Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Top Reasons Not To Ignore Sleep Apnea

Saturday, August 31, 2013

The number of people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea grows each day. Doctors believe that the rise in obesity rates is fueling this increase.

A catch-22 situation exists between sleep apnea and obesity. If you are obese you are likely to develop sleep apnea and if you have sleep apnea it is likely you will gain weight. Treating your sleep apnea may help you in your fight to lose the weight.

Other top reasons for treating your obstructive sleep apnea rather than ignoring it are:

Untreated apnea has been linked to heart attack
Untreated apnea has been linked to stroke - in one study 91% of stroke patients had sleep apnea!
Untreated apnea has been linked to diabetes - this goes along with the weight gain.
Unbelievable as it may seem, untreated sleep apnea has been linked to development of and poor treatment outcomes for certain cancers.

Obstructive sleep apnea is more than just "annoying snoring". If you experience daytime sleepiness and if you have been told you snore loudly you should be screened for obstructive sleep apnea.

There are treatments available that do not require CPAP. Find out more by contacting Boca sleep apnea dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000.

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Got Sensitive Fillings? Time to Replace Them

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Got sensitive fillings? Maybe it is time to replace that 20 year old filling for a new and improved model.

Older fillings, especially those old silver fillings made from mercury-based dental amalgam, have a tendency to break or leak as they age. This type of filling material is 150 year old technology and when it comes into contact with heat and cold it contracts and expands. This causes problems with the filling and can even cause cracks in the tooth.

New decay forming under these old leaky fillings is common. Any discomfort from a tooth that has an existing filling should be brought to the attention of your dentist as soon as possible. Early treatment can help save the tooth or possibly help avoid needing a root canal. If your dental floss is being shredded while you are flossing then it is a good bet that you have old fillings in need of replacement even if they are not causing discomfort.

Untreated tooth decay, especially under an old filling, can infect the pulp of the tooth and cause an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is painful and requires treatment from a dental professional to resolve the infection. Oral antibiotics alone cannot treat this type of infection and a visit to the emergency room won't help either - no dentists there. An abscessed tooth that is not treated causes severe pain and the infection can travel from the tooth to other areas of the body causing serious infection and illness.

If you need a new filling or feel that it is time to replace those old mercury silver fillings with modern dental composite fillings then please contact Boca Raton dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000.

Labels: mercury fillings, replace fillings

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Hormones and Oral Health

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Changing hormone levels throughout life may make women more susceptible to oral health problems. Hormones affect the blood supply to the gums and they affect they way the body reacts to problems like plaque buildup.

When Do Changing Hormone Levels Put Women at Risk?

Puberty bring lots of changes, and with it the possibility of sensitive or swollen gum tissue. Brushing and flossing are extremely important even though it may be a little uncomfortable. Visit the dentist if bleeding during brushing or flossing continues.
Hormones change rapidly during the monthly menstrual cycle and some women experience canker sores, bleeding gums and bright red or swollen gums. This typically happens a day or two before the start of the period and clears up a few days later.
Birth control pills contain progesterone which may lead to inflamed gum tissues and may increase the body's response to the toxins produced by dental plaque.
Progesterone also increases during pregnancy which can lead to pregnancy gingivitis. This usually happens during the 2nd to 8th month of pregnancy. Dental care is completely safe during pregnancy and your dentist may want you to have more frequent cleanings during this time. Remember that good oral health leads to better outcomes for your baby.
Menopause can lead to changes in taste and greater sensitivity to hot and cold. Reduced saliva flow is common and some women experience burning sensations in the mouth. Medications taken to combat symptoms can increase oral health problems. The reduction in estrogen that happens during menopause puts women at greater risk for loss of bone density which can affect the health of the jaw and lead to tooth loss.

Keep your dentist aware of changes in your health and medications and schedule regular visits for dental hygiene appointments. Combining professional care with good home care (yes, you have to floss) will help keep your mouth (and the rest of your body) healthy throughout all of life's changes.

Contact Dr. Ken Mogell in Boca Raton today at 561-394-9000 to schedule your next visit.

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Sleep Apnea Linked to Glaucoma

Friday, August 09, 2013

Let's add another condition to the long list of chronic health problems that are linked to obstructive sleep apnea. New research has found the people with sleep apnea are far more likely to develop glaucoma than those without the sleep breathing disorder.

This study, published in the journal Opthalmology, was conducted in China and reviewed the medical records for over 1000 patients who were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. These were compared to over 6,000 control patients. The researchers determined that the risk of developing a type of glaucoma, called open-angle glaucoma, within 5 years of an apnea diagnosis was 1.67 times higher than in those who didn't have a sleep apnea diagnosis.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and this study shows that obstructive sleep apnea not only affects our circulatory health but other bodily systems as well. Hopefully this study encourages physicians to alert sleep apnea patients of the associations between sleep apnea and this type of glaucoma so patients can seek proper screening and treatment.

Sleep apnea affects about 100 million people worldwide. Oral appliance therapy is a wonderful alternative to the masks and hoses associated with CPAP treatment - find out if you are a candidate by contacting Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell today at 561-394-9000.

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Kenneth A. Mogell, DMD recently received certification from the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is now one of only three Diplomates in the state of Florida.

Dentists with a broad understanding of oral appliance therapy work with board-certified sleep physicians to treat sleep-disordered breathing. A custom fit oral appliance is an effective treatment option for patients diagnosed with primary snoring or obstructive sleep apnea.

Please contact us at 1-800-343-SLEEP to schedule a consultation in Boca Raton, Jupiter, Port St. Lucie or Vero Beach. Why not discover if an oral appliance can treat your obstructive sleep apnea and help you scrap your CPAP.

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Dental Care Important During Pregnancy

Tuesday, August 06, 2013

Dental care is an important part of health care during pregnancy according to new recommendations issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The report said that not only are dental x-rays and cleanings safe during pregnancy, but obstetricians and gynecologists should encourage their patients to visit the dentist during their pregnancy.

Regular dental care before and during a pregnancy can improve the health of both the mother and the baby. According to the ACOG, 35% of women report that they haven't been to a dentist within the past year and about 40% of pregnant women have some form of gum disease or tooth decay.

The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can make a woman more susceptible to gum disease and oral health problems. Dr. Diana Cheng of the ACOG said "We can all reassure our patients that routine teeth cleanings, dental x-rays and local anesthesia are safe during pregnancy." She continued, "Pregnancy is not a reason to delay root canals or filling cavities if they are needed because putting off treatment may lead to further complications."

Improving the oral health of pregnant mothers may decrease the risk of transmitting oral bacteria from mother to baby.Because we know that oral bacteria travel throughout the body it is important to know that a recent systemic review concluded that pregnant women who are at high risk for pre-term birth and have gum disease may be able to lower their risk by getting scaling and root planing treatment.

Preventive Dentistry in Boca Raton

If you are expecting, or expect to be expecting, and have not visited the dentist recently, please contact Boca Raton cosmetic dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000 today to schedule your next visit.

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