Filed under: Sleep Apnea & Snoring | Tags: Beth Snyder DMD, Doylestown, oral appliance therapy, sleep apnea, snoring
A new study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity reports that people sleep much better and feel more alert during the day if they get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week. That’s just 30 minutes for five days a week. The researchers looked at daytime sleepiness among exercisers vs. non-exercisers. After controlling for age, weight, health status, smoking and depression the group that exercised according to the guidelines felt sleepy 65% less often than the couch potato group. The report did not specify if sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea were looked at as a cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Obstructive sleep apnea can cause more than daytime fatigue. Because the sleep apnea sufferer stops breathing during sleep, the body is deprived of oxygen. Sleep apnea has been linked to heart disease, stroke, weight gain and increased risk of accident due to fatigue. Signs you might have obstructive sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping during sleep, large neck size and excessive daytime sleepiness. The gold standard for treating sleep apnea is CPAP but many patients find sleeping with the masks and tubes difficult and stop using their machine.
For those patients who are CPAP intolerant another choice is available. Oral appliance therapy treats your sleep apnea by using a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is worn during sleep and gently moves the lower jaw forward which keeps the airway open during sleep. Most patients find sleeping with an oral appliance very comfortable.
If you are CPAP intolerant or if you think you may suffer from sleep apnea and have not been diagnosed please contact Dr. Beth Snyder in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922. A good night’s sleep is essential for our overall health, don’t delay.
Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening | Tags: Beth Snyder DMD, crowns, Invisalign, tooth whitening, veneers
Red lipstick is showing up in all the fashion magazines and on the red carpet. Are you going to brave the red trend? Some women avoid wearing bright lip colors because they don’t want to draw attention to their smile.
I know people who spent years avoiding laughing or smiling in public because they were so unhappy with the appearance of their teeth. Having a cosmetic dental makeover can be truly life-changing for our patients. The freedom to grin, no matter who is looking, is truly powerful.
What’s your reason for not highlighting your smile? If your teeth are yellow or dingy a smile tooth whitening using Zoom! can have your teeth shades whiter in just about an hour. Crooked teeth can be straightened using Invisalign which is nearly invisible when worn and easily removable for eating and cleaning.
Dental veneers and crowns can be used to correct crooked, crowded, discolored or misshapen teeth almost instantly! You can have your perfect smile in just a couple of visits and then head to the mall to pick up that perfect shade of red lipstick!
To schedule your consultation to see how cosmetic dentistry can change your smile please contact Bucks County cosmetic dentist Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 today.
Filed under: Oral Health | Tags: bacteria, Beth Snyder DMD, gums, hygiene
Do you want to reduce your risk of heart attack by one-quarter without having to change your diet or spend more time exercising? Try getting your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular basis!
Researchers from Taiwan reported this week that people who had their teeth professionally scaled (cleaned) at least twice a year had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not visit the dentist. Drs. Emily Chen and Hsin-Bang Leu looked at data on over 51,000 adults who had their teeth professionally cleaned and compared them to people who had never had their teeth cleaned. “Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year” said Dr. Chen. She suggested that having a dental cleaning removes inflammation-causing bacteria that can lead to heart disease.
The bacteria associated with periodontal disease has previously been linked to heart disease and this study shows just how big the effect on heart health can be. To keep your smile in optimal health requires good home care (brushing and flossing) and regular visits to your dental hygienist. Home care cannot remove all of the bacteria that live below the gum line so a visit every six months is needed for those with healthy gums. If you have periodontal disease then your recall visits will scheduled more frequently.
Appointments are filling fast since we are quickly approaching the end of the year. Contact the office of Dr. Beth Snyder conveniently located in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922 today to schedule your visit.
Filed under: Sleep Apnea & Snoring | Tags: Doylestown, obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy
Can untreated obstructive sleep apnea affect your brain? A study published last year found reduced amounts of brain “gray matter” in multiple areas of the brains of patients suffering from severe sleep apnea. This study suggested that many of the problems that go along with untreated sleep apnea: memory loss, heart disturbances, breathing and blood pressure issues may be linked to these changes in the brain.
“Gray matter” refers to the cerebral cortex of the brain, where most of the processing takes place. Seung Bong Hong, MD, PhD of the University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea said the study emphasizes the importance of diagnosing and effectively treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
“Poor sleep quality and progressive brain damage induced by OSA could be responsible for poor memory, emotional problems decreased cognitive functioning and increased cardiovascular disturbances. Dr. Hong suggested that treatment of OSA could stop further progression of brain damage in patients with severe OSA. While the optimal treatment for severe OSA is the CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure – many patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the CPAP machine. Oral appliance therapy is an alternative that is fully endorsed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as an appropriate first line therapy for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. More severe sleep apnea sufferers who cannot use CPAP may also benefit.
If you have been told that your snore loudly, if you are sleepy during the day and especially if you wake up gasping for breath or choking, please contact our Doylestown, PA office and arrange a consultation to speak to Dr. Beth Snyder about a better approach to diagnosing and treating your condition.
