Snoring...A Minor Annoyance or Something Serious?

Are you prevented from getting a good night’s sleep due to snoring (be it your snoring or your spouse’s snoring)?

• If you snore, do you wake up from a seemingly sound sleep gasping for air?
• Do you wake up at night because you need to use the bathroom?
• Do you wake up in the morning feeling tired?
• Do you feel sleepy in the afternoon and wish you could just sneak in a short nap to re-energize yourself at work?

If any of the above conditions sound familiar to you, please think seriously about getting tested for Sleep Apnea, a dangerous, potentially life-threatening condition.

Sleep apnea is defined as interruptions of breathing during sleep...imagine someone who is sleeping and does not take a breath for more than 10 seconds....then doing this a minimum of five times each hour during their sleep.

Since oxygen enters our bodies through our breath, and our organs (such as our heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) need oxygen to function properly, we are starving our bodies of oxygen with each 10-second non-breathing interval.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other serious medical conditions such as: depression, high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.

A more frightening fact is this: as many as 90% of all sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed, largely due to the fact that sufferers are unaware that their symptoms are a sign of a serious breathing disorder.

Talk to a medical doctor or a dentist (but, make sure they are specially trained in sleep medicine and dental sleep medicine) about getting tested for sleep apnea...secure your future by improving your quality of life and getting a more restful sleep each night!

Teeth Straightening for Kids: Purely Cosmetic or A Real Necessity?

By Guest Blogger: ThanksDrMom.com, Marie Johnson

As kids reach elementary and middle school, the topic of braces (orthodontics) comes up more frequently. Should parents spend the money to straighten their kids’ teeth? Is it for purely a cosmetic reason? You may be surprised to know there are significant health reasons to seriously consider providing orthodontic treatment for your child.

Aside from the obvious esthetic reasons for orthodontics, a healthy mouth and straight teeth in kids are very important concerns because:

1) Straight teeth are easier to keep clean - healthy teeth and gums are extremely important to our overall health, adults and kids alike! Did you know that gum disease is closely linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes?

2) A poor bite can lead to muscle problems and headaches.

3) Crooked teeth will wear unevenly, which may lead to future dental problems and the need for future dental restorations such as crowns.

4) It is best to straighten teeth earlier when a child’s mouth and palate are still growing to avoid extracting teeth...and treatment may take less time as a child rather than adult orthodontics.

5) If crowding of the teeth is present, orthodontically creating space and growth in the mouth can help prevent future dental problems and possibly obstructive sleep apnea (a serious condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep).

If you are faced with the question of whether or not to straighten you kids’ teeth, remember that cosmetic reasons are not the only factors involved. Serious health issues may need to be considered. Talk to your family dentist. Find out ALL the details of your child’s diagnosis. Then, decide what is best for your child and your family.

“Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond.” -Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, 1605

And if insurance coverage is a deciding factor for you, follow Robert Brault’s advise (www.robertbrault.com), “My health plan doesn’t cover dental, so I enrolled my teeth as 32 dependents, each needing a complete physical once a year.”

A Tragic Pregnancy

Please watch this news report regarding a tragic pregnancy; the first case proving the connection between the health of your gums and the health of a developing fetus. The LANAP protocol for treating gum disease is a patient-friendly, minimal invasive procedure that is very effective in treating gum disease. Watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/5wjlabu

Successful Periodontal Therapy May Reduce the Risk of Pre-Term Birth

According to a study at the University of Pennsylvania, successful treatment for gum disease may reduce the risk for pre-term birth. Read more here. http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/successful-periodontal-therapy-may-reduce-risk-preterm-birth-according-penn-dental-study

Of course LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) could be considered as part of successful periodontal therapy.

Nobody Ever Told Me That!

Nobody Ever Told Me About That!

1. You will look older faster with the following dental problems: gum disease, missing, stained or broken teeth; and ill-fitting dentures or bridges.

2. Amalgam (silver) fillings can expand and, over a period of years, cause natural teeth to crack.

3. A crown is recommended for several reasons. One reason is to reestablish the biting surfaces of the teeth. Another may be to prevent an "at risk" tooth from cracking.

