January 27th, 2012 amogell
Common sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or even sleeping too much increase the risk of heart disease and obesity. A study reported in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at almost 140,000 people. Those that reported sleep disturbance three nights out of the week were more likely to experience obesity, heart attack and heart disease.
When the researchers from the University of Pennsylvania adjusted their results according to other health risk factors and sociodemographic factors the association between sleep and cardiometabolic problems remained. The investigators concluded that poor sleep patterns are associated with a number of outcomes including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack and stroke. This supports previous studies but the wording of the questions used focused on sleep quality versus length of sleep — in other words did you actually get 8 hours of good quality sleep or were you continually woken during the night by your bed partner snoring loudly?
Loud snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea which is a dangerous condition for the sleeper. What most people don’t realize is that the person trying to sleep with someone with sleep apnea also has their health impacted in a big way. The loud snoring, gasping for air and pauses in breathing cause both bed partners disturbed sleep. If this sounds familiar it may be time to seek a diagnosis and get treatment.
To schedule your consultation regarding snoring and obstructive sleep apnea please contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH today at 614-476-6696. You both deserve a good night’s sleep to ensure your health!
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 23rd, 2012 amogell
Is your energy boost damaging your smile? Not too long ago, if you wanted a little energy boost you drank a cup of coffee. Today we can skip the coffee and get our caffeine fix from any number of energy drinks on the market. The growth in sales of these drinks has been amazing and more products are coming to market all the time. From a dental point of view most of the energy drinks are enamel destroyers meaning they cause damage to dental enamel and leave your teeth vulnerable to decay.
Why do energy drinks cause dental damage?
Most energy drinks are highly acidic. Not only does the acid erode your tooth enamel but it also changes the pH levels in your mouth making it much more hospitable to bacteria.
Most energy drinks contain lots of sugar. Yes, there are some sugar free brands available but most rely at least partly on sugar for a quick energy rush. Sugar is always bad for your teeth but combined with the high acid content of the drinks your dental enamel faces an uphill battle. The acid has compromised the enamel and the sugar feeds all the bacteria that are growing in the pH altered mouth.
Some drinks can also cause dry mouth. Caffeine is a diuretic and some energy drinks can cause you to dehydrate. When your mouth is dry the chances of tooth decay and gum disease increase. We need our saliva to keep our mouths clean and healthy.
Too much caffeine can cause your body to secrete calcium through urine. Both bones and teeth suffer when calcium levels decline.
If you consume lots of energy drinks try to protect your smile by rinsing with water after finishing the drink. Wait to brush your teeth about an hour so you don’t further damage your dental enamel. Chew sugar-free gum containing xylitol to help with saliva flow. Cosmetic damage that includes discoloration may be repaired using dental veneers.
Please contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today if you are experiencing sensitivity or discomfort. By treating these problems early you can avoid serious dental damage. Call 614-476-6696 today to schedule your appointment.
Posted in cosmetic, Oral Heath Care | No Comments »
January 18th, 2012 amogell
Sleep apnea may be diagnosed less in women because women’s symptoms may be different from a mans. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing during sleep. Usually loud snoring, gasping for breath and daytime fatigue are symptoms.
Apnea events are counted when the breathing stops or slows for at least 10 seconds at a time and this can occur many times each night. Those patients who stop breathing 10-29 times per hour are considered to have mild to moderate sleep apnea, those with 30 or more interruptions per hour have severe sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea has severe health consequences greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Most women don’t realize that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in America so diagnosing and treating a risk factor like obstructive sleep apnea is vital.
Patients with OSA often go undiagnosed. They are not aware that they snore, gasp and stop breathing during sleep and may only seek diagnosis when a bed partner complains about the noise keeping them up at night. Women especially may be diagnosed less frequently because daytime sleepiness is a key symptom that men report much more frequently than women. It is more common for breathing problems to keep women from falling asleep or staying asleep.
Treating obstructive sleep apnea usually involves sleeping with a CPAP machine which pumps air through a mask allowing the sleeper to breath all night. Unfortunately this treatment is not well tolerated by many patients. A very good treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea is an oral appliance made by a specially trained dentist. The oral appliance is created in a lab and worn in the mouth at night and helps hold the jaw in a position that keeps the airway open allowing a full night of breathing and sleep.
If loud snoring, daytime fatigue and weight gain are a problem please contact Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation and discuss diagnosis and treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 11th, 2012 amogell
Health trends for 2012 will be changing. The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group, determined the following are going to be hot in 2012:
- Natural energy drinks – Instead of Red Bull and Monster consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts.
