Sleep Apnea and Car Crashes

You probably knew that it was a bad idea to drive while tired. But did you know that you may have a problem your dentist can help with? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OAS) is a common problem that is associated with everything from night time teeth grinding to heart disease, and a new study establishes a connection between OAS and car crashes.

OAS occurs when peoples’ throat tissues sag into their airways in their sleep. It can cause people to wake up, but it can also cause them to snore or get pulled out of deep sleep, leaving them feeling tired without knowing why. This is dangerous because the study found that once people are sleep deprived, they have difficulty determining their level of impairment. This is despite the fact that people with moderate sleep apnea are 13% likelier to crash their cars and people with severe sleep apnea are 123% likelier to do so.

We at Bear Creek Dental in Grande Prairie make custom-fitted night guards to help keep patients’ airways open during sleep. This protects their teeth from grinding, but it also helps them get better rest generally.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit Bear Creek Dental.

 

Bruxism

Do you wake up in the morning and struggle to brush your teeth because you can barely open your jaw? When jaw muscles tighten during sleep, this is usually due to a condition called bruxism. Bruxism occurs when teeth clench or grind together during the day or throughout the night. To treat this condition, our doctors at Bear Creek Dental may suggest a night guard.

Bruxism can be attributed to stress, anxiety, frustration, and anger, or it can simply occur from a misaligned bite. Misaligned bites are usually treated with orthodontics, but an alternative treatment is a night guard to alleviate pressure on the jaw. If you notice your jaw muscles contracting, a grinding sound that disturbs your partner during sleep, or long-lasting facial pain, schedule a consultation with us today.

If you have questions or concerns regarding bruxism, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Tooth Sensitivity in Children

Our child patients are no less important to us than adults at Bear Creek Dental, and we want to help children resolve problems they may experience with oversensitivity. It is an unfortunate truth that new teeth pushing through the gum line sometimes cause soreness and that new teeth will be sensitive when they are first exposed to air. However, there are some other reasons for tooth sensitivity in children which require our attention.

Children are the demographic which is most likely to experience cavities. They also experience high rates of gingivitis. This usually happens when they don’t brush their teeth enough. However, an alternative reason for sensitivity is that they are brushing too hard, damaging their gum tissue and allowing their tooth roots to become exposed.

It is important to encourage children to be as specific as possible when describing their symptoms. Soreness in the back upper teeth may indicate a sinus infection. Pain in their jaws may indicate that they are grinding or clenching their teeth while asleep. It is also possible that there is a greater underlying problem which needs to be investigated. Children with diabetes have higher rates of gum inflammation, and people with autism are often more sensitive in general.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

 

Botox for Facial Pain

For over 20 years, Botox has commonly been used to erase unsightly frown lines and/or wrinkles. Recently, Botox has developed a popular reputation in the dental industry as a therapeutic use for facial pain due to TMJ/TMD. This is because Botox contains a tiny dose of botulinum which has the ability to decrease facial pain associated with this condition. If you’ve exhausted your treatment options for eliminating facial pain, schedule a consultation with one of our doctors at Bear Creek Dental to see if Botox is right for you.

TMD, commonly known as a temporomandibular joint disorder, is a condition associated with pain in the jaw and facial muscles, which can cause headaches, earaches, and general facial pain. During the procedure, Botox will be injected into the facial muscles without any sensory loss. This allows the facial muscles to relax, instead of contracting, which typically causes pain. There are other dental conditions that are sometimes treated using Botox, but our doctors at Bear Creek Dental will recommend the usage of this substance as he or she sees fit.   

If you suffer from facial pain and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.