4. A 200-pound man with full mouth dentures has less chewing force than his 90-year old aunt who has all her teeth.

5. Over time, teeth can become discolored from age or continuous exposure to tea, coffee, red wine, dark colas, and tobacco. These stains go deep into the surface of the tooth. In order to get teeth really white, talk to your dentist about a professional whitening that will penetrate the tooth's enamel.

6. Gum disease can lead to the spread of infection through your blood stream, resulting in a loss of energy, creating fatigue.

7. Diet sodas, cough drops, and chewing tobacco can cause tooth decay.

8. People mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. Not so. In fact, unless you are chewing, talking, or swallowing, your jaw should be in a relaxed, slack position.

Thinking Outside the Box Means Thinking Outside the Tooth

There is substantial research linking gum (periodontal) disease to serious conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even pancreatic cancer. Instead of addressing these systemic disease at advanced stages, why not be pro-active and deal with less pain by creating a healthy mouth.

Our mouths are the easiest line of access for bacteria to enter our bodies. Gum disease starts off as plaque, an opaque bacterial film, which eventually hardens forming tartar or calculus. Calculus deposits harbor bacteria, which infect the gums. In early stages, this is called gingivitis, characterized by red swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. Many people experience bad breath and an unpleasant taste in their mouths as well.

Unchecked gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, a much more serious form of the disease where periodontal pockets are formed, separating teeth from the gums and supporting bone structure. Without treatment, infection becomes severe and the pockets deepen, harboring bacteria (which then enters the blood stream), and eventually resulting in tooth loss. Gum disease is a chronic condition, and the effects are wide-spread. The chronic infection of gum disease exacerbates other systemic diseases previously mentioned above.

The way to repair the damage is to get rid of the infection and close up the pockets. This is where thinking "outside the box" comes in. Until recently treating gum disease meant cut and sew flap surgery (aka, scalpel surgery and sutures). Most dentists are trained to treat gum disease by cutting through healthy tissue on the surface to "scrape out" the infected, underlying gum tissue. Modern technology and the use of a specific laser and protocol have proven successful in treating gum disease, which in turn can help control diabetes and lower the risks of heart disease and stroke.

This "out of the box" successful, laser-alternative protocol I am referring to is called Laser Assisted new Attachment Procedure (LANAP). The LANAP protocol is the only laser-assisted procedure certified by the FDA for treatment of periodontitis or gum disease. This breakthrough procedure can actually regenerate new gum and bone tissue, as shown in dental university studies and among my own patients. I can honestly say the LANAP protocol is a patient-friendly, minimally invasive procedure that is a great improvement over traditional gum surgery.

Be an informed patient/consumer. Always ask what your alternatives are. With the advancement of science and modern technology, there is no reason to settle for old-fashion, "traditional" solutions.

The LANAP Protocol: Periodontal Patients' Best Friend

I have been providing the LANAP (laser assisted new attachment procedure) protocol for the last few years. Without exaggeration or hyperbole, in my 25 years in the practice of dentistry, I have never seen a more effective, patient friendly, powerful technique than the LANAP protocol for the treatment of ANY dental concern, including gum disease. Patient acceptance is unparalleled, results are clinically proven, and a positive patient experience is the rule. LANAP is an FDA approved procedure that features no cutting or amputation of gum tissue, no stitches, and virtually no risk of post operative infection. LANAP is a regenerative procedure that features superior healing compared to conventional techniques. There are at present, approximately 1000 user/clinicians in the US and Canada. The number of periodontal specialist users is growing steadily; it is my decided opinion that the "Gold Standard" for periodontitis treatment is now the LANAP protocol. I am honored to help doctors learn the technique as an Instructor for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, the sole provider for all continuing education and instruction for the LANAP protocol.

Sleep Apnea Associated to Increased Risk of Stroke? How do I know if I have Sleep Apnea?

Because sleep apnea symptoms happen at night when the patient is asleep, many don't realize they are affected and can go years, even a lifetime, suffering from the condition and not knowing it.

People who suffer from sleep apnea can have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while they sleep. It can also be accompanied with loud snoring, or snorting. The erratic sleeping/breathing pattern can put serious stress on the heart, because the pauses cause the flow of oxygen to the vital organs to slow (or even stop) for a few seconds, which makes the heart pump harder.

The effects of sleep apnea start to erode your body, which can eventually lead to stroke.

