January 28th, 2012
People that reported sleep problems three nights out of the week were more likely to experience obesity, heart attack and heart disease according to a new study.
The study in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at almost 140,000 people and asked about perceived sleep problems like difficulties staying asleep, falling asleep and even asked about those who slept too much. 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 heart and weight 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. These results support 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 symptom of obstructive sleep apnea which is a dangerous condition which causes stoppages of breathing during sleep. What most people don’t realize is that the bed partner of someone with sleep apnea also has their health impacted. The loud snoring, gasping for air and pauses in breathing cause both people to have disturbed sleep. If this sounds familiar it may be time to seek a diagnosis and get treatment for you or your spouse.
To schedule your consultation regarding snoring and obstructive sleep apnea please contact Dr.Nelly Silva at Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville today at 610-489-5555. Start dreaming again -
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, obstructive sleep apnea
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January 23rd, 2012
Keeping your mouth squeaky clean and healthy can affect your heart health. Scientists discovered that the common oral bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum has the ability to override the safeguards that protect our blood vessels and allow bacteria to spread throughout the body. This bacterium is the most common of the 700 or so bacteria that inhabit the human mouth. 
Dr. Yiping Han, of Case Western Reserve, found that the germ has a bonding agent that allows it to unlock the cells on the blood vessel surface. This allows it, and other germs such as E. coli, to cross the placental and blood-brain barriers. The bacteria has been found in infections and abscesses in the brain, lungs, liver, spleen and joints. Dr. Han had previously linked it to preterm labor and fetal death.
This bacteria typically enters the bloodstream through breaks in the mucous membranes in the mouth. Gum disease offers this bug, and others, the opportunity to enter the bloodstream and cause damage to many systems of the body.
Keeping your gums healthy by practicing excellent home care including brushing and flossing as directed by your dental hygienist is important. Home care alone can’t diagnose or treat periodontal disease. Treating gum disease and getting it under control as soon as possible is very important for your overall health. If you experience puffy, sore gums or if you bleed when brushing or flossing you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment is simple and inexpensive — waiting makes treatment much more complex.
In please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville today at 610-489-5555 to schedule your dental hygiene visit. Remember that keeping your dental hygiene schedule of professional cleanings two times per year can save health care dollars in the future. If you have active gum disease you may need to visit your hygienist more frequently.
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January 19th, 2012
There are a lot of advertisements on TV for drugs to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia but what are the risk factors? Fibromyalgia is a syndrome with symptoms including long term pain throughout the body with increased muscle and joint tenderness. There is no cure and scientists are unsure what the risk factors may be. A Norwegian study suggests that the risk of developing fibromyalgia increases with more severe sleep problems. The connection appears stronger among women who were past middle age as compared to younger women.
About 5 million American’s 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 Dr. Nelly Silva can quiet the snoring and allow a more restful night’s sleep. Please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville at 610-489-5555 today to schedule your consultation.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, obstructive sleep apnea
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January 12th, 2012
That’s right, here at Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville our patients don’t need to fear root canal therapy. Toothaches are no laughing matter but root canal therapy to save the tooth and end the pain has been the subject of jokes about dental pain for many years. This is probably because many years ago it was not a pleasant procedure. The good news is that is no longer the case. Today you can have root canal therapy and not feel a thing.
“So what is a root canal and why do I need this procedure?” is a question I often hear.
Root canal therapy (also called endodontic therapy) deals with the inside structure of the tooth called the pulp. The pulp inside your tooth is made up of a complex of arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic vessels. The pulp is what gives nourishment to the tooth from within keeping the tooth resilient and strong. The pulp of your tooth is also the part that feels the difference between hot and cold.
Problems with the pulp can start with bacterial infections caused by tooth decay, cracks in the tooth or trauma. The tissue in the tooth begins to break down and die and you begin to feel pain. At this point you can either remove the tooth or keep the tooth and clean out the pulp and replace it with a biocompatible sealer to fill the space — a root canal. Modern anesthetics ensure that you don’t feel discomfort during the procedure. Sedation dentistry offers you options for receiving this needed care without fear or anxiety — you may even sleep through the procedure!
Please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville in Collegeville, PA today at 610-489-5555 to schedule your next appointment.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, root canal, sedation dentistry
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January 10th, 2012
A study from India has shown that ice cream with added probiotics actually reduced the levels of the oral bacteria associated with tooth decay. The study used ice cream with added freeze dried probiotics because the study participants were all children and the researchers believed, correctly as it turned out, that the children would consistently eat the ice cream.
Other types of dairy products, usually yogurt and kefir contain healthy probiotics and are readily available at most grocery stores. Maybe someday a probiotic laced ice cream may come to market as well.
Children aren’t the only ones that get cavities. Adults of any age are susceptible and the risk of tooth decay may be increased by certain medications or health issues. These cavities are usually the result of dry mouth or reduced saliva flow.
Our saliva does many wonderful things for us and protecting our teeth from tooth decay is one of them. Saliva helps keep our teeth clean by washing away food particles and it also helps to strengthen our teeth after we have eaten something acidic. Reduce the amount of saliva and the oral bacteria have a much better chance at causing cavities.
All cavities start out small and then begin to grow. This is just one reason why getting your teeth professionally cleaned and a dental checkup every six months is so important. Small problems are easier (and less expensive) to solve than large ones so don’t delay getting a cavity restored.
Please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville today at 610-489-5555 to schedule your next visit and remember to keep adding probiotics to your diet.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, cavity
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January 6th, 2012
“Doc, do I really need a crown?” is a question I hear all of the time. Crowns are not just for royalty, at least not the dental kind. Crowns are a common and extremely long lasting type of dental restoration.