Filed under: Sleep Apnea & Snoring | Tags: oral appliance therapy, OSA, sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea may be more dangerous for middle aged patients.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which people stop breathing during sleep. Patients suffering from OSA range in age from children to the elderly and can develop at any age. A study published in the journal CHEST found that OSA may have more of an effect on the health of those who develop the condition during middle age as opposed to those who develop the problem when they are older.
The study looked at two groups of patients – one group that developed OSA before they turned 50 and another group that developed OSA at 60 years of age or older. The researchers looked at sleep study results, daytime sleepiness and treatment outcomes.
The results showed that the group that developed OSA before age 50 had more underlying heart disease and had a higher body mass index. Weight gain and heart disease are common results of untreated obstructive sleep apnea. The older group also required lower CPAP levels for treatment and reported less daytime sleepiness.
Whatever the age, OSA is a dangerous disease that requires treatment. Many patients cannot tolerate the most commonly prescribed treatment – the CPAP machine. Oral appliance therapy for OSA, on the other hand, is effective and has been proven to have a much higher level of patient compliance over the long run. Oral appliance therapy involves a custom fitted device that is worn while you sleep. The appliance is designed to keep your airway open and stable, allowing you a restful, refreshing night’s sleep.
If you suspect you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, snore loudly at night or have already been diagnosed and are seeking an effective treatment contact your Doylestown, PA dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 to schedule your appointment to find out if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy.
Filed under: Dental Procedures, Dental Technology | Tags: mercury fillings, metal fillings
Mercury based dental amalgam or silver metal fillings have been used for over 150 years. They were initially created as a low cost alternative to gold fillings. The original recipe contained silver shavings, zinc, copper, tin and mercury. We now understand that mercury is a powerful neurotoxin but amalgam fillings are still in use in some dental offices today because it is cheap for the dentist to buy and easy for them to work with.
In addition to the toxic mix that makes up dental amalgam, there are other risks to these old fashioned metal fillings. The amalgam material is very sensitive to temperature changes – it expands and contracts in the presence of heat and cold. This often causes small cracks and fractures in the filling which can cause tooth sensitivity or even weakening of the tooth. The tiny cracks can also allow bacteria to enter through the filling leading to additional decay and creating a bigger problem in the future. The dark fillings are also very unattractive and can lead to a loss of self-esteem when smiling.
Dentistry today offers many different types of composite filling materials that are bonded to your tooth structure. These composites protect against future decay and help strengthen the tooth as well. Once bonded in place, a composite filling won’t change shape or be affected by what you eat or drink. Best of all, because these fillings are matched to your natural tooth color, they are virtually invisible when you smile.
Mercury fillings have long been controversial and, as time goes on, more and more dentists are following the lead of dentists like and getting the mercury out of their offices and out of the mouths of their patients. Better health and a more beautiful smile can be achieved with the replacement of old fillings. If you are concerned about your old metal fillings contact our Doylestown, PA office at 215-348-9922 to arrange a consultation.
A study reported in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology showed that taking a daily dose of a capsule containing fruit and vegetable juice powder concentrate (phytonutrients) improved the outcomes for patients with chronic gum disease in the two months following non-surgical gum disease therapy. Even more benefits were seen at five and eight months following the periodontal therapy.
This was a preliminary study but it appears to show that the group that took the supplements had significant improvements when compared to those who had the standard periodontal therapy and were given a placebo. “We were surprised to see these outcomes because when the standard therapy works so well, it creates a ‘ceiling effect’ whereby it is difficult to improve further,” stated researcher Iain Chapple. “It is difficult to assess the size of the additional clinical benefit because these patients were well-nourished and had the highest quality standard therapy anyhow. We are very interested in what the effects will be in people who are nutritionally depleted, and in those who do not or cannot access high quality periodontal care.”
Good nutrition is important for all the parts of our bodies and this early research on supplements is interesting. To keep your gums in tip top shape you need to remember daily flossing, brushing after meals and visiting your dental hygienist regularly. Periodontal disease can cause extensive damage to your smile and result in extensive tooth loss sometimes requiring full-mouth rejuvenation. If it has been a while since your last hygiene appointment please contact Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 today.
Filed under: Dental Procedures, Dental Technology | Tags: crowns, Invisalign, veneers
A study out of Sweden has shown that the size of our jaws decrease with age causing crowded teeth in older adults. The study began in 1949 with plaster molds of the jaws of dental students. Molds were again created forty years after the first round and “We found that over these forty years there was less and less room for teeth in the jaw” said Lars Bondemark.
The crowded teeth come from the shrinking of the jaw, mainly the lower jaw, and although it is a small amount it is enough to crowd the front teeth. Why the jaw changes throughout life is not known but the amount of change may be related to heredity and the health of the patients bite.
These finding reflect what I hear from my patients every day. From middle age onward patients complain about their teeth looking crowded. Fortunately the crowded appearance can be corrected and you don’t have to visit an orthodontist for a full set of metal braces. Invisalign allows you to straighten a crooked smile using a series of trays that are almost invisible when worn. No one will know you are in braces!
Another alternative for those seeking instant gratification and a beautiful smile is cosmetic dentistry. Using dental veneers and/or crowns the crowded appearance of your teeth can be changed. Dental veneers can also give you a brighter, whiter smile and change the appearance of misshapen teeth.
For more information about your options for changing a crowded smile please contact Beth Snyder DMD in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922.
