Davie Sleep Apnea Dentist on the Health Effects of Snoring

How Snoring Can Be an Indicator of Serious Health Issues—Davie Sleep Apnea Dentist Explains

Loud snoring can be more than a nocturnal annoyance.  It can be an audible alarm that a potentially dangerous, even deadly health condition exists.  Snoring can cause sleep deprivation for both the person snoring and those who are sleeping along with them. There is also a strong correlation between snoring and the increased risk of more serious health conditions like:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Carotid artery atherosclerosis
• Brain damage

The medical community has clinical evidence that most people who snore have some level of a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Snoring is much more than an annoyance. If your partner complains of your frequent loud snoring or if you find yourself waking up gasping for air, you need to be evaluated for your risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea and How is it Treated?

Essentially OAS is caused when the soft tissue at the back of your throat relaxes and partially collapses cutting off the airway. In fact the "snoring sound" is caused by the vibration of this relaxed tissue as you unconsciously try to force air in and out of the airway. Cutting off the airway interrupts the supply of oxygen to both the brain and heart not to mention the other organs in your body. This oxygen deprivation is at the heart of the threat that OSA presents.

While some cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be "cured" surgically, most are "treated" by creating space between the soft pallet and the tongue keeping the airway open and preventing snoring. The two most common therapies are:

• Dental appliances. These are customized devices that fit over your teeth and slightly adjust the position of the jaw. They allow for normal speech, sipping water and are extremely effective and well tolerated by patients.
• CPAC. This system works by providing a steady stream of air under pressure while the patient sleeps. The airway is kept open through the force of the air. CPAC requires that the patient wear a mask connected to a hose connected to an electric pump. It is not well tolerated and most patients abandon it after 30 days.

See a Trained Weston Dentist or Sleep Disorder Specialist

Not surprisingly, a dentist like Dr. Pyle who is trained in identifying sleep apnea can be the first healthcare provider who spots the symptoms while performing a routine dental exam. Dr. Pyle refers his patients to a sleep disorder M.D. for diagnosis and then works closely with that doctor to craft a custom dental appliance for the patient.

If you believe you or a partner may have OSA we would encourage you to call our Weston office today and schedule an exam with Dr. Pyle.

Weston Sleep Apnea Dentist on Getting Your Husband to Stop Snoring

Weston Dentist Explains How to Get Your Husband to Stop Snoring at Night 

If your husband's snoring is becoming a serious domestic issue, you need to arrange an appointment with Dr. Stephen J. Pyle DDS, Weston's snoring specialist. We all snore occasionally. Head colds, allergies and sinus problems can make all of us instant mouth breathers when we sleep and snoring can be a normal result of a blocked nasal passage.

But if your husband:

• Snores regularly and loudly
• Stops breathing for short periods of time
• Wakes up gasping for air
• Feels drowsy when he gets up in the morning and becomes easily fatigued during the day

Your husband may be suffering from a serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea occurs when the airway is blocked by collapsed soft tissue and/or the tongue. It cuts off oxygen to the brain and can lead to stroke, heart attack and even diabetes. As difficult as life has become for you thanks to his sleep interrupting snoring, your husband may be at serious risk.

See a Weston Dentist for Snoring?

That's not as counterintuitive as it sounds. A dentist who has been trained to identify the symptoms in the mouth and throat is in an excellent position to determine the risk during a routine dental exam. A dentist cannot diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but he can refer you to a sleep disorder specialist.

Treatment of OSA has traditionally been a forced air system called CPAP. This is a machine that forces air down the throat keeping the airway open. It sends the forced air via a hose to a mask the patient wears at night. If you thought his snoring was disturbing, wait until he climbs into bed with a mask and hose.

The second treatment is a dental appliance, a far more natural treatment available from Dr. Pyle's practice. The custom made appliance fits in the mouth and slightly repositions the jaw. Wearing the appliance does not impede speech and even allows drinking of liquids. This therapy, understandably, has a much higher acceptance rate by patients than the CPAP system.

While snoring sounds innocuous we know the stress it can cause in a relationship. When neither partner is getting sufficient sleep spats and disagreements are almost inevitable. However, if the snoring is caused by sleep apnea there is a relatively easy fix.

If you think your husband may be suffering from sleep apnea, call our Weston dental office today and arrange an evaluation.