- Sleep – Study after study confirms the link between poor quality sleep with high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, depression and even sexual dysfunction. Anyone who snores loudly should be tested for a sleep breathing disorder such as sleep apnea to preserve their own health as well as the health of their bed partner.
- Flexitarian eating – This means that more American’s will enjoy a few more vegan or vegetarian meals each week for health purposes but still eat animal protein on occasion. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be excellent for gum health.
- Health Apps - Do it yourself health applications for smart phones and tablet computers can do everything from monitor your moles and blood pressure to scan your sleep for disruptions. Expect to see even more as the Apple App Store expects their offerings to increase to 13,000 in this category by the end of the year.
- Digital Motivation – Track your fitness with a gadget or commit to losing weight via a Facebook page where your friends can help lend accountability to your actions.
According to Mark Weisman of the Values Institute “These trends are consistent with the growing importance of health in America — if not yet as a daily routine then certainly as a primary goal in 2012 for three out of four consumers… Health is the new prestige barometer in the country — meaning that the great majority of Americans would rather be considered healthy than wealthy.”
We must add improving our oral health to the list above. In 2012 make a commitment to proper brushing, flossing and regularly schedule hygiene visits. Overall health begins with a healthy smile and StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH is looking forward to helping you make 2012 your healthiest year ever. Contact us at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Oral Heath Care | No Comments »
January 9th, 2012 amogell
A study from Norway suggests that poor sleep habits may increase the risk of fibromyalgia in women. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increased with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared to younger women.
This is interesting because about 5 million people in the US suffer from fibromyalgia and most are women. Prior scientific studies have shown that waking at night, fatigue and insomnia are common in people with the condition. This study shows that the sleep problems occur before the patients develop fibromyalgia. Dr. Paul Mork explained “Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women. We found a dose-response relation, where women who often reported sleep problems had a greater risk of fibromyalgia than those who never experienced sleep problems.”
While many people suffer from insomnia or waking at night, others suffer sleep disturbances because of their bed partner’s sleep problems. Loud snoring or the snoring and gasping sounds of a bed partner with sleep apnea provide continual interruptions throughout the night for both parties. The big difference is the partner with sleep apnea doesn’t remember the wakings but the exhausted spouse can detail the night all too clearly.
If a bed partner’s sleep issues are affecting your health it is time to get a diagnosis and put a stop to the snoring once and for all. Not everyone that snores has obstructive sleep apnea but an oral appliance created by Columbus area sleep medicine dentist Dr. Mark Levy can quiet that snore and allow an open, quiet airway all night long.
For more information please contact StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 6th, 2012 amogell
Some patients call dental crowns “caps” because they are used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. But there is no difference between a cap and a crown. They are one in the same. A dental crown is the “official” term for this type of dental restoration.
A crown is a permanent restoration that is created in a dental lab. While dental veneers are used for most cosmetic cases sometimes a dental crown can also be used to improve the appearance of a tooth by changing its shape, color or alignment. Crowns are also placed over dental implants to replace missing teeth.
A dentist will recommend a crown when:
- A tooth has fractured
- When a cavity or replacement filling is so big that not enough tooth is left for a strong restoration
- To replace a tooth using a dental implant
- For cosmetic purposes when a tooth needs more reshaping than is possible using dental veneers
- To restore a tooth that has had a root canal
Depending upon where the tooth needing the crown is located you may be able to have your dental crown made in just one visit thanks to our CEREC. This amazing machine creates a custom porcelain crown right in our own office.
Many crowns are made in dental labs which will require two visits to the office. During the first visit your tooth will be prepared for the crown, impressions will be taken and a temporary crown placed in your mouth. The dental laboratory will create your crown and send it to us. You will return to the office where we will remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent restoration in place. Your bite will be tested to make sure that all of your teeth are fitting together properly with the new crown in place. With good home oral hygiene care your dental crown will last for many years.
Please contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Gahanna, OH at 614-476-6696 today to schedule your appointment for your dental crown.
Posted in cosmetic | No Comments »
January 4th, 2012 amogell
It seems that yesterday was National Sleep Day and I missed it. Maybe you missed it too! Considering how important a good night of sleep is to our overall health I think we really need more than one day per year devoted to sleep.
Following the hectic holiday season we are all a little overtired during the first week in January. If it seems to be taking you more than a few days to get back into your normal routine without excessive daytime tiredness you may want to check to see if an undiagnosed sleep disorder could be stealing your energy.
