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Most people wish they had a brighter, whiter, and more appealing smile. And while teeth whitening treatments and teeth whitening products have certainly made getting a whiter smile much more attainable than in years past, many patients have asked us if there’s any difference between at-home and a professional in-office tooth whitening procedure at our office.

The answer? It depends, though professional teeth whitening solutions are more effective than using the at-home tooth whitening products you may have at your disposal. Even the most common of at-home methods out there—chewing gum, toothpastes, mints, tray systems and whitening strip systems—have a limited whitening ability. Toothpastes that claim to whiten will be more effective than chewing gums, but they won’t be nearly as effective as you’d imagine. While tray systems and whitening strips are the most effective at-home teeth whitening treatments out on the market, they are still not nearly as effective as getting your pearly whites even whiter at our office.

An in-office tooth whitening solution is more effective than at-home whitening due to the fact that the teeth whitening treatment we use in our office is professional grade and requires a dentist and a trained dental technician to be administered. We also use stronger bleaching agents that have been known to enhance a smile by several shades, and also make for dazzling smiles and happy patients.

If you would like more information about teeth whitening options, please give us a call to learn about treatments we offer, and which would be best for you. We look forward to meeting with you.

One of the most common questions we hear is, “is there a difference between a dental implant and a dental bridge?”

Both implants and bridges are permanent, non-removable replacements for your missing tooth, or teeth. The biggest difference between an implant and a bridge is how your new teeth are held in place. While a bridge may be used to literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress in your bite, implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.

Visually, there is little difference between the two, but they both have different advantages. Bridges, which can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials are bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. A bridge can help restore your smile, as well as your ability to properly chew and speak. They can also maintain the shape of your face and prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position. If you can replace a missing tooth or teeth with a bridge, the major advantage is that your solution is immediate because you do not need surgery to successfully complete this procedure.

There are many benefits to dental implants as well, but the biggest advantage of an implant is that you do not use the neighboring teeth to support the replacement of the missing tooth. Just like bridges, they provide improved appearance, self-esteem, comfort, speech and oral health, as well as the ability to eat all your favorite foods with confidence and without any pain. As for how long they last? Implants are extremely durable and with good care, can last a lifetime.

To learn more about dental implants and bridges, or to schedule an appointment to select the option that's right for you, we invite you to give us a call!

Snoring may not be something you take seriously. You might even laugh or joke about it. But the fact is, anytime you or your partner snore to the point of waking, it could be a sign of serious health problems.

Sleep Apnea and Its Effects

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is potentially dangerous, and the most common symptom is loud snoring. Breathing repeatedly starts and stops throughout the night, and you wake up feeling tired. Other serious effects from sleep apnea could be potentially dangerous to your health if left unaddressed.

Besides losing a good night's sleep, you may experience difficulty concentrating. Depression, risk of heart attack, irritability, high blood pressure, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and chances of stroke all increase when sleep apnea is not treated.

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax to the point of inhibiting natural breathing. The muscles used to support the soft palate relax and the airway closes, causing breathing to stop for 10 to 20 seconds. This lowers the oxygen level in the brain. As the brain senses the inhibited oxygen levels it rouses the sleeper awake so the airway can reopen. Normally, the reawakening is so brief the person won't remember it.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, visit our office and let the doctor determine what treatment is needed. Without it, you could risk losing more than a restful night's sleep.

Prevention and Treatment

Anyone can develop sleep apnea, but it is more common among middle-aged adults who are overweight. Our dentist can help you determine the cause and suggest positive treatment.

A common treatment for apnea is the placement of oral devices that are designed to help keep the airway open. By bringing the jaw forward, the device opens the airway and thereby discourages snoring. Our dentist is experienced in sleep apnea appliances and can prescribe a fitted device and monitor its success with follow-up therapy.

A continuous positive airway pressure mask, known as a CPAP, is among the other treatment options. A mask is fitted over the mouth and forces oxygen through the throat while you sleep. The pressure holds the soft tissue and throat muscles open.

The professionals in our office can advise you of other ways to prevent sleep apnea, including weight loss, avoiding alcohol, or alternative sleeping positions. We can help you sleep return to easy sleep, knowing you are safer and healthier during your resting hours.

We would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy a day filled of friends, family, and great Thanksgiving food.

We are very thankful for all of our patients and their families. We’d like to know, what are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any stories, photos or recipes to share with us, we encourage you to share them below or on our Facebook page!

Happy Thanksgiving!