Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Heart Disease Risk May Be Reduced By Sleep Apnea Treatment

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Research had previously shown that people with obstructive sleep apnea have greater activity in the nerves related to stress response -- this can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. The increase was found to be due to a change in brain stem function caused by sleep apnea.

A small study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that treating obstructive sleep apnea reduced the nerve activity by restoring the brain stem to normal function. In theory, this should reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure or heart disease. The study only included 13 patients who were treated using CPAP.

While CPAP is the gold standard for treating obstructive sleep apnea, about half of patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the masks and hoses. Most of these patients leave their sleep apnea untreated which can lead to severe health problems.

Oral appliance therapy is a proven method of treating obstructive sleep apnea without the masks and hoses. The oral appliance is only worn during sleep. Oral appliances, also called mandibular advancement devices, work by gently placing the lower jaw in a forward position during sleep which keeps the airway open throughout the night. No more collapsed airway means no more snoring and stoppages of breath.

Find out more about obstructive sleep apnea and your treatment options by contacting the only Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine located in Palm Beach County, Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell. Our office can be reached at 561-394-9000.

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Broken Tooth?

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Patients break teeth in all sorts of ways - sometimes there is a really good story behind the broken tooth. Sometimes it is a fall, sometimes it is a sports injury and other times the tooth has been weakened because of decay or an old filling.

How we treat a broken tooth depends on which tooth is broken and how badly it is broken.

Front teeth are the ones that usually break because of accidents. A front tooth with a chip can be repaired with bonding or a dental veneer. Bonding is a less expensive repair but the bonding material can stain. For more serious breaks and if a great deal of tooth structure has broken away then a dental crown may be needed.

Back teeth are likely to break because of biting into something hard. Back teeth also break because their structure has been weakened by large fillings that weaken the structure of the tooth. Often these older fillings have broken down, allowing decay to form under the filling. When these teeth break there is often not enough tooth structure left to "fill" which means a dental crown must be placed.

In some cases, the tooth breaks in such a way that it cannot be saved. In these cases the tooth is removed and replaced using either a dental implant or a bridge. Dental implants have quickly become the restoration of choice for missing teeth because they act and feel just like a natural tooth. We also don't have to touch the adjacent teeth like we do when placing a dental bridge.

Find out more about your options for repairing broken teeth and replacing a missing tooth by contacting cosmetic and general dentist Kenneth A. Mogell, DMD in Boca Raton today at 561-394-9000.

Labels: cosmetic dentistry, dental veneers

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Cosmetic Dentistry For Those Who Fear The Dentist

Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Lots of people dislike going to the dentist but for about 5% of the population the fear prevents them from seeking the care they need, or want. Dental care that we want usually falls under the heading of cosmetic dentistry - this means using dental veneers, crowns and bleaching to give you a more beautiful smile. Can people who fear the dentist get cosmetic dental treatment?

Of course they can!

Patients with milder types of dental fear often find that their fear has disappeared once they form a relationship with a dentist that they feel comfortable with. Other patients need mild medication to allow them to relax during their appointments.

Cosmetic dental treatments can be life-changing. For those in jobs that require public contact a beautiful smile can enhance the ability to close a sale. We see patients shave facial hair that they have worn for years in order to show off their new, confident smile.

Cosmetic dental treatments range from simple whitening procedures to full-mouth restorations - most cases fall on the more conservative end of the spectrum.

Find out what cosmetic dentistry can do for you and your smile, despite your dental fears.

Please contact Boca Raton cosmetic dentist Kenneth A. Mogell, DMD today at 561-394-9000 to schedule your consultation.

Labels: cosmetic dentistry, veneers, whitening

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Dental Insurance And Your Treatment

Monday, September 07, 2015

Dental insurance is very different from medical insurance. Dental insurance usually has annual limits as to the amount it will cover. Interestingly, these annual maximum amounts haven't changed much over the years. Dental insurance can be a useful tool for partial financing of your dental treatment but it rarely covers 100%.

Our practice is currently a provider for Delta Dental PPO, United Healthcare PPO, United Concordia PPO and Dentamax PPO. Dentamax is a provider network that underwrites for Principal, Guardian Assurant and Metlife.

Please remember that dental insurance doesn't cover everything! If you have questions about your coverage, Samantha is very familiar with most of the plans and if she doesn't have the answer, she is really great about getting information from the insurance companies. Getting these answers does take time, so please be patient and she will get back to you with the answer to your question.

Remember that your dental insurance has an annual maximum that they will cover. If you have dental treatment that you have been thinking of putting off until the future, it might make sense to do part of the treatment before the end of this year in order to maximize your insurance benefit.

Please contact our Boca Raton cosmetic dental office at 561-394-9000 to schedule your next visit.

Labels: dental insurance

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New Gum Disease Treatment?

Friday, September 04, 2015

When you think of blueberries and teeth, you usually think about purple stains and the need to brush with a whitening toothpaste. If researchers have their way, we may soon think of blueberries as an innovative new gum disease treatment.

Gum disease is very common and severe cases call for treatment using antibiotics. Gum disease and gingivitis result from the build-up of dental plaque on teeth. Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm containing bacteria that forms on teeth. If the plaque isn't removed in a timely manner it becomes a hard substance called tartar. Only a dental cleaning can remove tartar and stop the infection process.

Prevention of gum disease and avoiding antibiotic use is in everyone's best interest so researchers from the Universite' Laval in Canada looked at blueberry polyphenols, which are known to protect plants against some diseases. Using extracts from the wild lowbush blueberry they were able to stop bacteria from growing and forming biofilms. The tests showed that the blueberry polyphenols blocked inflammation on a molecular level.

The research team is now in development of a device that could slowly release these extracts after a deep cleaning to treat gum disease, much like antibiotics are now used.

Keeping your gums healthy is key to maintaining good overall health throughout our lives. Gum disease and bacteria have been linked to heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

Find out more about healthy gums and a healthy body by contacting Mogell Dental Associates at 561-394-9000 today.

Labels: gum disease, oral hygiene

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What Causes TMJ Pain?

Wednesday, September 02, 2015

TMJ pain is terrible - headaches, facial pain, jaw soreness, some even experience neck and back pain. Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for TMJ problems can be problematic.

Many patients travel from doctor to doctor for years before discovering that their "migraine" isn't in there head, but rather in their jaw joint.

What causes TMJ pain? There are a lot of answers for this question. Some patients have experienced an accident or fall that caused temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Other patients grind their teeth and caused the joint to become damaged. Arthritis, old dental restorations and a poor bite are a few more reasons that the muscles and jaw joint starts causing discomfort.

Treatment for TMJ dysfunction can vary depending upon the cause of the problem. Old dental restorations that have become loose may need to be replaced. A poor bite may be corrected through dental restorations or orthodontics.

Most cases of TMJ dysfunction can be managed using a combination of a dental device that is designed to place the jaw in the optimal position for relaxation and appropriate home care such as avoiding certain foods or avoiding certain physical actions that might cause muscle spasms or pain.

Find out more about TMJ treatment in Boca Raton and Delray Beach by contacting neuromuscular dentist Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394.9000.

Labels: headache, teeth grinding, TMJ

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Congratulations Samantha!

Today I just wanted to share some news that isn't about dentistry - but it is about our office...

You all know our Patient Coordinator, Samantha, whose smiling face greats you when you walk in the door. Next time you see her say congratulations!

Samantha got married!