Good sleep hygiene is important for a good night of sleep every night so here are a few tips:
- Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable and cool
- Use a good pillow that supports your head and neck
- Try a white noise machine to help you relax
- Avoid caffeine late in the afternoon and evening and don’t drink alcohol before bed
- Watch your fluid consumption in the evening so you don’t have to wake in the night to urinate
- Stick to a regular bedtime
- Don’t use the bedroom for work or watching TV
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the sleeper to stop breathing during sleep. If you snore loudly, experience excessive daytime sleepiness, have morning headaches and are having difficulty losing weight you may have obstructive sleep apnea. For more information about sleep apnea and available treatment options please contact your Columbus area sleep medicine dentist Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696 today.
Posted in dental sleep medicine, Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
January 3rd, 2012 amogell
How many New Year’s resolutions did you make? Three days later how many have dropped by the wayside? Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US so prevention should be on your list of resolutions for 2012.
Resolve to get your teeth professionally cleaned on a regular schedule and you’ll be helping your heart health without ever stepping inside a gym.
Research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November showed that people who had their teeth cleaned had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke. By removing inflammation-causing bacteria from your teeth you reduce your heart disease risk.
What is your reason for not keeping those dental hygiene appointments? Many people avoid dental cleanings because of anxiety or a fear of dental visits. Using sedation dentistry you can easily get the dental care you need, even preventative care like cleanings, without feeling anxious or afraid. Several types of sedation are available to our patients and all of the team members at StoneRidge Dental Care are understanding and supportive.
In the Columbus, Ohio area please contact cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 today to find out more about sedation dentistry.
Posted in sedation dentistry | No Comments »
December 27th, 2011 amogell
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that has been used for many years to fight tooth decay but it seems that bacteria are learning to fight back. The incidence of tooth decay in America has greatly declined with the advent of fluoride toothpastes and the addition of fluoride to municipal water supplies. While this is controversial in some areas the addition of this mineral has the amazing ability to not only reduce cavities in children and adults but can even repair the early stages of tooth decay.
Researchers from Yale reported in Science Express that bacteria have molecular messaging systems called riboswitches that detect fluoride. When the fluoride is detected the bacteria activate their defenses. One of the side effects of these defense mechanisms contributes to tooth decay.
Fluoride not only hardens the enamel in our teeth but is toxic to bacteria. These bacteria have had to deal with the toxic effects of fluoride for billions of years and have evolved these sensors to help them survive. According to the researchers “Now that these sensors and defense mechanisms are known, it may be possible to manipulate these mechanisms to make fluoride even more toxic to bacteria.”
As with many things, a little fluoride can be good for our teeth but too much can cause problems including spotting and discoloration. There are other reasons for discolored or mottled teeth including use of medications such as antibiotics. Unfortunately, the discoloration caused by medications or excess fluoride cannot be removed by dental bleaching. Cosmetic dentistry techniques including dental veneers are used to restore discolored teeth creating a beautiful new smile.
For more information about cosmetic dentistry options in the Columbus, OH area please contact Columbus cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care today. Schedule your consultation by called 614-476-6696.
Posted in cosmetic, Oral Heath Care | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2011 amogell
It has been estimated that sleep problems affect one-third to one-half of all Americans causing a huge toll on the individuals and on society as a whole. In a recent screening of almost 5,000 police officers in the US and Canada, about 40% of them tested positive for at least 1 type of sleep disorder. The most common was obstructive sleep apnea. 
Dr. William Kohler of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine stated “Police officers are obviously a very important group because they are there to protect us, and unfortunately, at times when they are distracted because of tiredness, they are at risk to themselves and others.”
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with being overweight and about a third of the officers in the study had a BMI higher than 30. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues of the mouth and throat relax during sleep and block the airway. The sleeper stops breathing for several seconds until the lack of oxygen causes a partial wakening to begin breathing again. The sleeper does not remember these episodes which can occur from a few to hundreds of times each night. The bed partner of the sleeper is also wakened frequently because of the loud snoring and gasping for breath that accompanies the disorder. Both partners feel exhausted the next day.
Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, weight gain and increased risk of accident. Treatment usually begins with CPAP but many patients find it difficult to tolerate sleeping with machines. Oral appliance therapy is proven to be an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and is available in the Columbus, OH area from Dr. Mark Levy.
Police officers are not the only ones that need a good nights sleep in order to perform their jobs. Contact StoneRidge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
Posted in dental sleep medicine | No Comments »
