Sleep Apnea Solutions and Tips

Obstructive sleep apnea can be dangerous but it is treatable. Here in our Holmdel, NJ dental practice, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS offers her patients with mild sleep apnea a snore guard.

A snore guard can help patients with mild sleep apnea or just snoring since these conditions often go hand-in-hand. The snore guard is like a mouth guard and works to position to jaw differently. Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat collapse and cause a blocked airway. The snore guard repositions the jaw so that the soft tissue is no longer collapsed and there is an open airway.

In addition to the snore guard, there are some lifestyle changes that can help decrease the severity of sleep apnea. Keeping a healthy weight will reduce the excess weight put on the neck while sleeping. In addition, there are some sleeping habits to practice. First, sleep on your side rather than your back. This helps keep the airway more open. Secondly, avoid drinking alcohol or taking sedatives before bed. This depresses the body’s system and can become dangerous if the body does not react appropriately to apnea.

Sleep apnea can lead to life-threatening health complications. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, call our Holmdel, NJ office at (732) 264-8180 or visit our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

What is a Dental Crown/cap?

Dental crowns/Cap are great for keeping your natural teeth. If a tooth is fractured or decayed, a tooth is able to be repaired with a crown; there is no reason to pull it. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS gives crowns to save her patients teeth here in our Holmdel, NJ office.

Dental crowns are like caps that go on teeth that are weakened due to decay or damage. They can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal. They are able to be made completely customized so that the crown looks natural in the patient’s mouth.

In order to place a dental crown, first, the tooth has to be prepared. Dr. Shah will reshape the tooth so a crown can fit on top. Impressions are then taken of the tooth so a dental laboratory can create the custom crown. A temporary crown will be placed until the permanent crown is ready. When the permanent crown is ready, Dr. Shah will bond it into place. Your new strong and stable crown is ready.

Dental crowns restore teeth and smiles. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call us at (732) 264-8180. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.dentistnj.com. 

Straight Teeth are Healthy Teeth

Benefits of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a confident smile. According to the American Dental Association, straightening your teeth can significantly affect your overall dental health. Straightening your smile could hardly be perfect if it’s not a healthy one and here at the dental practice of Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, we offer a variety of orthodontic options to help get you started.

Swollen red gums can often be the result of having teeth that are crowded or too widely spaced. Unfortunately, these are also signs of periodontal disease. When teeth are properly aligned, it helps the gums fit more securely around the teeth, allowing for the strongest and healthiest defense against periodontal problems. When teeth are crooked, extra pressure is placed on just a few teeth when the forces of chewing should be equally distributed between all of the teeth. In addition, smiles can be misaligned to the degree where individual teeth may be completely out of place behind or in front of other teeth, which can cause daily cleaning problems. Plaque left behind after brushing and flossing will turn into tartar within 24 hours and this tartar cannot be removed with a toothbrush.

If you wish to discuss your orthodontic treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS, here in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-8180.