Dentists recommend a crown as a dental restoration under these circumstances:
- 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
- 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.
Crowns are made in a dental lab and 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. If you have been told that a tooth requires a crown please do not delay treatment, a weakened tooth can easily break possibly causing you to lose the tooth. Crowns are among the longest lasting dental restorations available.
Please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville serving the Collegeville, Phoenixville and Skippack at 610-489-5555 today to schedule your appointment for your dental crown.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, crown, dental crown
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January 5th, 2012
Sleep apnea patients in Collegeville need to be aware of the effects of sleep apnea on atrial fibrillation. Sleep apnea is a sleep breathing disorder in which a person who is sleeping stops breathing for up to 30 seconds, this can occur many times each hour. Sleep disordered breathing like sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation (afib). A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the risk of having an abnormal heartbeat was 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode compared to during normal sleep breathing.
Surprisingly the sleep apnea did not have to be severe to raise the risk of afib. “Our focus was on individuals with mild to moderate apnea since it is those people we could compare periods of sleep where there were no apneas to periods where apneas occurred,” said coauthor Dr. Susan Redline of Case Western Reserve University. This work “underscores the tight link between heart disease and sleep apnea and the need to further evaluate the impact of sleep apnea treatment on reducing heart disease burden.”
Treating sleep apnea is vital for maintaining a healthy heart. The gold standard for treating the disease is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), however studies show that about half of patients discontinue CPAP within one year and those that do continue average only about 3 hours per night — not enough for effective treatment.
Another treatment that has been declared effective by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine but is not well known is oral appliance therapy available from a sleep apnea dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece that is worn while sleeping and it works by gently placing your lower jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep. No more blocked airway – no more apnea events.
To find out more about oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea please contact Collegeville, PA sleep medicine dentist Dr. Nelly Silva at 610-489-5555 today. We’ll be glad to schedule your consultation to see if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, obstructive sleep apnea
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January 1st, 2012
Happy New Year! How are those resolutions coming along so far? About half of us make these promises to ourselves each year and the top three are: lose weight, save money and quit bad habits. Two of the three involve your health so here’s an easy one for you. Be heart healthy and get your teeth cleaned.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America so prevention should be on your list of resolutions for 2012. 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? If cost is a concern please keep in mind that prevention is much less expensive than a hospital stay and our fee for a professional cleaning is probably less than you think. 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 Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville are trained to be understanding and supportive to our anxious patients.
Please contact sedation dentist Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville office at 610-489-5555 today to find out more about sedation dentistry and how we can serve your needs.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, sedation dentistry
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December 28th, 2011
College students are home for the holidays and many return home complaining about migraine headaches. One often overlooked reason for migraine headache is tooth grinding during sleep. This condition is known as bruxism and has several causes. Some bruxism starts with stress or anxiety, for others it may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder and for many it is a symptom of a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Chronic grinding or clenching of the teeth typically occurs during sleep and most people do not know they are grinding. More than half of adults grind or clench occasionally but even children suffer from bruxism. Obvious side effects of grinding are severe headache, often misdiagnosed as migraines, worn and broken teeth, clicking in the jaw and severe neck and facial pain.
Treatment for TMJ disorders may include a custom orthotic device that protects the teeth and jaw muscles while sleeping. An experience neuromuscular dentist can diagnose and suggest appropriate treatment for bruxism and TMJ disorders.
Bruxism can occur at any age. College students are usually stressed, have unhealthy habits and don’t usually get appropriate amounts of sleep. All can contribute to the beginning stages of a bruxism problem. Please contact Collegeville neuromuscular dentist Dr. Nelly Silva at 610-489-5555 today to schedule a consultation for your student.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, Migraine headaches, neuromuscular dentist, TMJ Collegeville
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December 24th, 2011
People have lots of reasons for not visiting the dentist regularly. They claim they don’t have time, they forgot to make an appointment but as many as 20% of patients who don’t make regular trips to the dentist cite the fear primary reason. Patients who suffer from dental anxiety or fear of the dentist don’t just skip getting their teeth cleaned — many avoid needed treatment even when in pain. 
We try to encourage our patients to keep their regular dental appointments by making visits as comfortable and stress free as possible. In addition to the early detection of dental problems like oral bone loss, infection, and gum disease, you need to visit the dentist to maintain good oral hygiene. Poor oral health can also lead to an increased risk of strokes and heart disease. Part of your comprehensive examination also includes a regular check for oral cancer, which may otherwise go undetected.
The fear of dentists can be caused by many things but is frequently the result of the anticipation of pain, either involving the procedure itself or the needles that are associated with the numbing process. Many older patients may have endured dental treatments that were unduly painful prior to modern pain free dental techniques. A feeling of not being in control may also result in a fear of dentists and in some rare cases, a phobia of dental care.
Despite the nature of fearful symptoms in some patients, there are numerous options that are available to provide successful dental treatment without fear or anxiety for the patient. Sedation dentistry is also a great choice for patients who have problems getting numb, have sensitive teeth or a strong gag reflex.
Sedation dentistry uses a range of medications and most anxious patients respond well to it. While local anesthetics may also be needed during a procedure, the injection is usually given following the administration of a sedative. Before appointments, oral sedatives may be given to patients inducing a feeling of relaxation. Another tool that is used in sedation dentistry is nitrous oxide which gives the patient a calm and relaxed feeling when it is inhaled.
Please contact Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville in Collegeville, PA today to discuss your options for anxiety-free dental treatment. Get the care you need without the stress by calling 610-489-5555 today.
Tags: Advanced Dentistry of Collegeville, anxiety, sedation dentistry
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