HYGIENE & WELLNESS
Research continues to prove how integral oral hygiene is to our overall health and well-being. We do all we can to enhance your health and well-being by treating all matters pertaining to the oral cavity. We offer simple solutions to manage oral hygiene and address issues such as Bad Breath, Bruxism, Dry Mouth, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and TMJ.
We encourage regular check-ups & cleanings and coach our patients in developing effective maintenance habits at home. Although we recommend seeing a hygienist once every six months to prevent significant build-up, our hygienists are always happy to see you and get your oral hygiene back on track.
If any of these oral health issues are affecting your quality of life, we can help.
Our check-ups comprise of a full oral examination, including an oral cancer screening and a deep clean with the hygienist. Dr. Malpeso thoroughly examines the oral cavity searching for any abnormalities, incorporating digital x-rays and CT scans for the best exposure of damaged or problem areas. We check for any signs of oral and mouth cancer. Early detection and appropriate preventive care is often successful and prevents the need for further invasive treatment. The hygienist also provides a deep clean to break down plaque build-up that has accumulated since your last visit.
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands fail to produce sufficient amounts of saliva. It is something that often occurs as we age but it can be accelerated due to the use of various medications. If it is a constant [chronic] problem, it can lead to dental damage and should not go untreated.
When dry mouth happens on a regular basis, it may be caused by an underlying issue, like a salivary gland infection or diabetes. We examine your mouth for any signs of damage, offer treatment and advise patients on how to enhance salivary flow. Saliva plays a crucial role in oral health, it neutralizes acid, helps to cleanse the mouth of food debris and restores minerals to the teeth. When the mouth isn’t producing this important agent, it is more prone to gum disease, tooth decay, enamel erosion and dental staining. We offer a range of options to help manage dry mouth and prevent these issues from occurring.
Bad breath is a difficult thing to cure because it has many possible causes. We have partnered with the Wellsom Clinic to offer a concierge service that will find the root cause and guarantee the alleviation of breath odor. We identify, diagnose and treat the root causes of breath odor and restore oral health. Once oral health has been restored, we provide patients with a treatment plan, incorporating a highly effective oral rinse into their daily oral care routine for them to experience continued relief.
Sleep Apnea is characterized by abnormal breathing and pauses in breath during sleep. Broken sleep can put a huge strain on everyday life, but there is a simple solution to help unblock airways and allow for uninterrupted rest.
Experts have agreed that oral devices are the most effective way to resolve snoring and sleep apnea. These easy-to-use devices must be custom-made in order to effectively resolve obstruction. We use Mandibular repositioning devices to keep airways open during sleep by repositioning the lower jaw.
We provide patients struggling with sleep apnea with a device they can take home to track their breath during sleep. It monitors how many pauses occur throughout the night. Based on the results, we diagnose patients that experience significant pause throughout the night and custom fit a Mandibular repositioning device. We schedule follow up appointments to make sure the device is comfortable and providing relief.
Bruxism is characterized by grinding of teeth during sleep. Since it occurs during sleep, it’s a habit that can go unnoticed unless someone else brings it to your attention, or you experience chronic headaches, jaw or mouth pain, loose teeth or sensitivity.
The intensity varies but in serious cases, symptoms can include wearing of the teeth, cracking of the teeth (craze lines), flattening of the teeth, ear pain, sleep disturbances, insomnia, painful aggravation of the facial nerves (most notably trigeminal neuralgia), tooth decay, and inflamed and receding gums.
Malocclusion can cause bruxism so we check for any interference in the bite and sometimes recommend an occlusal adjustment procedure to relieve pressure on the jaw. If teeth close with no gaps or problems, we fit patients with night-guards to protect the teeth from any damage caused by grinding.
Temporomandibular joint disorders are often associated with bruxism, though it is possible to grind teeth and not develop a TMJ disorder. The temporomandibular joints connect the jawbone and the skull.
The cause of these disorders is hard to determine and can often be a combination of factors relating to genetics, arthritis and/or jaw injury. Symptoms can include jaw pain, pain in and around the ear, lockjaw, difficulty chewing, and a clicking jaw. We offer advice on how to minimize symptoms and non-surgical treatments to deal with persistent symptoms.