Ins and Outs of Sleep Apnea Appliances

Posted on December 31st, 2009 | In General, Gum Diseases, Sedation

When choosing an appliance to treat sleep apnea, the options are many and varied, Dr. Moore said.

Custom-made adjustable appliances require several visits for evaluation, fitting, and follow-up. The initial evaluation includes tests to assess the ability of the upper airway to expand when the jaw is moved forward. After the appliance has been made and fitted, the patient can come in at any time for adjustments, but it’s especially important for the patient to visit after the symptoms have improved.

“Once that point has been achieved, a repeat portable monitoring test is ordered … to assess results of titration,” he continued. “Following this, the patient is sent back to the sleep physician for possible repeat polysomnography.”

In addition, “the patient needs to be followed for the length of time that they continue with use of the appliance—possibly every 6 months to 1 year—in order to monitor for changes in occlusion, TMJ problems, or other problems with the appliance,” Dr. Moore noted.

In contrast to adjustable appliances, there are devices that are not custom made, known as “boil and bite.” These “one-position appliances” are not adjustable after the initial fitting. “Some of these can be effective, and they are generally less expensive than custom-made appliances, which will cost more because they are uniquely patient-specific,” he said.

Costs can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, which includes the appliance as well as visits for evaluation and fitting. Health insurers typically will cover these costs if the patient has sleep apnea that has been documented by polysomnography, Dr. Moore said.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog at RivergateDentalCare.com, you can learn more about our dental services by reading our blogs. We have additional information concerning pregnancy and diabetes, pregnancy and gum disease, diabetes dentistry, cosmetic dental work such as lumineers and teeth whitening. Information on  oral health, systemic connection with periodontal disease, tooth extractions, dentures, cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry and sedation solutions, gum disease, root canals, children’s dentist, family dentist, smile solutions. Rivergate Dental Care is located in Goodlettsville TN, Rivergate area and provides dental services to Nashville and the surrounding areas including Gallatin, Hendersonville, White House and Greenbrier. We have three doctors in our office: Dr. David Weaver, Dr John Friedmann and Dr Katie Ham (female dentist). We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield and also work with Delta Dental. Call today to schedule an appointment! We offer free exam and free x-rays to all new patients! 1 800 FIX MY TEETH (1 800 349 6983).

The Joy Of Sedation

Posted on October 16th, 2009 | In Sedation

Discover The Joy Of Oral Sedation Dentistry

At Rivergate Dental Care we firmly believe that a beautiful smile is not only important to one’s health but also one’s confidence and self-esteem. We can help you achieve a beautiful smile by using the latest advances available in dentistry today.

“All you have to do is simply take a little pill and most of our patients say it feels as though they have slept through the entire procedure and that they do not remember a thing about their appointment.”

In spite of the latest dental technology, minimally invasive dental techniques, many patients still suffer from a great fear of the dentist. Their past bad dental experiences, control issues, and fear of pain can cause great stress, and anxiety before they even walk through our doors. If you happen to be one of the millions of people who have ignored their dental problems because of anxiety and fear, you can now take a deep breath and relax. Dr. Weaver understands your concerns and offers sedation dentistry for a uniquely exceptional dental experience. He has personally provided patients with over 3,000 sedation dentistry experiences. His office team has provided over 5,000 total sedation dentistry patient experiences when you include his associate doctors patients!

With oral sedation dentistry, we find that our patients can safely maintain total peace of mind and body during long dental procedures. We find that even very long visits in the dental chair can be comfortable for patients choosing the sedation dentistry option.

How does all this work? Typically, you will take medication before your treatment appointment. The amount and type of medication will be determined at your initial consultation. Our goal is to have you feeling very sleepy, but still able to respond to verbal stimulus when needed. While you’re under the effects of sedation, Dr Weaver and his expert team will perform the dental procedures for that visit, and afterwards, you will find that you have little or no memory of the procedure! With sedation dentistry, many procedures can be performed during one dental visit alone. The great thing, is that years of problems or neglect can be corrected in a relatively short period of time.

If you believe oral sedation dentistry could help you achieve the smile you have longed for, don’t delay calling Dr. Weaver, a skilled sedation dentist with over 12 years of experience, he has helped thousands of patients throughout Nashville, Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Madison, Whitehouse and beyond. Wake up to the smile of your dreams!

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Who is a candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

People who have:

• High fear of the dentist
• Traumatic dental experiences from years past
• Difficulty getting numb enough
• A severe gag reflex
• Very sensitive teeth
• Time intensive complex dental problems
• Limited amount of time to complete their dental care

People who:

• Hate shots and the very thought of needles in their mouth
• Cannot stand the smells, noises and tastes associated with dental care
• Are afraid or embarrassed about their teeth or being judged by the dental office personnel

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. How many visits will I need to complete my work?
A. With sedation you will be so relaxed and sedated that we can often make up for many years of missed treatment in one visit! This is something we can discuss at your initial appointment. If you need an additional visit to seat a crown, for example, you could be sedated for that visit also.

Q. Will I really be totally relaxed with sedation dentistry?
A. This office has provided patients with over 5,000 sedation experiences, we are very confident that you’ll be completely unaware of the dental treatment and have no memory of your visit. You will not be asleep or unconscious, as this is considered general anesthesia.

Q. Will I have any memory of my sedation dentistry visit?
A. Our experience is that you will have little or no memory of the procedure. If you do not want to remeber anything about your dental visit, choose the sedation dentistry option.Please read our patient testimonials on this question.

Q. I concerned about pain during the dental procedure?
A. Patients typically experience no discomfort or pain during treatment, and experience less post appointment pain when compared to patients who do not choose the sedation dentistry option.

Q. With sedation, what dental procedures can I have performed?
A. All procedures offered by our office can be performed with sedation dentistry, including cleaning, extractions, dental implants, dentures, lumineers, cosmetic crowns, impressions and periodontal gum disease surgery. The only limitations with sedation dentistry will center on your individual health status.

Q. How safe is sedation dentistry?
A. We operate under sedation dentistry protocols. We review your medical history prior to scheduling your sedation appointment and consult with your physician if necessary. We also monitor you closely while under sedation to avoid any unexpected complications. Your safety is our greatest concern!

Q. How long will I be sedated?
A. Many of our sedation dentistry visits last from two to six hours. The variation in time will vary depending on the specific procedures you need. We can talk about your specific time needs at you initial consultation.

Q. Do I need someone to accompany me to my appointment?
A. Yes, you will need someone to drive you to your sedation dentistry appointment, and drive you home from your sedation dentistry visit. The effects of the sedation medication will stay with you even after you leave the office. Because of this, we recommend that someone be with you at your home after your visit to ensure your safety.