At times, stress or travel can impact our ability to get a good night’s sleep and feel rested and alert the next day. However, the quest for a consistently good quality of sleep is getting harder for American adults to come by. According to the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA):… Read More…

Any injury that requires an “emergency” visit is traumatic. When it comes to having a tooth “knocked out,” it can be an emotionally complex experience. Dental “avulsion” is when a tooth has been knocked completely out, even if it is hanging by tooth root tissues. Typically, these injuries cause excessive… Read More…

A friend recently shared her “maddening” experience during a lengthy flight. Being masked for the long period wasn’t the problem. It was the passenger behind her. “He dropped off to sleep soon after take-off and snored so loudly my headphones were no match for him.” Although the sound of snoring… Read More…

Finally, Spring has arrived in Michigan! The weather is warming and heavy coats and gloves are being shed for less layers and shorter sleeves. Spring’s warm up allows people to get outdoors more and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine; good for both body and soul. Yet, after a year… Read More…

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? This question reminds me of bruxism (bruk-siz-um), a condition that causes grinding and clenching of teeth. Although most people who brux do so during sleep (sleep bruxism), a growing number of American adults are experiencing the problem during waking hours. People who… Read More…

Men who snore (and those around them) often take it in stride. “It’s a guy thing” or “typical for men,” according to comments of both men and women. However, women who snore are more uneasy with the realization that they snore at all. Snoring occurs from a narrowing of the… Read More…

For people who are familiar with the term “TMJ,” most think of it as a problematic condition of the temporomandibular joints. These joints, located on each side of your head just in front of the ears, get quite the workout all day, every day. They are what connect your lower… Read More…

Living a healthy life requires (a). eating a balanced diet with moderations on sugar, alcohol, caffeine and fats; (b). getting ample exercise every day; (c). having positive social connections; not smoking; and, (e). getting sufficient sleep. When we think of sleep, however, it’s not just the hours between turning the… Read More…

A good night’s sleep… That doesn’t sound like something that should be difficult for American adults. After all, with our busy schedules and non-stop list of to-do’s all day, you’d think sleep would be the easiest thing we do in a 24-hour period. Yet, for an estimated 1 in 3… Read More…

As a dentist who has advanced training in the care of fearful dental patients, I’ve spent decades structuring our Shelby Township dental office to help these individuals accomplish much-needed dentistry. This has involved the options of oral sedation, IV sedation (twilight sleep), soothing features throughout the office, and an entire… Read More…