What can be killing you during your sleep? Maybe You!

February 21, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

At www.thegentledentist.com we are concerned about the overall health of our patients and one of the treatments we can team up with the physican is treating Obstructive Sleep apnea (OSA).  OSA is a chronic disorder where patients usually start off snoring and then during the deepest part of the snore will evolve to gasping for air after a period of time when no breathing is present.  This closure and obstruction of the air passage can create a number of problems with the patient:

  • Chronic sleepiness has been shown to increase traffic accident incidence.
  • High blood pressure.  Because the body senses a drop in oxygen in the blood stream it is critical for the adrenal glands to send a surge of adrenaline into the blood stream which increases the heart rate and increase blood pressure.  Over time this creates a lot of stress on the body and can lead to a heart attack.
  • Diabetes.  This high blood pressure can affect the way that blood sugars are metabolized in the body.
  • Impotence.  For men their sexual drive can be affected
  • Relations.  Because snoring keeps the family up at night the use of such a device can provide peace for all concerned.

Treatment:  The cPAP is a pressure filled mask that is plugged into the wall which runs a humidified air compressor which forces air down the trachea and into the lungs.  This has a quiet buzz and is like a Darth Vator mask.  Patients sometimes find it difficult to wear and decided to not wear it and end up being non complient. 

The oral sleep appliance is different in that it is much smaller and convenient to use.  Rather that forcing air into the lungs by pressure this oral appliance shifts the jaw forward and the soft tissues attached to the jaw open the air space.  By eliminating the cPAP things are more comfortable and much more compatible.  Keep in mind that the cPAP is the gold standard and is usually preferred by the sleep doctors but the problem is that the patients have a difficult time tolerating it.  It is important for the patient using the oral appliance go through a series of exercises during the morning after waking up.  This 10 minutes is important because it reseats the jaw back into where it needs to go and when doing so the bite is not affected. 

It is important for your dentist to have a good understanding of the occlusion (bite) and the TMJ (Jaw Joint).  If you have a cPAP and just can’t use it let us know about it.  If you have some of these symptoms mentioned above let us know so we can refer you to a sleep physician and order a sleep study.  Even though you may not think this is a problem you would be surprised to find out just how good you would feel with a good night sleep. 

If you have comments or questions and are in the Shelby Twp. MI area please call us up at (586)247-3500 or email me at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com.

Filed Under: Dental Patient Testimonials, Dental Videos, General Dentistry, How to choose a dentist, Oral Conditions, Sleeping Disorders Tagged With: , , ,

Why Go To A Christian Dentist And What To Expect?

February 8, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

At  The Gentle Dentist located on 22 Mile in Shelby Township, Michigan we feel led by the Holy Spirit in what we do.  God has gifted us to provide dentistry in a very relaxing environment.  The dental office can and has been a very stressful place to be at for countless people and just the thought of going to the dentist causes them to break out in a cold sweat.  Many new dental patients who visit us are drawn to our Shelby Dental Office for a number of reasons:

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit draws us closer together for a higher purpose in that those who have a high level of fear are comforted with the way they are treated. With the history of bad experiences that many of our dental patients bring it is critical to be a good listener and a better responder to their needs.  Trust has been lost from previous dentists who have said they would stop if the dental patient needed them to stop and they didn’t.  This lack of trust seriously affects them and it is our desire to transform them.  It is not us but how God  uses us to help develop a higher level of trust.
  • Through the process of praying over our dental patients before treatment is begun calmness is experienced. God is the giver of peace and we want to help create the connection to Him.
  • We play Christian music in the dental office so that a joyful environment is sensed.
  • We are not forceful with our Christian Faith but just available to listen and then provide a reassuring word to our dental patients. Our dental office is our ministry and we become close to those who choose to become dental patients.
  • We are in the process of creating a Christian Lending Library so those who have an interest in this type of information can borrow it.

The following is our Mission, Vision and Core Value Statements:

Mission Statement

“We at The Gentle Dentist use our God given talents and abilities to serve our patients with Christ like compassion by listening to their needs first and then delivering individualized uncompromised dental care with respect and integrity”.

