Sedation | Shelby Township Dentists, Macomb County Michigan Cosmetic and Sedation Dentist

Mouth Breathing and its effect on your body

January 18, 2011 by Shelby Dentist ·

Mouth breathing:

Can increase asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical problems
Reduces the levels of oxygen exchange in the blood/lung interface. The lungs extract oxygen from the air we breathe primarily on the exhale. Because the nostrils are smaller then the mouth, air exhaled through the nose creates back pressure when one exhales. It slows the air escape so the lungs have more time to extract oxygen from them.
During sleep, it predisposes one to loud snoring and irregular breathing and can lead to a serious condition called Sleep Apnea and heart conditions.

Nose Breathing:

Proper nose breathing reduces high blood pressure or hypertension and stress for most people. Kind of like a speed control (governor) on a car engine.
The nostrils and sinuses filter and warm the air going into the lungs. The mouth breather bypasses this.
Maintaining a keen sense of smell is very important for enjoying life and for safety and social acceptance. There are receptors in the nose, known as olfactory bulbs, are direct extensions of a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus. This extension regulates the heartbeat, blood pressure, thirst, appetite, and of course, the cycles of sleeping a waking. The hypothalamus is also responsible for generating chemicals that influence memory and emotion.
Lessening of the common cold is another good reason for nose breathing. The mucous (white blood cells that kill germs) membrane lining the nose extends all the way from the inner linings of the nostrils down the trachea to the bronchi the directly enters the lungs. Germs get caught and die in the mucous.

Long term mouth breathers experience difficulty in swallowing pills, increased gagging response, increased mucous production and other difficulties.

Mouth breathers do not adjust the way they swallow as an infant. Typically infants project their tongues out to swallow and transition at around 8 months old so that their tongue is positioned along the top of their palate when swallowing. Pacifiers and thumb sucking also affects the tongue position during the developmental years. If they aren’t removed early enough the tongue continues to push out beyond the front teeth preventing normal jaw and teeth development. The relationship of the upper and lower teeth is also affected since they have to accommodate the tongue. I have seen in adult patients the affects of this and it is almost impossible to change the jaws without surgery. They usually have an open bite on their front teeth so that when they bite together the front top teeth don’t overlap the lower front teeth. This is not cosmetically appealing and it has negative effects on the health of the jaw joint.

Allergies also are responsible for the mouth breathing tendencies. The pharynx (back of throat) swells blocking off the nasal passage preventing smooth airflow through the nose. It is important to determine what children are allergic to as soon as possible so that the destructive forces of mouth breathing are minimized.

As an adult it is best to retrain yourself to nose breathe during the day. There are devices you can put in your mouth at night to retrain your tongue and help with nose breathing. In fact, I had a patient the other day who was having a very difficult time breathing. His CPAP breathing machine wasn’t functioning properly and I had him a Breathe Rite Strip to enlarge his nasal passage. He was shocked at the difference he felt and the ease in which he could breathe.

Our human bodies have been designed so intricately that the smallest change in our function can effect so many other facets of how we function and our overall health. If you have any questions please call me at (586)247-3500 or email me at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years.

As A reminder: The thermostats are being turned up and it is a good idea to have a humidifier in you room where you sleep since this significantly helps with dry mouth, sore throats, and adds to the efficiency of heating your home. I was reminded of this at a recent visit to a nursing home and recommended that a humidifier would help increase the comfort of sleeping for the patient.

Filed Under: Dental Emergencies, General Dentistry, Mouth pain, Nutrition, Oral Conditions Tagged With: breathe right strip, gagging, hypertension, Implant Surgeries, mouth breathing, sedation, sleep apnea, snoring, thumb sucking

I am looking for a Macomb County Dentist for nervous people

June 19, 2010 by Shelby Dentist ·

Dentistry can bring on night sweats, rapid heart beat, hyperventilation and all of the symptoms of a huge anxiety rush. This type of feeling is usually felt before a dental appointment for those who have had bad experiences.

