Sleep Dentistry
Sleep dentistry can help you get a better night’s rest.
At Laurel Manor Dental, your dental health doesn’t stop with teeth and gums. Our focus is on your health and wellness as a whole.
Sleep plays a critical role in helping the body fight inflammation. Obstructive sleep apnea prevents the body’s natural inflammation-reducing process, which can contribute to serious illnesses such as heart disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, and depression. Because sleep apnea goes beyond snoring alone, we work with a sleep specialist to conduct a sleep study and identify your best treatment.
TMD
START EVERY DAY OFF BETTER
If you experience jaw pain daily, it may seem normal. But the truth is, jaw pain is far from ordinary and may be a symptom of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint that connects your lower jaw to the skull, allowing you to open and close your mouth. TMD causes pain around the joint and nearby muscles. When you clench or grind your teeth, it puts additional strain on the jaw muscles, causing inflammation and affecting your sleep. At Laurel Manor Dental, we can relieve these symptoms and give you a reason to smile again.
The first step in treating TMD is to undergo a thorough clinical evaluation of your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. We check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicks and pops when you open, swallow, or chew.
Once diagnosed, a custom nightguard is often recommended as the first treatment. These customized, plastic mouthpieces are designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth and prevent the clenching and grinding that frequently causes or worsens TMD. The nightguard also realigns your jaw and reduces stress on the surrounding area.
It’s important to understand that TMD can be caused by several factors, including:
- Certain types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- A previous injury to the jaw
- Chronic grinding or clenching of teeth
- Autoimmune diseases
- Certain connective tissue diseases
- Genetics
Dr. Rozensky and his team at Laurel Manor Dental will review your overall health history to create the right treatment plan. Your TMD treatment options depend on the circumstances of your condition. A nighttime oral appliance may help relieve uncomfortable symptoms and protect the muscles, teeth, and TMJ. Those whose TMD is caused by a bite condition or misalignment might benefit from a daytime appliance.
We have a detailed understanding of how the teeth, jaw, and TMJ function together. During your dental exam, we feel either side of your TMJ to see if it’s moving normally or if it shows signs of joint problems so that treatment can be applied efficiently and effectively.
Laurel Manor came highly recommended so I thought I'd try them out. They are wonderful! Very knowledgeable and they gave me plenty of time to discuss my issues, and Dr. Rozensky explained everything in a manner that I could understand... I have finally found my 'forever' dentist! Thank You Laurel Manor Dental!!!
CC MAIL
How We Help You Fall Asleep Faster and For Longer
Bruxism
WHEN STRESS OR BITE MISALIGNMENT CAUSES PROBLEMS
Bruxism is the clinical term for teeth grinding; it is the act of clenching your teeth. Bruxism affects not only your teeth but also the structures nearby, including your head. It can rob you of quality sleep and leave your face, head, teeth, and jaw in pain.
When teeth are under enormous pressure, the enamel can wear away, exposing the dentin and eventually breaking the teeth. Previous dental work can also be affected over time. Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is often strained by bruxism, which can cause sore facial muscles and headaches. These complications can affect your overall health, so seeking treatment is important. Physical, psychological, and genetic factors may contribute to bruxism. If you grind your teeth while awake, it may be due to intense emotions such as tension, fear, anger, or stress. Bruxism during sleep may be a chewing activity associated with night wakings.
Research has shown that a surprising number of people have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep-related bruxism. It is still unclear whether there is a causal relationship or only a correlation. Whether you have both or only bruxism, treating the issue requires an individually tailored plan to meet your specific needs after a thorough evaluation. If your bruxism is unrelated to sleep apnea, we treat it with an occlusal guard or splint that is custom-made for your mouth.
Your dentist confirms the relaxed position of your jaw with a bite registration, made by placing a fast-setting material between your teeth. We then make you a custom orthotic to reposition your jaw into a more physiological position. Once you reach an acceptable comfort level, we can discuss long-term options.
Sleep Apnea
A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR GOOD HEALTH
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway repeatedly becomes blocked, preventing breathing. You wake up briefly, gasp for air, and fall back asleep. You rarely remember these experiences in the morning.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of this condition. It happens when the soft tissue in the back of your throat collapses, blocking air passage and starving your brain and heart of oxygen. The resulting increase in blood pressure and heart rate can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. OSA can seriously impact your life, so seeking treatment as soon as possible is best.
The first step is a sleep consultation at our practice. We ask questions to determine whether you should be referred to a sleep physician or asked to complete an at-home sleep test. Laurel Manor Dental works with experienced sleep doctors, so if you have already received a diagnosis, we request records from your doctor to devise your best treatment plan.
While severe cases of sleep apnea may require a CPAP machine, many mild to moderate cases can be treated relatively easily with oral devices. Our practice uses FDA- and Medicare-approved oral appliances that are custom-fit for effectiveness and comfort. They work by moving your jaw forward to clear your airway while you sleep so that oxygen deprivation doesn’t wake you up.
Many patients with sleep apnea also present with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) or bruxism (teeth grinding) symptoms. Some patients see improvement in their TMD or bruxism symptoms, while others do not. We adjust the oral appliance to obtain an optimal position to manage your sleep apnea and any related symptoms, but different treatments are also available for these conditions.
We treat OSA according to the needs of each patient and work closely with you to determine your optimal treatment.
High Tech Dentistry
Our focus is advanced care and a superb patient experience.
We carefully choose the latest dental tech and tools to increase patient comfort and expand our ability to provide advanced dentistry to our patients.
In our practice, we utilize the following technology:
- iTero Scanner — The iTero Scanner is a small handheld device that allows us to capture a full 3D image of your teeth and gums. The sharp images mean we can get a better picture of any issues and track any changes in your oral health with a detailed view.
- Digital Impressions — No more gooey impressions! Digital impressions also provide more detailed information and a speedier turnaround time in the creation of restorations.
- Digital X-rays — Digital radiographs reduce the patient’s exposure to radiation while giving the dental team sharper, clearer images that are produced almost instantaneously.
- Cone Beam 3D Imaging — Using cone beam technology, we can map underlying bone structure, nerve pathways, and soft tissue for more detailed treatment planning.
- Intraoral Camera — The intraoral camera puts you in the driver seat. You can see exactly what the doctor sees, allowing the doctor to explain your treatment plan tooth by tooth.
Your enjoyable dental experience starts with your comfort.
State-of-the-art technology in a convenient location with the dental team you trust trained in advanced techniques is the perfect recipe for comfortable, comprehensive dental care.
