2012 January | Poss Dental Designs

January 30, 2012

6 Reasons To Treat Sleep Apnea

Filed under: Nashville Cosmetic Dentistry,Oral Health,Sleep Apnea — Tags: brentwood cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist nashville, sleep apnea, sleep apnea treatment, stop snoring, treating sleep disorders — bdavis @ 11:49 pm

If you think you might be dealing with sleep apnea, you should make it a point to get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Some people ignore this condition for years or possibly even never get treated, which can potentially lead to more serious complications later on. Instead of dismissing your sleep apnea as something that doesn’t require professional attention, keep in mind that one quick visit to your dentist could provide relief and health improvements that you have been lacking for years.

If you’re not convinced yet, keep reading to find out more about the negative health problems that can result from leaving your sleep apnea untreated.

Health problem 1: Higher blood pressure
Obstructive sleep apnea causes people to wake up many times throughout the night, which eventually causes damage to the walls of the blood vessels. These blood vessels are in charge of maintaining a normal blood pressure, so the damage inhibits their ability to carry out this important task.

Health problem 2: Diabetes
Sleep apnea is known to often impact people’s blood sugar levels, which has been linked to increased occurrences of diabetes. Getting treated for sleep apnea sooner rather than later can lower the risk of diabetes, or at least perhaps lessen the risk of complications due to diabetes.

Health problem 3: Depression
Depression is a relatively common symptom found in people who are dealing with sleep apnea. Lack of sleep can lead to drastic changes in mood and temperament, which can cause depression.

Health problem 4: Heart illness
Researchers have asserted that sleep apnea is capable of contributing to serious heart problems such as heart disease and heart attacks. This is because sleep patterns that are severely disrupted by sleep apnea can lead to hypertension or coronary artery disease.

Health problem 5: Stroke
Studies have shown that people with sleep apnea are much more likely to suffer strokes than those who don’t have the condition. In fact, a major research effort called the Sleep Heart Health Study found that even men with mild cases of sleep apnea are more at risk for stroke.

Health problem 6: General lack of energy
Weeks, months and years on end of little to no sleep can obviously leave a person feeling drained of energy. This tiredness can affect almost every part of a person’s life from work performance to simply being able to focus on conversations. Studies have even shown that people who have severe cases of sleep apnea are more likely to be involved in auto accidents than regular sleepers.

You Should Take Action Now
Even if you only suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, you should make an appointment with your dentist to get checked out. Dentists have advanced methods of providing effective and fast treatment for sleep apnea, including custom oral appliances that you can wear while you sleep. Instead of letting the potentially dangerous effects from sleep apnea take their toll on you over time, seek treatment now and begin enjoying the peaceful sleep your body requires.

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January 28, 2012

What is Your Gum Disease Risk

Filed under: Beautiful Smiles,Cosmetic Dentistry,Dentist — Tags: cosmetic dentistry, gum disease, nashvill cosmetic dentist, oral health — bdavis @ 2:52 am

Any dentist will tell you that gum disease is a health condition that you don’t want to mess with. It can lead to decaying and lost teeth, it has been linked to other conditions such as stroke or heart attack, and it just isn’t as attractive as a set of pink gums surrounding gleaming white teeth.

In order to avoid dealing with periodontal disease, one of the first steps you should take is to assess your gum disease risk to see which preventative measures are right for you. Your dentist is the most qualified to perform this assessment and you should definitely ask for his or her professional opinion. You can also take a look at the following risk factors for periodontal disease to see which ones currently apply to you.

Age – According to studies, your risk of having gum disease nearly doubles once you reach the age of 65. The oral system is affected by aging just like the rest of the body, but with the right dental approach you should be able to keep periodontal disease at bay.
Gender – Women are more likely to have gum disease, which is mainly due to their hormones. As they make their way through puberty, pregnancy and menopause, their hormones change and create an opportunity for gum disease to take root.
Smoking – Smoking is a well-known contributor to gum disease, and it also makes the disease harder to treat.
Poor dental hygiene – Brushing and flossing are two of the best ways to ward off disease, along with regular visits to the dentist. Without doing these things, plaque is free to attach itself to teeth and cause inflammation and swelling in the gums.
Medications – Certain medications can hasten the arrival of periodontal disease. This side effect will usually be explained to you by your doctor and as on your medication’s label.
Health conditions – People with certain health conditions are more likely to develop gum disease. These conditions include diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and some auto-immune diseases.
Unhealthy diet – People who eat unhealthy foods on a daily or near-daily basis have an increased risk of gum disease.
Stress – Don’t stress out about this, but stress is a factor that can actually lead to periodontal disease. A healthy body is usually great at defending against the infection that causes gum disease, but stress makes it much harder to accomplish that important task.
Other dental problems – Existing problems with teeth or even faulty dental work are suspected of being gum disease causes. The gums can be irritated, inflamed or infected by problems such as fillings with abrasive edges, misaligned teeth, or oral appliances that are dirty or don’t fit correctly.

As we mentioned earlier, your dentist is the first person you should have assess your risk factors and come up with ways to keep your gums healthy. Some aspects are simply out of your control, but for many others you have the power to prohibit them from affecting your gums. Visit Dr. Poss your cosmetic dentist in Nashville, TN to find out about keeping your gums healthy.

