Blog

Sleep Apnea

Posted on February 2, 2012 by alexanderdentistry

Sleep disorders are a serious problem. Without proper sleep, the mind and body is not able to function properly. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep condition that is not only disrupting the sleep of the individual, but also causing potential health complications when it persists for too long.

What is Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when the individual’s soft tissue collapses at the back of the mouth or when the brain fails to signal the individual to breath properly. This can result in snoring and often stops the individual’s breathing. The end result is a disturbance to sleep that leads to hypertension, high blood pressure, a higher risk of stroke and a higher risk of developing type two diabetes.

Potential Treatments

The treatments for sleep apnea primarily depend on the type of condition leading to the problem.

In many cases, treatment can be as simple as working on changing sleeping habits, losing weight and quitting cigarettes. Most doctors will make sleep suggestions to help as well as incorporating medical treatments.

One common option is using oral appliance therapy. In this method, obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the soft tissue collapses and stops breathing, is prevented by the device worn during sleep. It helps by repositioning the jaw and mouth, providing more stability on the lower jaw and increasing the muscle in the tongue so the airways are clear.

For serious situations, doctors might suggest supplemental oxygen to help improve breathing while sleeping. This is commonly used for those who are having serious complications or who have not seen success with other treatments.

In some cases, underlying conditions like a heart disorder or neurological disorder might require treatment to stop the sleep apnea. This type of treatment is only used if the cause is related to other health conditions.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep condition that requires immediate medical assistance. Anyone who suspects they might have sleep apnea should discuss the problem with a doctor to determine the cause and work out a treatment method to eliminate this potentially deadly condition before it results in serious complications.

Posted in Alexander Dentistry, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Therapy, Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida, Snoring | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You Have Better Things to Do

Posted on December 9, 2011 by alexanderdentistry

CEREC Single Visit Dentistry saves patients time and money.

Dr. Donald Alexander offers natural looking, high quality, metal free restorations in just one visit with CEREC technology. Single visit dentistry offers convenience, eliminating the need for multiple visits and temporaries for procedures like dental crowns, porcelain veneers and porcelain dental fillings.

How It Works
Dr. Alexander takes a digital impression of the tooth, using a special camera. This image is transferred to a computer where it is incorporated with the CEREC technology to create a 3-D image of the tooth.

CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology. Dr. Alexander combines the digital impression along with specific instructions so that the CAD software can design a custom restoration for the tooth or teeth.

Next, the CAD software takes over; using a milling device, the restoration is created from a single block of fine dental ceramic. Dr. Alexander can make any necessary adjustments to the color or shape to match the natural teeth. Then, the porcelain restoration is permanently bonded to the tooth.

Benefits of CEREC
Each visit to the dentist means time away from work and family. Our patients love the single visit convenience that the CEREC technology offers. Another benefit is that with CEREC, there is no need for temporaries. And our digital impressions make it all the more comfortable.

Single Visit Dentistry Jacksonville, Florida
Dr. Alexander is one of only a few dentists nationwide to feature this sophisticated technology. Contact us to learn more about CEREC single visit dentistry!

Posted in Alexander Dentistry, CEREC Technology, Dental Crowns, Dental Technology, Metal Free Restorations, Single Visit Dentistry | Leave a comment

Do you feel tired after a full night’s sleep?

Posted on December 8, 2011 by alexanderdentistry

If you find yourself waking up in the morning feeling tired or experience morning headaches, you may benefit from oral appliance therapy through The Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida.

Dr. Alexander has opened The Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida where he treats patients who suffer from snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Dr. Alexander can relieve symptoms of snoring and OSA with the aid of custom-made oral appliances such as snore guards, night guards and dental splints.

What Do Sleep Disorders Have To Do With Dentistry?
Most people don’t realize the strong correlation between dentistry and sleep disorders. Dr. Alexander has special training to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with oral appliance therapy. Snoring and OSA are usually caused by a blockage in the airway that stops air from flowing freely.

How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Help?
There are different types of oral appliances. Dr. Alexander will select a type that is best suited for your condition and custom make it to fit your mouth. Regardless of the type, an oral appliance works by keeping the airway open, allowing breath to flow freely. This gives the person a more restful sleep without the interruptions caused by snoring or OSA.

The oral appliance works in several ways:

  • Repositioning the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate or uvula
  • Stabilizing the lower jaw and tongue
  • Increasing the muscle tone of the tongue

What Causes Snoring?
The snoring sound is produced when air passes over loose tissue, causing it to vibrate. There are varying degrees of snoring, but any amount of snoring is disruptive to normal sleep patterns for both the snorer and sleep partner. Snoring can lead to obstructive sleep apnea which has been linked to heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke, as well as Type II Diabetes.

There are many things that you can do to prevent or lessen snoring, including:

  • Try sleeping on your side instead of your back. Sleeping on your back can make snoring worse.
  • Avoid alcohol and sedatives at bedtime, as they can relax the muscles in the throat, causing you to snore.
  • Maintain a healthy weight, people who are overweight or obese are more likely to snore.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that causes a person to temporarily stop breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by a blockage in the airway, usually when the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses. Even if the person isn’t fully awakened, OSA disrupts sleep, as it causes the person to come out of sleep to resume breathing.

Sleep is important to the overall health of the body. If you aren’t getting the restful sleep you need, contact the Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida to schedule your consultation with Dr. Alexander to evaluate which treatment methods are right for you.

Posted in Alexander Dentistry, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Oral Appliance Therapy, Sleep Disorders, Sleep Therapy, Sleep Therapy Center of North Florida, Snoring | Leave a comment