These bad events can stay with people for decades. The level of fear can last for many years because the fear is ingrained into that person’s memory. Because we deal with very close spaces and are directly in one of the most sensitive and personal areas on the human body trust must be one of the most importent issues that the dental patient must have.

Modern dentistry has equipped ourselves to deal with these issues to make visits much more comfortable. For example, we use sedation to put people in a state where they have no memory of their procedure and are very relaxed when they get to the office and during the procedures. It also allows for them to get many services done at one visit so they don’t have to continually return to our office. Another option is to plug in a DVD into our virtual reality glasses and watch a movie.

It is critical to have dental procedures pain free. Anesthetics properly administered do a great job in controlling pain and therefore anxiety, and as a result trust starts to become developed.

Because fear comes from a loss of control it is very important that you are in complete control of the procedure and have a way of stopping if you need a break or are in pain and in need of additional anesthesia.

Anxiety stems from fear of the unknown and when you are not sure the anxiety increases. It is also very helpful if all of your questions are answered when you need additional information.

Because relationships are so important and can’t be stressed enough we have personal interviews with the patient so that their needs are met and so that there are no misunderstandings.

Please don’t let your bad experiences affect your present condition. Modern dentistry emphasizes prevention over all other things so do yourself a favor and don’t delay this any longer. Your needs will be met and you will be comfortable having treatment as this is my promise. You will be amazed at how easy and user friendly dental care can be.

It is easier said than done, but don’t be embarrassed if you haven’t been to a dentist in years and are afraid of past judgments from the dentist. A modern dentist will help you look forward to your future care and would never lecture you.

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. For more information visit The Gentle Dentist.

Filed Under: Dental Emergencies, Dental fear, General Dentistry, How to choose a dentist, Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: Anesthetic, Anesthetics, Anxiety, Appointments, Circumstances, Compassion, Complete Control, Decades, dental ansiety, dental anxiety, Dental Emergencies, Dental fear, Dental Procedures, Dentistry, Dentists, Exact Problem, Fear, Fear Of The Unknown, Fly, General Dentistry, Going To The Dentist, How to choose a dentist, Job, Memory, Mouth pain, Old Friend, Prick, Relati, relationships, sedation, Sedation Dentistry, Teeth Whitening | Tags: 80s, Topical Anesthetic, Traumatic Experiences, Virtual Glasses, Virtual Reality Glasses

Dental fear-a crippling problem resolved

February 18, 2010 by Shelby Dentist ·

Question: I have a tremendous amount of fear when it comes to going to the dentist. It has gotten to the point where I have to go and don’t know what to do. Help!!!!

Answer: You and many other patients come in to see us with this exact problem. Past visits at the dentist have in some circumstances “paralyzed” patients with hear and then put off appointments for years. These bad and usually very traumatic experiences can stay with people for decades. In fact I saw a patient the other day who was in his 80s and he could remember every detail of a visit when he was a child that kept him from visiting the dentist for over 60 years.

Modern dentistry has responded to these issues to make visits much more comfortable. For example, we use sedation to put people in a state where they have no memory of their procedure and are very relaxed when they get to the office. It also allows for them to get many procedures done at one visit so they don’t have to continually return to our office. Another option is to watch a movie on our virtual reality glasses. Dental procedures fly by while you watch your favorite movie.

It is critical to have dental procedures pain free. Anesthetics properly administered do a wonderful job in controlling pain and therefore anxiety, which means injecting slowly with compassion using topical anesthetic before the injection eliminates the prick from an injection.

Anxiety arises from fear of the unknown and when you are expecting pain the anxiety even heightens even more. It is also very helpful if all of your questions are answered when you need additional information.

At TheGentleDentist.com we take the time to know our patients to the point where they feel comfortable because it is like seeing an old friend. These relationships are important and can’t be stressed enough.

Please don’t let your bad experiences affect your present condition. Modern dentistry emphasizes prevention over all other things so do yourself a favor and don’t delay this any longer. You will be amazed at how easy and user friendly dental care can be. Also don’t be embarrassed if you haven’t been to a dentist in years and are afraid of past judgments from the dentist. A modern dentist will help you look forward to your future care and would never lecture you.