According to a recent study out of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of stroke in middle-aged or older Americans. Additionally, according to the National Sleep Foundation, 18 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea and many of them don't know it!

What a frightening statistic!

The study followed approximately 5500 participants, aged 40 years and older without a history of stroke, for an average of nine years. During that period a total of 193 participants had a stroke - 85 men (of 2,462 enrolled) and 108 women (out of 2,960 enrolled).

Men diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea were nearly three times more likely to have a stroke than men without sleep apnea or men with mild sleep apnea.

But in women, it was different. The increased risk of stroke in females was significant only in women with severe levels of sleep apnea. The increased risk of stroke from sleep apnea depended on other risk factors the women had such as weight issues, smoking, race, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Researchers believe that because men are more prone to have sleep apnea earlier in life, the risks of stroke are much higher than in women, who usually suffer from sleep apnea when they are pregnant, overweight, or going through menopause.

The findings of the recent study provide compelling evidence that OSA is a risk factor for stroke, especially in men. Most importantly, the study found that increased stroke risk in men occurs even with relatively mild levels of sleep apnea. The next step for this project is clinical trial studies to help scientists determine if treating sleep apnea can lower a person's risk of stroke and other diseases.

So how do you know if you have sleep apnea, or just a snoring problem? If you have a partner who notices you are snoring heavily and gasping for breath as you sleep, or if you wake up in the morning and find you can't function during the day due to excessive fatigue, sleep experts recommend you talk to your Medical Doctor and/or Dentist...that's right...your Dentist!

There are several treatment options available through both M.D.'s and Dentists. It's up to the patient to make the first move and ask to be tested.

Because sleep apnea has no pain, many people think it can't hurt them. But, research continues to show that sleep apnea can and will hurt your body - especially if it goes undetected.

4 Things to Ask Your Doctor About Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder that has roots in your airway passage. In case you suspect you have sleep apnea on the basis of your partner's complaints of snoring, you may want to consult a doctor. Here's what you can ask your doctor on your first visit, to show you are an involved patient who would like to get their facts:

1. What exactly is sleep apnea and what type of sleep apnea do I have?

The sleep apnea condition is characterized by a disturbed state of sleep in which you pause breathing several times (up to 30 times) every hour while sleeping and for anything between a few seconds to a minute each time. Resumption of breathing is generally automatic and follows choking or gasping for breath. Clinical diagnoses have found three basic types, namely central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea.

2. What will the line of treatment the doctor will follow?

The line of treatment depends on the type of sleep apnea you have and the acuteness of your condition.

3. Will the treatment also require physiotherapy or an invasive procedure like surgery?

If your case so requires (and as per the judgement of your doctor), you could be prescribed with invasive procedures such as mandibular myotopy, somnoplasty, uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty or tracheotomy.

4. Will I be fitted with a breathing device? What sort of device is it and how will it help me?

It is not essential that you will have a device to consider. However, you could be fitted with any of the following devices depending on your case (type and seriousness of condition).

• CPAP - The Continuous Positive Air Pressure is a customized device generally recommended for moderate to severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea. It is a strap on mask-like device to be worn at bedtime that provides rhythmic pressurized air with a built-in humidifier to prevent the air passage from collapsing.
• OAT - The Oral Appliance therapy is a dental device which advances the lower jaw forward, elevates the palate and lowers the tongue to open the airway. These devices are used only with obstructive sleep apnea patients.

I've been told I have gum disease and need surgery...is this important?...what are my alternatives?

Treating or controlling periodontal (gum) disease is very important because it is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults. In the USA, one in three adults at the age of 65 have no teeth! Aside from the dental concerns and day-to-day necessity to obtain nutrition by eating, gum disease has been linked to other serious diseases including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and pancreatic cancer. Controlling gum disease is indeed important to one's general health!

Aside from traditional "cut and sew" gum surgery to treat gum disease an effective, patient-friendly, FDA-cleared alternative exists: Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP). The LANAP protocol is a laser-based, minimally-invasive procedure that delivers superior results in controlling gum disease. This specific protocol uses a thin, laser fiber to clear out the infected tissue and stimulate healing in a procedure that has little discomfort and downtime.

I have provided the LANAP protocol to patients of my practice for 4 consecutive years now and have witnessed the superior results myself. There is no longer a reason to fear treatment of gum disease. The advanced technology of the LANAP protocol offers a patient-friendly solution to a very common, yet often ignored, health problem.

