Tracy Nguyen DDS interviews Robert Gallegos DDS on the often undiagnosed Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome(UARS).

Losing teeth is a traumatic event. We do not take it lightly in the dental office. When teeth are lost it is important to know where that person is in their understanding of the problem and the possible solutions. There are four options: do nothing, make a removable denture, make a fixed bridge or place a dental implant(s) and crown(s).

A favorite bedtime story and the soothing voice of a parent can put a child to sleep and start a process of health and well-being that can be accomplished only through good sleep. There is overwhelming evidence that shows how important good sleep is for children’s mental and physical health, growth and development.

Athletes in all contact sports from football to basketball should wear a mouthguard. It’s also advisable to wear a mouthguard when participating in any physical activity where there is a risk of jarring movement or injury to the face or jaw, like in skateboarding, skiing, or riding a scooter. Mouthguards serve to protect teeth, tongue, lips, gums, jaw bones and reduce concussions rates and severity.

Cigarette smoking in the United States continues to decrease, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). While this may be good news, cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States.

To maintain great oral health throughout life, parents need to start the process of good oral habits for their children even before teeth erupt. A simple cotton gauze or cloth gently wiped over the gums will clean these areas but more importantly condition the child to be accepting of assistance and learn good oral health.

Preventive dentistry’s aim is to avoid opportunities for disease that cause tooth decay and other oral health problems. Disease opportunities happen when the immune system and/or the balance of bacteria in our bodies change allowing for disease to start. The two main types of dental disease are decay (cavities) and periodontal disease (gum disease). The way to avoid dental disease is through patient education, proper nutrition, excellent homecare and regular dental visits.

You may have read some of my articles on sleep apnea, snoring, breathing, airway issues and nutrition. These issues are interrelated. Keep in mind that our most basic and most important nutrient is air. We can live with other depleted nutrients but not without air. It is the most essential nutrient. In an abbreviated way let me explain how various healthcare providers can work together to address interrelated healthcare from an airway perspective.

More than 50 years ago there were no set standards for dental visits. In general, people had poor oral health. To improve dental health and establish prevention of dental disease, dental and health organizations developed some guidelines. Among those guidelines was the recommendation that people visit their dentist every six months for a check-up and thorough cleaning (hygiene). There was no research to support this guideline. In the last couple of decades studies conducted on frequency of dental visits and health care concluded visits should be customized to the patient.

Replacement of dental fillings is one of the most frequent dental procedures performed in the dental office. Dental fillings are replaced for a variety of reasons, including: new decay (cavity), a gap develops between the filling and tooth, broken or cracked filling, broken or cracked tooth, removal of amalgam (metal) and replacement of a filling that does not match the tooth.

Most women have difficulty breathing during the second and third trimesters as their baby grows. Due to physiological changes during pregnancy, breathing for moms is not as easy as it was before pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy (average 25-30 pounds) and the position of the baby can make breathing a struggle especially when sleeping.

We have all heard that eating right is one of the keys to good overall health. A poor diet is a lifestyle and often results in cavities, gum disease, type II diabetes, obesity and heart disease, to mention just a few. The ultimate consequences of lifestyle diseases are poor health, chronic illness, early death, and escalating health care costs.

The scientific evidence on breathing disorders in children is very clear; breathing disorders can lead to chronic medical problems that lower the quality and quantity of life. What does that mean? Breathing disorders adversely affect the quality of life in many ways including our children’s ability to participate in sports, stay focused in school, resist colds, socialize, and physically and neurologically grow and development (G&D).

Most people visit their dental hygienist more frequently than they see their regular physician. This gives the dental office the opportunity to weigh in on each patient’s health by reviewing their recent medial health, medications, hospitalizations, discuss blood pressure and heart rate and how they are feeling that day.

Every year when Halloween comes around I have this inner conflict: candy versus the dentist. What do I do? Do I give out toothbrushes and tooth paste and risk my house getting papered? Do I turn off my lights and go out for dinner? Or, do I embrace a bit of Americana?

What is Airway Focused Dentistry? Isn’t dentistry about the teeth and gums? Why would my dentist get involved in my airway?

Why is this important? If you have damaged teeth or cosmetic issues and would like attractive, strong teeth then read on. Dentistry has had some major advancements in a very short period of time especially in the materials we use to restore teeth.

Sleep is often overlooked and frequently underrated as one of the most important factors in good health. Adults 18-60 years old should get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. At age 60 and older, sleep hours can decrease slightly. Younger than 18 years old the hours of sleep need to be 10 and greater, depending on age.

Today everyone should believe that they can keep most or all of their teeth for their entire life. There are many factors that can affect your oral health and some become more common and pronounced as we age.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about children’s dental health.