from JSOnline.com.

With some treatments for common disorders today, there are times when the treatments backfire and cause more problems that what originally existed. Take for instance jaw implants surgery, a surgery used to treat TMJ since the 1980s. In the 1980s, the surgery was done by only a handful of doctors but the fact remained that there was no oversight of the surgery. No health or federal agency had to approve of it. Once approval was needed, jaw implants came under a lot of scrutiny for their failure and complication rates. The biggest problem is that people complained the jaw implants only make them hurt more. Also some have had to face disfiguration and scars forever (See this tragic jaw implant surgery story).

The fact is that not everything works for everyone and the same stands true for jaw implants. Those people who did receive the implants may or may not have their TMJ treated properly. Many times this takes the effort and skill of a professional dentist who is well aware of the intricacies of TMJ treatment.

With something so invasive and not well-researched, jaw implants should really be the last resort for those people who can’t find treatment for their TMJ through some other method. Keep this in mind as you try to figure out a way to treat your TMJ so that you are no longer living with daily migraines, jaw pains, and other symptoms. A very common treatment is a neuromuscular orthotic. For TMJ treatment that is proven and professional, consult Dr. Kevin Berry. He offers several different types of treatment after using the K7 system to diagnose exactly where your bite is wrong.

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If you’re an athlete in a constant search for ways to improve your game, the Pure Power Mouthguard may just be what you’re looking for. The PPM mouthguard is growing quickly in popularity among football players, both amateur and professional players alike. The 2010 Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints had the advantage of being outfitted with PPM mouthguards.

The PPM works by bringing the jaw into a neuromuscularly balanced position that opens the airway and gives the athlete increased balance and agility. This improved ability was there all along, but was hindered by the imbalance in the athlete’s TMJ system.

Dr. Berry outfitted Nate Jones of the Denver Broncos with a PPM appliance.

If you’re interested in boosting your football game performance, contact Dr. Berry today.

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If you’re suffering from jaw pain, there could be a number of causes, but one of the most common causes is TMJ Disorder. Why does TMJ cause jaw pain? It has to do with what is called “occlusion”, that is, how your teeth come together. You see, your jaw muscles need to rest just like any other muscle in your body, but if your jaw can’t come into the right restful position because the shape and/or position of your teeth don’t allow it, then your muscles become fatigued and sore. Mal-occlusion can even cause wear and tear on the TMJ’s (temporomandibular joint) cartilage, causing permanent damage that can require surgical intervention. If you’re suffering from jaw pain, the worst thing that you can do is ignore it. If you’re in the Denver area, contact us right away for a TMJ consultation.

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Of course, you want to have your two from teeth, but what if you HAVE your two front teeth, but you’re afraid to show them off because they’re stained or crooked? Dr. Berry can help. Your stains might be from your favorite beverage or from smoking or from tetracycline. Whatever the cause, we have ways of brightening your smile. For minor to medium and even some heavy stains, we offer Zoom! Teeth Whitening, an in-office, 1-hour teeth whitening system that removes stains with a light-activate whitening agent. The treatment also includes take-home touch-up treatments to keep your smile looking fantastic. For tougher stains, and especially when discoloration is accompanied by crooked or chipped teeth, we offer porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are like teeth crowns in that they are placed on top of your natural tooth structure, but veneers are typically thinner, and only cover the front face of the tooth to give it a new look. Think of it as a home remodel but for your smile. Just in time for the holidays, the Denver Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is offering a tooth whitening special. Get your tooth whitening procedure for just $199 when you book it by December 15^th 2010!

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Dentists Against Drowsy Driving

Overview

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) established “Dentists Against Drowsy Driving” to raise awareness among healthcare communities and the public about the dangers of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This sleep disorder has alarming healthcare and economic risks and requires attention.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common symptom of OSA. It can increase a person’s risk for deadly motor vehicle accidents by 15 times.

Motor vehicle accidents due to “drowsy driving” account for $48 billion in medical costs each year. Sleepiness in today’s workplace causes another $150 billion in lost productivity and mistakes.

Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Current legislation recommends that commercial drivers get screened and treated for sleep apnea. But there are many non-commercial drivers who do not know that they have OSA.

Sleep apnea can cause hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and sudden death during sleep. OSA increases one’s risk for diabetes, obesity, and depression. It can also cause memory problems, morning headaches, irritability, decreased libido, and impaired concentration.

According to a 2006 report released by the Institute of Medicine, 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 18 million Americans have OSA. Unfortunately, 80 to 90 percent of these people are undiagnosed and untreated.

We ask that you read the following information. If the risk factors or warning signs sound familiar, a sleep specialist can test you for sleep apnea. Once diagnosed, sleep apnea may be easily treated .

Help protect yourself, your loved ones and your fellow travelers.

Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

OSA, like snoring and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), is a sleep-related breathing disorder (SBD). Snoring and UARS occur when the airway is partially constricted. The snoring sound is a result of a collapsed airway. The reduced size of the opening causes the tissues to vibrate, producing the sound.

OSA occurs when the airway partially or completely collapses for 10 to 30 seconds, sometimes for a minute or longer. These collapses can happen hundreds of times a night, reducing a person’s blood-oxygen levels.

