It’s amazing what we can see in the mouth and find out using Dental Radiographs. Dentist play a big part in helping to co-diagnose and treating patients with Sleep Disorders. There is a big impact that Sleep Apnea has on a patients life. Sleep Apnea has causes many Failed marriages, Unhappy spouses, Sleepless nights, Grouchy People. On a more serious note, sleep Apnea left untreated can lead to High blood pressure, Stroke, Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks, Diabetes,Depression.. or even.. DEATH!

Jordan Sparks may just be singing the subconscious world of Sleep apnea patient.

Her Lyrics,

“Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air
If I should die before I wake
It’s ’cause you took my breath away
Losing you is like living in a world with no air
I’m here alone, didn’t wanna leave
My heart won’t move, it’s incomplete
Wish there was a way that I can make you understand”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown -NO Air.. NO Air …

The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.”

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Animation of Sleep Apnea Patient.

It can be tough to identify sleep apnea on your own, since the most prominent symptoms only occur when you’re asleep. But you can get around this difficulty by asking a bed partner to observe your sleep habits or recording yourself during sleep.

Major Symptoms:

• Loud and chronic snoring
• Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
• Long pauses in breathing
• Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed

Other Common Symptoms include:

• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Restless or fitful sleep
• Insomnia or night time awakening
• Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
• Waking up feeling out of breath
• Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
• Moodiness, irritability, or depression

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist.

Treatment Options (Vary from severity of Apnea):

• Oral Appliance Therapy
• CPAP
• Surgery
• Behavioral Therapy
• Medication

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Click here to view the embedded video.

Amongst other treatment options In a Dental perspective:

Oral appliances may be an option for patients. The SomnoMed MAS™ is a Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) that treats snoring and mild to moderate OSA by moving the lower jaw forward slightly. This forward movement tightens the soft tissue and muscles of the upper airway, which prevents obstruction of the airway while you sleep. The tightening created by the device also prevents the tissues of the upper airway from vibrating as air passes over them – the most common cause of loud snoring.

It works by preventing airway obstruction and allowing the patient to breathe easily and continuously. Worn in the mouth like an orthodontic appliance during sleep, oral appliances keep the soft tissue from collapsing and interrupting normal breathing patterns.

SomnoMed MAS™

…. Sings….

“No air, air
No air, air
No air, air
No air, air

But somehow I’m still alive inside
You took my breath, but I survived
I don’t know how, but I don’t even care”

Imagine Choking in the middle of the night. Not Fun.

NEW FACT #1:How good you clean you mouth affects your overall health!

Your dental health may be a sign not only of how diligently you brush and floss but also of your risk of stroke and heart disease.

In the past, oral health has been associated only with the mouth. New research has found that the advanced stage of gum disease, Periodontitis is linked with health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

There are two major stages of gum disease: Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and can easily be reversed if diagnosed early. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis, which includes irreversible bone loss. Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of periodontitis.

NEW FACT #2: Healthy habits can affect dental health.

The importance of diet in maintaining optimum body health is well recognized. An unhealthy diet has been implicated as a risk factor for several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers.Vitamin C is believed to help repair and maintain healthy connective tissue.

Vitamin C intake, regular

Exercise and the maintenance of proper body weight have all been shown to reduce C-reactive protein (CRP), the inflammation marker that’s been associated with periodontitis. This in turn creates blood clots that commonly lead to stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular events.

An Architect Designs and takes in consideration the building’s design and function.

A Dentist is pretty much a combination of the best aspects of the Tailor and the Architect.

Ever wondered how your smile can be tailored for you?

Ever wondered how you can design your smile to be functional and esthetic?

“For most females, the “Enhanced” smile style is one of our most popular designs. Note that the second teeth from the center are a little shorter than the front teeth. This is a youthful effect we call “the gull wing” that really looks nice on females. The “Hollywood”style above is a little more “toothy” and works well for males and especially those wanting to show off a little more teeth. The “Oval” style might look best on someone with a very round face. Notice how very round the edges of the four front teeth are? The“Aggressive” style has tooth edges that are flat almost straight across. We use it mostly for men and it simulates someone who might be a bit older and have a habit of grinding his teeth. The “Youthful” style simulates the shape of unworn teeth that might be seen in a 14 year old. Although many adults like this name because they think it might give them the illusion of being significantly younger, we almost always utilize this design in much younger individuals. The “Mature” style has squarish edges on the four front teeth and is another design that we frequently use for men. The “Softened” style is a very popular design that we use for those wanting their smile to help make them appear a little younger than their years.”

- Taken from Porcelain Veneers and Smile Design, Part I

Ask your dentist today about a customized design for a It-Fits-Me-Just-Right  Smile.

Besides research showing health benefits of laughter ranging from increasing one’s threshold for pain to reducing food cravings to affecting your posture. There’s even an emerging therapeutic field known as humor therapy to help people heal more quickly, among other things. Humor also has several important stress relieving benefits.

Ever seen one of those everyday grumpy souls?  They slouch, Everything about them screams how lousy everything in their life is. We all know people like this. Gosh, if they ever smiled you’d expect their face to crack.

But it actually takes a lot less muscles to smile than to frown or scowl, so apart from creating misery for themselves they are also doing more work to achieve that result. So here are 5 reasons why you should smile more often:

1. Manage Your Hormones:

Have a good Laugh!

Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, adrenaline, dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

2. Nice Internal Workout:

A good belly laugh exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out the shoulders, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward. It even provides a good workout for the heart. Start working those Abs and shoulders!