Core Value

“Irrespective of the result, every decision made and action taken at The Gentle Dentist and Portable Dental Services has the characteristic of integrity at its foundation”.

Vision Statement

“With God’s Blessing, we will continue to grow and prosper by striving to be the most qualified and respected group of dental professionals in the area”.

Find out for yourself what it is like being treated in a Christ focused environment so give us a call at 586.247.3500.

About The Author

Dr. Robert Antolak, DDS graduated from the University of Michigan in 1987 with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He is dedicated to providing the highest quality and appropriate cosmetic, sedation and general dentistry in the most comfortable and gentle way possible. Because being a dentist has been a lifelong dream, Dr. Antolak has a passion for the profession. He enjoys helping people feel better about their smiles and therefore their self-image with dental implant and cosmetic dentistry. His Dental Practice is located in Shelby Township, Michigan (Sterling Heights area in Macomb County).  For more information visit The Gentle Dentist.

Filed Under: General Dentistry, How to choose a dentist, Welcome Tagged With: , , , ,

The Battle of the Toothbrush: How to Get Your Kids Motivated to Brush Their Teeth

February 1, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

At The Gentle Dentist located in Shelby Twp. Michigan near Sterling Heights and Clinton Township we are a general dental practice who are concerned about your entire family’s oral health.

Because February is National Children’s Dental Health Month there are some things that need to be addressed when it comes to the care of your child’s teeth.  I know that getting your child motivated to brushing their teeth is a huge challenge for all parents.  I have an 8 and a 9 year old and am just recently experiencing this task as being easier.  The young years can be the most difficult as it involves so much of the parent’s involvement and time.  The important thing is to keep at it and show them how to brush their teeth by example.  If you know the proper technique and set the example then it will eventually become easier.

Good dental habits are critically important to set for your children for a lifetime of health. Since there is a direct relationship between oral health and total body health I wanted to write this article for parents who struggle with getting your kids to brush their teeth even though they don’t want to.  To do this I have interviewed my 8 year old son, Matthew and Grace our 9 year old daughter:

Question:  What is a good way to motivate you to brush your teeth?

Matthew:  Not wanting to get more cavities because they hurt.  It makes my mouth feel better and cleaner.

Grace: Because it gets the food out of my braces and the tooth paste tastes good.  IT also gets the slime off of my teeth.

Question:  When is the best time for you to brush your teeth?

Matthew:  Before school when I get up so I don’t have stinky breath and at night.  It is hard for me to do this when I am tired though.

Grace: Before school after eating breakfast, after school and before bed time.

The following are the basics of tooth brushing for you and your child:

Place a toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree angle and gently brush teeth in an elliptical motion. Brush the outside of the teeth, inside the teeth, your tongue, the chewing surfaces and between teeth. It is important to brush the teeth for 2 minutes each setting.  The use of electric tooth brushes such as the oral B or the Sonicare are the best. Our kids use the child Sonicare which is more effective in removing plaque and and has a notification when the 2 minutes are up. This way your child will brush long enough.

Fluoride: The use of fluoridated toothpaste  is important to remineralize the surfaces of the teeth.  Bacteria from the mouth forms plaque, the sticky substance that form on teeth. This plaque when it comes into contact with the sugars from food and sweets make an acid.  This acid over time will dissolve the enamel and for a cavity.  It is important that proper nutrition and proper eating habits are incorporated into your lifestyle.

Parents should pay attention to the amount of fluoride their child receives. Too much fluoride can cause tooth discoloration, and too little fluoride can cause teeth to be more susceptible to cavities. Bottled waters need to be on the list of items that parents must check before giving to their child. Some bottled waters have little or no fluoride at all.

It is best to  contact your dentist for more specific information on your child’s oral care.  Remember to visit your dentist every 6 months for his/her advice on oral care.  If you don’t have a dentist for your family and are in the Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, or Macomb Twp. area then give us a call at 586.247.3500 or email Nikki@thegentledentist.com for an appointment.

At The Gentle Dentist we provide General, Cosmetic and General dentistry for the entire family.  Call today to become part of our growing family of dental patients.

Filed Under: Dental Hygiene, General Dentistry, How to choose a dentist, Nutrition Tagged With: ,
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