You might not even realize that you snore unless the noise is loud enough to disturb your sleeping partner. Likewise, you might not realize that you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea unless you start to experience one or more of its related side effects. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA for short, affects more people than many realize, despite the fact that its most prominent symptom is loud, abrasive snoring. To determine if you should seek a sleep apnea assessment from your dentist, ask yourself if you exhibit any of the following sleep apnea symptoms. (more…)
Do You Have Questions About Wisdom Teeth?
Do you have any questions about wisdom teeth? Many people have questions about these extra molars that arrive just as a person enters adulthood. They can oftentimes be harmful to your smile’s health and lead to serious discomfort. Fortunately, we can comfortably and safely remove them to improve your smile’s health.
What’s Happening In Cerritos?
At Cerritos Dental Surgery, we provide or services to the lovely community of Cerritos. We like to take time in our blog to remind our patients and our readers about all the wonderful and exciting things happening in the community. In addition, we want to remind you that we’re available for your oral surgery needs, from replacing missing teeth with dental implants to removing impacted wisdom teeth.
Nitrous Oxide Vs. IV Sedation
If you’re afraid to visit your dentist, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety and fear is fairly common, but that’s why we have sedation dentistry! Using sedation, your dentist can calm your nerves and make for a very comfortable appointment – whether it be a cleaning, checkup, or even something more extensive. When it comes to sedation, however, you have several options; oral medication, nitrous oxide (also known as ‘laughing gas’), IV sedation, and even general anesthesia. Each method of sedation is different, just like each patient – depending on your severity of anxiety, your dentist will recommend the sedation that will best optimize your comfort level. (more…)
Could Your Snoring Indicate A Sleep Disorder?
Sleep disorders are one of the most difficult medical conditions to diagnose given the nature of their symptoms, but you probably already knew that. What you probably don’t know, however, is that snoring can actually indicate a sleep disorder: sleep apnea. Before you start worrying, that doesn’t mean that everyone who snores has a sleep apnea (and vice versa). In fact, there are people who don’t snore but still suffer from sleep disorders. But, when your snoring is affecting the sleep of those around you – there may be an underlying sleep problem. How can you find out? (more…)
Do You Have Sleep Apnea?
If you find that you’re waking after a ‘full’ night’s rest feeling exhausted, you’re probably not getting as much sleep as you think. Unfortunately, sleep disorders are often difficult to diagnose because of the nature of their symptoms (they occur while you’re unconscious). Because of this, many sufferers go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and end up putting their overall health at risk for other complications. How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Well, they always say knowledge is power, right? Knowing the risk factors and signs to look for is the first step to discovering the reason behind your lack of sleep. (more…)
How To Handle A Dental Emergency
You probably already know that emergencies don’t occur at convenient times – but handling a dental emergency in the moment can certainly be stressful. Whether it’s an injury, dislodged tooth, or a severe infection – your teeth are an incredibly important part of your body and should be treated as such. That’s why Dr. Hofkes is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to help you with any dental emergency you may have. But, what constitutes a dental emergency? How do you know how to handle an emergency situation like this? Don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! (more…)
Do You Have Questions About Dental Implants?
If you’re missing a tooth – or multiple teeth – your dentist may recommend placing a dental implant. Your first instinct may be to start firing questions about cost, procedure, and what to expect overall. While your dentist is always happy to answer your questions and concerns, many times patients forget these questions until later on. So, if you have questions about dental implants, you’ve come to the right place! From placing an implant to caring for it afterwards – it’s all right here. If you still have questions after reading this blog, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist, Dr. Hofkes. (more…)
When is Dental Sedation Appropriate?
Usually, dental treatment is minimally-invasive enough that sedation is not generally necessary. But for patients with high levels of anxiety, or who experience various degrees of dental fear, sedation may be a necessity for nearly every dental treatment.
Aside from anxiety, however, dental sedation can also help patients complete necessary restorative and other dental treatments in less time and in significantly more comfort. Depending on your medical history, your specific needs and preferences, and your dentist’s recommendation, you might benefit from an appropriate dental sedation option, as well. (more…)
Why Are Third Molars Called ‘Wisdom’ Teeth?
Originally, third molars were referred to as ‘teeth of wisdom’ but ever since the 19th century, we’ve been calling them ‘wisdom’ teeth – why? Contrary to what it may seem, these teeth actually have nothing to do with the amount of wisdom you may or may not have. In fact, third molars coined this term because they generally erupt in our late teens and early twenties – previously known as ‘the age of wisdom.’ So we are certainly wiser by the time our third molars come in, they just don’t indicate (or bring) any wisdom – that comes with age. (more…)