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January 25, 2012

5 Easy Ways to Remember to Floss

Filed under: Beautiful Smiles,Dental Implants,General Health — Tags: flossing, nashville cosmetic dentist, oral health — bdavis @ 2:45 am

Despite the fact that flossing is an essential part of your daily routine and it can even contribute to a longer life, sometimes it is hard to remember to do it. There can be many reasons for people being forgetful when it comes to flossing, such as you work odd hours, you ran out of floss a week ago, or you subconsciously just don’t want to do it. Regardless of the reason, it is a practice that should be carried out on a daily basis.

If you have trouble remembering to floss, we have some easy tips for you that will keep it on the top of your mind every day. Eventually it might even be something that you do without thinking about it! Read on to find out how you can be a regular flosser in no time.

Remind yourself of the benefits – Flossing can do wonders for your looks and health. It keeps your gums healthy and clean so you won’t have to worry about gingivitis. It cleans out any food stuck between teeth that can lead to staining and cavities. It also gets rid of plaque that can make its way into other parts of your body and contribute to future health problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Establish an ironclad routine – One common theory is that it takes 21 days to make something into a habit. Whether that is the exact time it takes to establish a habit or not, it is true that you should floss daily without fail until it is just something you do. One trick that might help is to put a small calendar next to your bathroom sink and put a check mark on each day that you floss.
Always have more floss on hand – If you happen to run out of floss, you might be tempted to let it slide for a few days (or weeks) until you get new floss. Instead of letting this happen to you, consider buying an economy pack of dental floss so that you have a steady supply for months.
Have a loved one remind you – Your wife, husband, son, daughter or any other person close to you would probably be happy to remind you to floss. Don’t be afraid to ask for their help, but be sure to ask someone who will actually follow through with their promise to hold you accountable.
Become a mobile flosser – There are situations for pretty much anybody where a tight schedule or unforeseen events can hinder your ability to floss at home. This is not the time for excuses considering that a container of floss can fit in your pocket at any time. You can sneak to the bathroom during work or find many other small windows of time to get your flossing fix.

Remember, flossing is something quick and easy that you can do to improve your help. All it takes is a conscious effort at first until it is just second nature! Keeping up with these common oral health practices will keep your smile bright and your mouth healthy. Visit Dr. Stephen Poss, your Nashville dentist to keep your mouth healthy and happy.

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Are You a Candidate for Cosmetic Dentistry?

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry,Dental Implants,Dentist — Tags: brentwood cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentist candidate, nashville cosmetic dentistry — bdavis @ 2:36 am

Cosmetic dentistry can give you that bright, straight smile that you’ve been wanting so badly, but you may not be sure if you’re a good candidate for it. Maybe you’re wondering if the imperfections in your teeth will eliminate cosmetic dentistry as an option for you. The good news is that dentists can work miracles in your mouth, and chances are good that you are a qualified candidate for cosmetic work.

To give you an idea of whether your mouth is ready for cosmetic dentistry, we’ve put together this clear explanation of how dentists evaluate candidates.

Qualifications for Cosmetic Dentistry
Even if your teeth have significant problems (stains, cracks, decay and other damage), this does not necessarily exclude you from cosmetic dentistry. Most stained and crowded teeth can be made beautiful so that you look 10 years younger and are bursting with self-esteem and confidence.

When evaluating you, your dentist will look at your entire mouth to get a good sense of how to best proceed. Your dentist wants to determine whether your oral health is sufficient for cosmetic work. If the dentist finds oral issues such as gum disease or jaw problems like TMJ, those problems will need to be treated first before performing cosmetic dentistry.

To prepare your teeth for cosmetic dentistry, your dentist will perform restorative work to repair and strengthen your teeth. This restorative dentistry will ensure that your oral health is strong enough that your dentist can work on making your teeth sparkle.

After You Have Been Approved for Cosmetic Dentistry
Once your mouth is in better shape, your dentist will begin to craft a polished smile that will have you shining with confidence in public. Cosmetic dentistry can fix flaws including:

Stains
Crowding
Gaps or spaces
Crooked or misaligned teeth
Too much or too little gums showing

Your dentist will choose a cosmetic dentistry program specifically geared toward your unique requirements. You may only need one procedure or a few, but your treatment options may consist of the following procedures and others:

Teeth whitening – A fast and easy tooth-whitening session can boost your smile’s brightness by several shades in one visit to the dentist.
Veneers – Porcelain veneers whiten smiles and fix any gaps or crooked teeth.
Dental crowns – Dental crowns are permanent caps that go over damaged or decayed teeth to improve their shape and looks.
Dental implants - Dental implants are inserted to replace missing teeth and produce a more complete smile.
Composite bonding – Composite bonding is a quick and painless procedure that uses composite materials to fix gaps, repair cracks and hide tooth discoloration.
Clear trays and aligners – Clear trays and aligners are an effective solution to repair tooth crowding or gaps.

Get a Better Smile Today
Make the commitment to a bright and healthy smile today by calling Dr. Poss. He and his team of cosmetic dentistry experts will give your mouth a thorough evaluation, then perform the restorative and cosmetic dentistry you need to show off a perfect smile to the world.

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