Smoking With Sleep Apnea

Smoking will exacerbate any respiratory condition and it is proven to cause snoring and lead to obstructive sleep apnea.  Patients struggling with sleep apnea should see the doctors at Riverwalk Dental for evaluation. We can help patients find relief from sleep apnea, but quitting smoking is up to you!  Smoking causes upper airway inflammation, meaning the swelling causes the airway to narrow and disrupts the nasal passage and throat.  This causes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Cigarettes are highly addictive, and some smokers seek treatment for sleep apnea but continue to smoke. Smoking with sleep apnea not only puts more stress on the heart every day, but negates any treatment a sleep apnea patient is undergoing.

Habitual smokers may feel relaxed by one last cigarette for the day, but it actually creates more complications for restful sleep. Smokers can experience nicotine withdrawal overnight, causing more waking up and restlessness.  Quitting smoking cold turkey is very difficult, but even lessening the amount of cigarettes or avoiding smoking at nighttime can help you achieve more restful sleep.  Most smokers cannot quit on their own or on their first attempt, so don’t get discouraged!

If you have questions or concerns regarding sleep disorders, please give us a call. To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments we offer, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, call 403-456-4994.

Fluoride Treatment

At Riverwalk Dental, our doctors provide patients with fluoride treatments to help protect their tooth enamel. Fluoride is commonly called nature’s cavity fighter and there’s a good reason for this. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the entire tooth surface more resistant to acid attacks from the bacteria that live in the plaque on your teeth. Fluoride also promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before a cavity forms in the tooth.

Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, foods, and several minerals. When present at the right level, fluoride in drinking water has two beneficial effects preventing tooth decay and contributing to healthy bones. The type of fluoride we utilize at our practice is called topical fluoride. Topical fluoride is applied directly to and absorbed by the surface of the teeth. It may be applied as a foam or gel after a professional cleaning and can additionally be found in personal oral hygiene products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, 403-456-4994.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked tooth syndrome does not mean that you are clumsy enough to crack your teeth all the time. Believe it or not, cracked tooth syndrome occurs when a tooth has a crack that is too small to show up on X-rays or is under the gum and challenging to identify. The sensitivity may be mild to intense, which is why to determine if you have a cracked tooth, one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental, will examine your mouth and teeth with and without X-rays, focusing on the tooth in question.

Cracked tooth syndrome more often occurs in molars, usually lower molars, which absorb most of the forces of chewing. People who grind or clench their teeth may be more susceptible to cracked tooth syndrome because of the constant forces put on the teeth. Many people with cracked tooth syndrome have symptoms for months, but it’s often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are not consistent.

If you have questions or concerns about cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, 403-456-4994.

Cirrhosis and Gum Disease

We hope patients at Riverwalk Dental see the dentists’ office as a hopeful place. There are a growing number of studies that show dental health is vital to overall health, and that regular cleanings can lead to unexpected improvements in other areas. Recently, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found evidence of a causative effect between treating gum disease and cirrhosis symptoms.

Cirrhosis, which results from scarring of the liver, is seriously detrimental to the body. It results in increased inflammation and decreased cognitive function. Both cirrhosis and periodontal disease can result from abuse of alcohol and tobacco, so it’s unsurprising that people with one would be at increased risk for the other. But periodontal disease is also unusually common in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which prompted researchers to experiment.

They found that when people with cirrhosis were treated for gum disease, the number of bacteria in their gut that combat inflammation increased, as did their cognitive function. No significant change was found in the control group. Researchers are unsure what the connection is, but it demonstrates why it’s wrong for people to think that regular dental cleanings aren’t important.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.

 

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Tooth extractions are a commonly done service at Riverwalk Dental. While we would always rather save a tooth than remove it, there are times when extractions are necessary to prevent overcrowding or the spread of decay. The procedure almost always succeeds without any complications, but patients should be aware that we need their full cooperation to prevent problems such as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

Tooth extractions are usually a simple affair in which the tooth is rocked to loosen it up until it can be pulled the rest of the way. The jaw bone will be briefly exposed at the base of the empty socket, but a blood clot will seal it off. ONJ describes when the bone tissue begins to die. It can happen if the patient is taking bisphosphonate medications, which are used to prevent bone resorption. People with osteopenia may take them orally, but the majority of ONJ cases occurred in people taking them intravenously for chemotherapy.

ONJ is treatable. The decayed material would be shaved and the bone would be rinsed with antibiotics. But it can be avoided if patients inform dentists of all the medications they are on. If a patient is taking bisphosphonates, we may be able to come up with an alternative solution for their dental issue.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.