When a collapse occurs, the brain wakes the person up to breathe, though they may not know it. This fragmented sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness.

Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea. But not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. According to the AASM, habitual snoring affects an estimated 24 percent of adult women and 40 percent of adult men. Approximately one-half of people who snore loudly have sleep apnea. OSA patients often make choking or gasping sounds when they wake up to breathe. This noise can help spouses recognize a breathing problem.

Anyone can have a SBD. Risk factors include obesity, large neck sizes, alcohol, tobacco smoke, and Down Syndrome. Risk increases with age and weight. OSA is more common in men.

Diagnostic testing

OSA is diagnosed by overnight polysomnography. This test is also known as a sleep study. It is performed by a sleep physician at a sleep center.

The study measures a person’s Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) using electrodes. An AHI is the average number of partial and complete breaks in breathing that occur per hour of sleep.

Different AHI indicate different levels of sleep apnea:

Mild OSA: AHI of 5-15

Moderate OSA: AHI of 15-30

Severe OSA: AHI of more than 30

Dentists are not permitted to diagnose sleep apnea. But they can help screen patients for this serious condition. Dentists see patients on a regular basis, so they can provide questionnaires and advise at-risk patients to visit a sleep center.

More than 180,000 dentists practice in the U.S. Given their large numbers, dentists can help respond to the serious risks of untreated OSA.

Many AADSM members already work with physicians and sleep specialists as part of sleep medicine teams. The AADSM helps educate its members with courses, peer-reviewed journals, and study clubs.

Oral Appliance Therapy and Other Treatments

Members of the AADSM have pioneered the scientific research and clinical development of dental sleep medicine (DSM). DSM is the focus of dentistry that addresses OSA. Oral appliance therapy (OAT) and upper-airway surgery are two ways dentists can treat sleep apnea.

OAT includes the selection, fabrication, fitting, and long-term follow-up care of custom-designed oral devices. These appliances are worn during sleep to move the lower jaw and tongue forward, opening the person’s airway. They look similar to sports mouth guards.

Every OSA patient has specific needs. Dentists are trained to select which oral appliance is right for his or her patient and adjust it for the best results. A dentist will continue to monitor a patient’s treatment and may ask the patient to go for a follow-up sleep study to ensure that the therapy is working.

OAT is a safe and effective alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). While CPAP is the gold standard of OSA treatment, up to 50 percent of OSA patients cannot tolerate it.

Oral Appliance Therapy is indicated as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate OSA (Sleep 2006:29;240-243).

OAT should be performed by a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine.

OAT may be combined with CPAP. It can also be used with behavioral therapy to treat sleep apnea. Behavior therapy may involve sleeping on one’s side, quitting smoking, losing weight, or avoiding alcohol.

Upper-airway surgery can also be an effective treatment for some, but not all OSA patients. Dentists specializing in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery perform it. Learn more about surgical options here.

via American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

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REM Sleep-Related OSA Linked With Diabetes – Diabetes | Symptoms | Diet | Type 2 – FOXNews.com.

Type 2 Diabetes and sleep apnea are associated…read the article in this link to find out more.  To find out if you are at risk for Sleep Apnea or think you might have sleep apnea, call Dr. Berry for a consultation.

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Graymark Healthcare recently penned a deal with Walgreens, selling their pharmacies to Walgreens and choosing to focus on their sleep apnea treatment centers. Graymark Healthcare focuses on treating sleep apnea with CPAP treatment. CPAP treats sleep apnea by blowing pressurized air into a patient’s airway via a mask and a tube hooked up to an air pump. More than half of sleep apnea patients who try CPAP can’t tolerate it. So, while CPAP is considered to be the “gold standard” in sleep apnea treatment, it is 100% ineffective if the patient doesn’t use it. Oral sleep apnea appliances have a much higher treatment compliance rate with patients. They work by repositioning the jaw in such a way as to open the airway. Patients much more readily accept a simple “piece of plastic” that feels similarly to wearing a nightguard or mouthguard.

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Do people tell you that you grind your teeth? Teeth grinding (called bruxism) is a symptom of a neuromuscularly imbalanced bite. Your jaw is trying to find the right position for it to be in so that the muscles can rest, so, unconsciously, you grind your teeth around to get there. Grinding your teeth doesn’t just make a nasty noise. It comes along with sore, overworked jaw muscles, and teeth that are worn down:

If you grind your teeth, and you live in Denver, come see Dr. Berry ASAP to find out if your grinding is caused by TMJ Disorder. He can help.

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61%! That’s the rise in the number of veterans who are now receiving disability benefits for a sleeping disorder over the past two years. Tax payers now spend over $500 million on treating Veterans with sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders.

According to Max Hirshkowitz, director of the Sleep Disorder Center at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans actually four times as likely than the average American to have sleep apnea. Only about 5% of Americans have sleep apnea, compared to 20% of veterans. Unfortunately, both of those numbers are probably a lot higher, but because more physicians don’t screen for sleep apnea, most sleep apnea cases go untreated.

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