3.It Feels Like Eating 2,000 Chocolate Bars

We have the release of endorphins after laughing to thank for.  Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

According to The British Dental Health Foundation, a smile gives the same level of stimulation equivalent to eating 2,000 chocolate bars.

Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Foundation, pointed out, “We have long been drawing attention to the fact that smiling increases happiness both in yourself and those around you, so it is good to receive the backing of this scientific research … A healthy smile can improve your confidence, help you make friends and help you to succeed in your career … “

4. Positive Frame Of Mind:

Laughter brings the focus away from anger, guilt, stress and negative emotions in a than other mere distractions. It will make you happy and put you in a positive frame of mind. A Smile a day keep you Happy all day!

5. Social Benefits Of Laughter:

Laughter connects us with others. Also, laughter is contagious, so if you bring more laughter into your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more, and realize these benefits as well. By elevating the mood of those around you, you can reduce their stress levels, and perhaps improve the quality of social interaction you experience with them, reducing your stress level even more!

What’s even better is that the more you smile, the more others will too. Says psychologist Dr. David Lewis, “Seeing a smile creates what is termed as a ‘halo’ effect, helping us to remember other happy events more vividly, feel more optimistic, more positive and more motivated.”

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead … Smile! …and again!

We had a intense 3 day Prime Practice TEAM systems workshop from 7th April to 9th April 2010. At Orchard Scotts Dental we understand that in order to provide high level of care for you we have to refine our operation systems and build on our team communications,and that was precisely what the 3 day Prime Practice course did for us!

TEAM= Together Everyone Achieves More

At Orchard Scotts Dental We believe in a TEAM approach.

To find out more about Dr Ronnie Yap ,Dr Jerry Lim , Dr Gan Siok Ngoh and the TEAM’s latest events add us on Facebook!

lets take a step back..

After Dropping the trail of breadcrumbs.. here comes the Buffet!

We are the official sponsors for MISS SINGAPORE UNIVERSE 2010!

Stay Tuned for the sneak previews of the candidates for Miss Singapore Universe 2010 right here !

Here’s an Idea of whats in the bag! * Grins*

What event has the most collection of  Smart-Glamourous-Oh-so-beautiful-people-who-badly-want-World Peace?

Stay Tuned! To see if your guess is spot on!

Have you ever dreamt of having a dazzling straight and white smile but too afraid of the long uncomfortable braces appointments at the dentist? You’re not alone!

In the era where time is money. Everyone wants a hassle free option. Thank Goodness for invisalign! Invisalign is a clear new way to straighten teeth WITHOUT braces! Invisalign is a custom-made system of clear, plastic teeth aligners. They are completely undetectable so no one knows your wearing them. They fit so nicely like contact lenses!

The beauty of invisalign is that it is :

1. Clear
2. Comfortable
3. Shorter Appointment time and visits
4. No Diet restriction!
5. Hassle free

Invisalign works in a unique way. It uses a series of clear aligners that are swapped out every 2 weeks to gradually reposition teeth. These aligner trays slowly and painlessly move your teeth into the desired positions. Thereafter, each appointment is about 6 weeks apart are a quick in and out visit to simply check on your progress.

Over half a million Americans have taken advantage of Invisalign. The system can fix problems such as overly crowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, cross bite, overbite and under bite.

Men are visual creatures ladies! Give them a reason to look out for you!

Option 1:

To earn a complimentary consult with our treatment coordinators.

Call us @ 67329939  and say the secret invisalign tag line -

“Invisalign is a clear new way to straighten teeth without braces.”

Option 2:

Send us your photos for an evaluation! Follow these easy steps

1) Turn on the macro mode on your digital camera.(The international symbol for a macro is a flower, some other camera have a mountain symbol or the symbol of a group of people.)

2) Take Front Smile Shot (Teeth Biting Together)

How to: Give us a BIG GRIN! SAY INVISALIGGGNNN!!!

3) Take Front Smile Shot (Teeth Slightly Apart)

How to: See above but open slightly at the end

4) Take shot of Lower teeth biting surfaces

How to: Tilt Head Downward Open your mouth as wide as you can. Position camera lens facing biting surfaces of lower teeth.

5) Take shot of Upper teeth biting surfaces

How to: Tilt Head Upward Open your mouth as wide as you can. Position camera lens facing biting surfaces of upper teeth.

6) Send us the shots via email to enquiry@orchardscottsdental.com

“You haven’t lost your smile at all, it’s right under your nose. You just forgot it was there.”- Anonymous

We cant wait to help you regain that beautiful smile you always wanted!

These pictures are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.

The slower the pictures move, the better your ability to handle stress.

Allegedly, criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly; however, senior citizens and children see them standing still.

We know we don’t need pictures or online tests to certify if we are stressed. Stress shows through on our face and body language and our reactions to situations.

SOYJOY! Little effort.. MUCH Effort!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Have you noticed that when you are stressed you:

Clench your fist tight?

Gritt or Grind your teeth?

Have Sore shoulders and back?

If you looked closely in the mirror after years of STRESSING. Does this look familiar?

Just Like the tires of your car, over time your teeth will be worn off.

Dentistry plays a vital role in diagnosing and treating many chronic aches and pains. If your suffering from:

• Migraines
• Headaches
• Sore neck muscles
• Tinnitus (Ringing in the ears)
• Vertigo
• Worn, chipped teeth
• Facial pain
• Sore jaw joints
• Numbness of the fingertips

Check with your dentist how you can save those pearly whites from wearing off.