Identifying sleep disorders in pediatric patients requires more observation than questions, as with adults. The #1 factor affecting sleep in kids is enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Decreased oxygenation because of the airway restriction upregulates the sympathetic nervous system (fights or flight part of our nervous system) and children react as if they are fidgety, distracted, ADD/ADHD-like behaviors, such […]
Waking the Dead (and grumpy): Teenagers and Sleep
Why is it that getting our teenagers up and going is sometimes such a battle? We nag them to get up, they want to sleep longer We’re in a hurry- they can’t seem to get out of bed They stay up too late… Actually, it’s not totally their fault. As kids enter teenage years their […]
Why is High Blood Pressure a symptom and side effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Every time you have an apnea (a total block of air for 10 seconds) or hypopnea (partial breathing block) the “fight or flight” reflex is triggered. With each event, the heart rate and blood pressure increase. It’s the same feeling you get when you’re scared suddenly; a little sweating, hard to catch your breath, and […]
A Good Night’s Sleep
Walking through the airport I saw a cover of Consumer Reports regarding how to sleep better. It reviewed all types of mattresses, pillows, sleep positions, etc. suggesting that this is the primary cause of poor sleep. Not most likely. While discomfort in your neck, back, or hips can disturb your sleep, the PRIMARY cause of […]
Sleep Disorder Categories and AHI
There are 7 categories sleep disorders as outlined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. One of those categories involves all the Sleep Breathing Disorders that Dentists treat under the prescription of a Physician. Sleep Apnea and UARS (Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome – considered a variant or pre-cursor to sleep apnea) are what we will […]
Smoking and Pain: The Untold Relationship
As a Diplomat in the American Academy of Integrative Pain Management, I receive their Pain Practitioner Journal. An article in the December 2016 publication discussed the growing relationship between back pain (orthopedic/joint problems) and smoking. Smoking is referenced to be the root cause of many musculoskeletal disorders because of its relationship to bone damage, the chemicals impair healing in bones and discs, and the chemicals in cigarette smoke sensitize the brain and nerves to pain. Unfortunately this “sensitivity to pain” from smoking takes a long time to go away after quitting smoking and, can be a permanent change in the nerves and brain towards muscle and joint pain.
Nighttime Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth
Do you know if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep?
Here are some ways to tell.
I’m just stressed, I’m just an uptight person, I don’t sleep well, etc. Common “explanations” by those who use dental nightguards (and their dentists) for their clenching and grinding. It’s being shown that there IS probably a diagnosis rather than “naming” the symptoms “clenching and grinding” of this sleep disorder.
What To Look For In A TMJ Doctor
Technology is a Double Edged Sword
Technology is becoming more sophisticated and relied upon everywhere. Some think it is being relied on too much in medicine to the detriment of patient’s care. Other articles propose that a more “robotic” medical world might allow better decisions in health care because it removes human error.
I would opt for more clinical skills vs more robotics in my care. When one person touches another, there is a connection, a sense of trust that a robot or machine cannot instill.
The TMD Screening Questionnaire – Answer These 9 Questions
Specific guidelines on screening for TMDs were provided in an article in the Journal of the American Dental Association. This group of screening questions and the methods of the screening examination are appropriate and have proven to be effective since 1990.
Answer these 9 questions of the TMD Screening Questionnaire and find out if you should have a comprehensive TMD Screening Examination.
Are Otologic (Ear) Symptoms Caused By TMD?
In a research study this month, ear symptoms predicted 
TMJ/TMD problems almost better than having jaw pain. Ear symptoms are more predictive of a TMD (Temporo Mandibular Disorder) than an ear problem in this study. 100 random patients reporting to a medical clinic for these symptoms in descending order were examined for TMD;