Weston TMJ Dentist on How to Stop Clenching & Grinding Your Teeth

5 Ways to Stop Clenching & Grinding Your Teeth

Clenching and grinding your teeth (bruxism) at night can not only result in jaw pain and damaged teeth but could be indicative of other problems that only a Weston dentist trained in TMJ can identify. If you are constantly waking up with a sore jaw or what you believe to be an ear ache you should call our office and arrange for an evaluation.

Clenching and grinding teeth during the day is often caused by psychological reasons. For example grinding or clenching teeth is a common coping mechanism among children to help tem focus on a problem. However, grinding teeth at night may be caused by a medical problem including obstructive sleep apnea, acid reflux, abnormal alignment of upper or lower teeth and needs to be evaluated and treated by a trained dentist or sleep disorder specialist.

When to Visit a Dentist or Sleep Disorder Specialist

Often times people will grind or clench their teeth without even being aware that they are doing it. Grinding takes some time before there will be physical evidence of a problem so it may not be picked up in a regular dental exam unless you mention soreness in your jaw or other symptoms.

However, you know it's time to visit the dentist when:

• Your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive
• You have pain in your jaw, face or ear
• Others complain that you make a grinding noise while you sleep
• You have a locked jaw that won't open or close completely
• You have frequent dull headaches that seem to be originating from your temples
• You detect damage to the tissue inside your mouth from biting

At your dental visit the dentist will do an exam but also ask numerous questions regarding stress issues in your life and medications you currently use. Once a diagnosis has been made there are multiple treatments including these 5:

1. Mouth guard that is worn at night that prevents contact between upper and lower teeth
2. Dental correction which may include reshaping chewing surfaces by use of crowns
3. Referral to stress management
4. Referral to a biofeedback programs
5. Referral to a sleep disorder specialist who may prescribe muscle relaxants

Clenching and grinding is more than an annoying habit. Aside from the facial pain involved, over time it can cause serious damage to the way you chew. If you believe it's time to have an evaluation, call us today and arrange an appointment!

Weston’s Top Kids Dentist Offer Tips on Your Child’s 1st Visit

Tips on Your Child’s 1st Dental Visit From Weston’s Top Kids Dentist

"Getting it right" starts with a kid's parents. The world of a small child revolves around the home because that's where mom and dad live, that's where he or she feels safe, and that's where they know they can satisfy their basic needs for food, attention and love. Small kids trust their parents and usually try to emulate them.

Take it from a Weston Dentist with nearly 30 years of experience providing dental care for kids; your child's first dental visit is an important event that will influence her or his oral health for the rest of their lives. Getting it right the first time is far easier than trying to correct any negative perception a child might develop about a "trip to the dentist."

It's important to use that trust to prep a child for their first experience at the dental office.

The Role of the Parent and the Role of the Dentist

The primary responsibility for having a successful first visit belongs to the dentist. He or she needs to provide the parents with the information needed to prepare the child in a way that helps to eliminate the anxiety that children feel with any new experience. At our Weston dental office I often recommend:

• Make a game out of counting teeth. Start this at least 6 months before the exam. You count the child's teeth with your fingers and then let the child count yours. Do this on a fairly regular basis to get the child accustomed to having fingers in their mouth touching teeth.
• When it's time for the parent to have an exam, tell the child that the dentist is going to "count" the parent's teeth to make sure they are safe and healthy. Take the child on the appointment and introduce him or her to the staff and the dentist. This visit becomes the child's "first experience" with the dentist and it is a positive one. When it's time for the child to get their own exam they will be going to have their teeth counted just like mom and dad do.
• The dentist will do little more than a quick exam of the child's teeth and gums. The idea of this first "real" visit s to build trust. A good pediatric dentist understands that at this stage psychology is just as important as any treatment.

Starting out correctly puts a positive spin on oral health and that's exceptionally important in building good oral hygiene habits that will follow them the rest of their lives.

If you have a toddler ready for a dental exam, call our dental office in Weston and speak with a friendly technician on how to start preparing your kid for their first dentist visit.

