Sleep apnea (or obstructive sleep apnea – OSA) is a condition where a person stops breathing while they are sleeping. It affects nearly 20 million Americans, most of whom are never diagnosed with the condition. The problem is that sleep apnea can lead to a multitude of health conditions, including sudden cardiac arrest.  In fact, sleep apnea is what led to the death of football legend Reggie White.  Following his death, his wife Sara made it her mission to become an educator on the topic of sleep apnea, eventually founding the  Reggie White Sleep Disorders Research and Education Foundation.

Traditionally, sleep apnea was diagnosed through a tests known as a polysomnogram and patients were prescribed a treatment known as CPAP therapy.  A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is a device worn by patients as they sleep and it forces air into their lungs, which reduces the workload for the body and keeps the patient breathing. The challenge is that not everyone is able to wear them for a variety of reasons.

Thankfully, there there is a growing field of dentistry known as Dental Sleep Medicine, where dentists who have been specifically trained in correcting sleep disorders can help sleep apnea patients without the use of a CPAP or surgery.

Most general dentists do not have the training of certification to do this, but those who do are awarded diplomat status by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and often are affiliated with sleep centers.

If you or anyone that you know suffers from sleep apnea and does not wear a CPAP, I encourage you to find a dentist who specializes in dental sleep medicine ASAP. It could be a life changing decision!

This is a guest blog post in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month.

“If you don’t brush your teeth I’m going to take you to the dentist and he is going to give you a shot in your mouth.”  Have you ever uttered this expression or its equivalent to your unruly child who does not want to brush or floss?  It’s been an hour and they still have not brushed their teeth and you are at the end of your rope.  We’ve all been there; however, I believe that statements such as these are one of the worse ways to introduce dentistry to your child.

When the dentist is used as a threat we build fear that will make any dental care, even cleanings and exams, impossible.  This situation causes delay in care such as cleaning and exams and increase in dental cost for sedation.  It may seem like the easiest way to get a child to care for their teeth but in the long run it does much more damage than good for the child, transforming the dentist into a monster in their mind.

Another unintended situation is when parents lie to the child.  “The doctor is only going to look,” a parent may say, when the plan was to give an shot and place a filling.  Children are not stupid and they will not be caught twice.  While this may work the first time, you will never gain that child’s trust again.  Let the dentist explain what is going to happen the next visit and calmly reassure the child prior to the visit that everything will be just fine.  I tell all my kid patients that I will never lie to them.  I also do not allow the parents to lie.  If the plan was for a filling and I hear the mom and dad told them that all I was going to do was look…I only look.  Then I tell the child that next time we will be taking care of the filling.  THEN mom and dad and me have a talk about being honest with their child.

The best way to build trust and a pattern of good oral care in a child comes for a couple of places.  First is what the parent does with their own oral care.  If you do not brush, floss or see a dentist on a regular basis neither will your child.  If children grow up watching mom and dad brush and floss each evening then they will accept it as a normal part of life.  Instead of telling the child to, “go brush your teeth for bed,” Make it a family activity.  “Let’s all go brush our teeth.  Let the child brush your teeth and you brush and floss theirs.  Kids love sharing and learning in this way.

The next way is to start young.  A child should have their first cleaning when their first tooth appears or their first birthday, whichever comes first.  This first visit is a chance for the child to be introduced to the dentist, and for the dentist to check for any growth and development problems.  In addition, and more importantly, the dental team will talk to the parent about what to expect and how to care for their child’s teeth.  Many times small habits, such as letting a child go to bed with a juice bottle, can lead to sever damage to the child’s teeth, such as baby bottle mouth.

Regular check-ups should continue every six months.  This allows the dentist to ensure use preventive measures such as fluoride and sealants and to catch any decay while it is small and is easier and safer to treat.  It also allows the dentist to check the development of the jaws and teeth to ensure proper timing of any orthodontic needs.  Orthodontics works best when the child is still growing and we can help guide the growth of the jaws to correct any problems.

The last suggestion I have is that good old four letter word….SODA.  Kids don’t need it; we were built to run off water.  Treat soda and juice like a candy bar, only good in moderation.  I suggest that soda not be kept in the house, it is a treat when going out to eat or at birthday parties.  Soda contains acid and sugar (even diet!) that attacks the teeth and dissolves the enamel.  It affects the whole body and can contribute to childhood obesity and diabetes.  Better to stick to water, it’s what we were made to run off of. By the way, if the parents are heavy soda drinkers…so will the kids.  If you’re healthy, you will have healthy kids.

About the Author
Dr. Nathan Saydyk graduated with honors from the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry and has been practicing cosmetic and general dentistry in Gilbert, Arizona since 2006. He has been in private practice at Stoneridge Dental since March of 2008, serving patients of all ages.  Dr. Saydyk is committed to life-long learning and attends many continuing education courses that exceed the state’s requirements. Dr. Saydyk is also a serious hockey player, amateur guitar player, didgeridoo player, writer, avid reader and a very poor golfer who tries very hard!

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