Vascular Inflammation in Obesity and Sleep Apnea

Check out this article: Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is more important determinant of cardiovascular disease than obesity. http://www.cardiosource.com/cjrpicks/CJRPick.asp?cjrID=5688

Invisalign Preferred Provider

We have attained "Invisalign Preferred Provider" status from Invisalign. Invisalign is the leading alternative to conventional orthodontic treatment or 'braces'. Invisalign is a popular technique with patients to straighten teeth because of lighter forces, comfort, and ease of cleaning the teeth during treatment. Pictured in the photograph is Nichole Stone regional manager for Invisalign.

Relief of Sleep Apnea can be found using CPAP devices, but compliance is low - WSJ.com

Check out this article from the Wall Street Journal about the difficulties of treating sleep apnea, and the solutions dentistry offers:
Relief of Sleep Apnea can be found using CPAP devices, but compliance is low - WSJ.com

5 Ways to Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits

From Marie Johnson, Business Manager at Eric Johnson, DDS

1. Remember that dental insurance plans don’t limit the care you can receive from your dentist; they only limit the dollar amount that is covered by insurance. Find out the maximum dollar amount and treatment you can receive under your insurance plan per year.

2. To avoid financial surprises, work with your dental office to: a.) formulate a treatment plan and b.) get an accurate estimate of benefits from your insurance company.

3. Maximize your benefits by scheduling major dental treatment at the end of one benefit period and the beginning of the next benefit period.

4. Understand that there are some incidents where dental insurance and medical insurance overlap. Check your medical coverage, because certain types of dental treatment may be covered by medical insurance.

5. Ask your dental office for detailed receipts of all treatment completed to ensure insurance claims get processed in a timely manner and get accurately paid to avoid late fees and finance charges.

Nobody Ever Told Me About That!

Nobody Ever Told Me About That!

1. You will look older faster with the following dental problems: gum disease, missing, stained or broken teeth; and ill-fitting dentures or bridges.

2. Amalgam (silver) fillings can expand and, over a period of years, cause natural teeth to crack.

3. A crown is recommended for several reasons. One reason is to reestablish the biting surfaces of the teeth. Another may be to prevent an "at risk" tooth from cracking.

4. A 200-pound man with full mouth dentures has less chewing force than his 90-year old aunt who has all her teeth.

5. Over time, teeth can become discolored from age or continuous exposure to tea, coffee, red wine, dark colas, and tobacco. These stains go deep into the surface of the tooth. In order to get teeth really white, talk to your dentist about a professional whitening that will penetrate the tooth's enamel.

6. Gum disease can lead to the spread of infection through your blood stream, resulting in a loss of energy, creating fatigue.

7. Diet sodas, cough drops, and chewing tobacco can cause tooth decay.

8. People mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. Not so. In fact, unless you are chewing, talking, or swallowing, your jaw should be in a relaxed, slack position.

Health Expo at Herbalife

Marie, Evalin, and I presented dentistry, LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers at a Health Expo at Herbalife in Torrance. We spoke to many people and I performed oral health screenings. Above is a short video of the event. These events are part of our dental practice's outreach to our to our neighbors to provide information on good dental health.

Cavity Detecting Laser

1

A cavity detecting laser! This laser device is very sensitive and can often find tooth decay not found with dental x-rays. When tooth decay is diagnosed in the early stages, repair of the teeth is much easier and tooth structure is conserved.

The PerioLase Laser Close-up

This video is of the laser canula of the PerioLase MVP-7 Laser. The laser is used for treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. The laser is a central component of LANAP (laser assisted new attachment procedure), which is a minimal invasive surgical therapy instead of 'cut and sew' gum surgery. The LANAP procedure is FDA approved, scientifically tested, and very effective.

South Bay's Favorite Dentist 2009

Again thank you for this unexpected honor.

South Bay's Favorite Dentist

We were pleasantly surprised to be named the South Bay's
Favorite Dentist 2009 in a poll taken by the Daily Breeze.
This is quite an unexpected honor. We strive everyday to serve our patients, listen to their concerns, and treat them with compassion and fairness. We are thankful and grateful our efforts are being noticed. To all who voted in the poll, THANK YOU!