This blog post was originally published here: http://firstwestondentist.com/dr-pyles-blog

Weston Dentist Explains Cerec Computer Aided Restorations

Weston Dentist Explains What You Need to Know About Cerec Computer Aided Restorations

Cerec™ is the unique CAD/CAM system that allows patients to receive ceramic restorations in just one visit. These computer-aided restorations include inlays, onlays, veneers and crowns. It’s the most used dental CAD/CAM system worldwide. Cerec allows us creates high aesthetic metal free restorations without the need for impressions or temporaries.

The process starts with a 3D scan of the teeth. By simply gliding the camera over the teeth a full color 3D model of the teeth is generated. The Cerec software allows us to design a restoration quickly and easily without compromising precision and beauty. The dentist then simply fabricates the restoration using a ceramic block. After finalizing it, it’s then seated in the patient’s mouth.

Here are some of the reasons we offer this revolutionary system to our patients:

• Same day restorations
• It allows us to save more of the healthy tooth tissue
• The porcelain materials are chemically bonded to your tooth
• They can be custom stained to match your other teeth.
• The pure ceramic porcelain used is stronger than normal porcelain and are less likely to ever break
• Often a partial coverage restoration (inlay or onlay) can be completed instead of needing a full crown.

If you’re looking for a Weston Dentist that offers family and cosmetic dentistry then make an appointment with us today.

CEREC^® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems.

Dental Insurance Weston Dentist | Dental Practice in Weston

What You Need to Know About Dental Insurance to Start the New Year From Weston First Dentist 

It's the start of a new year and Dr. Stephen J. Pyle DDS, the first dentist to establish a dental practice in Weston, suggests that now is a good time to review your dental insurance plan. Dental insurance policies come with a benefit period (usually January through December) that defines the benefits that can be paid during a 12-month period.

Typically dental plans offer generous benefits for 2 preventive dental visits each year covering 80% to 100% of the cost. Preventive visits include regular exams, cleanings, sealants and x-rays. The insurance companies are no fools. They know that regular dental exams prevent more costly procedures like fillings, root canals, extractions and implants. The more healthy their insureds are the less thy have to pay out.

The truth of the matter is your annual dental insurance premium is significantly greater than the cost of 2 routine dental exams. You stay healthy and they make money. They make even more money if you miss one of those dental exams during the 12-month benefit period.

When your oral health requires more advanced treatment don't be surprised when your dental insurance only picks up 50% to 80%. They are generous with their preventive benefits but not so much when it comes to advanced care.

Reviewing Your Dental Insurance Plan Now Minimizes Surprises in the Future

Let's make this year the year you maximize the benefit of the premium dollars you invest. Planning for those things that can be planned for will help manage your household cash flow. Here's where you need to start:

• Understand your dental insurance policy. Take the time to learn the ends and outs of your policy including maximum benefit for 12 months, coinsurance rates for different classes of service, and any limitations on your choice of dentist and claims procedures.
• Budget for medical expenses. If your employer has a Cafeteria Plan (and most do) you can reduce your taxable income and save on employment taxes by having your employer withhold a budgeted amount each paycheck to place in your "cafeteria account." These funds can be used to reimburse you for almost any medical expense (excluding over the counter drugs) you incur during the year. Braces for the kids or Lasik eye surgery are popular "cafeteria" projects. Just make certain that you use your account up within the benefit period otherwise you lose any remaining balance.
• Plan now for dental exams. It is not too early to flag a date for each person in the family to get their preventive exams. Your dentist may or may not accept appointments that far in the future but the important thing are you have a reminder set to ensure everyone gets their exams. Keep in mind that the "busy season" for most dental offices is October through January as patients try to meet their benefit period requirements.

Like health insurance, dental insurance can be confusing to understand unless you work with it every day. If you are a patient of Dr. Pyle's feel free to call the office and we will be happy to answer your questions.

TMJ Weston Dentist Explains Signs and Symptoms

Weston’s First Dental Practice Explains the Signs You May Have TMJ

TMJ is a disorder that can cause pain in the muscles and joints around the jaw. In the majority of cases, the pain can be relieved through a combination of nonsurgical treatment and self-managed care.

Here are a few common symptoms of TMJ to look for:

• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth due to the locking of your jaw
• Pain in your jaw
• Discomfort from chewing
• Facial pain
• Pain in and around your ears
• Clicking when opening and closing your mouth
• Inability to open or close you mouth completely

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should seek medical evaluation from a Dentist or TMJ specialist.

Call our Weston Dental practice today for an evaluation at (954) 894-7953.