Drs. Esposito, Shivji & Drance
Downtown Dental Clinic
1328 Alberni St 604-669-1111
MAX Dental Clinic (Yaletown)
90 Smithe St 604-609-2020
"Thanks, I was able to compete with confidence thanks to my beautiful, winning smile!"Jane Gingera -- Miss Universe Vancouver
Is snoring causing a problem in your house? Utilizing a dental appliance that keeps the jaw forward, Our dentists have helped many people achieve a great reduction in their snoring and have special training in the diagnosis and appliance fabrication for snoring and sleep apnea.
Want a smile makeover with no drilling and no anesthetic?See our results with Denmat Cerinate Lumineers
Want a crown with just one appointment?See our CEREC Information & Videos
Snoring
Devices
to Wear
Surgery
Snoring is caused when air intake is restricted or obstructed and the soft palate vibrates during sleep. Note that snoring may be associated with sleep apnea, a momentary interruption of nighttime breathing. Since this interruption can keep you from getting adequate rest at night, ask a physician to examine you. For more information on the Internet, see The Apnea Patient's News
There are two main ways to treat snoring. At night, you can wear a special anti-snoring device fabricated by your dentist. Or you can have surgery.
A dentist can construct a device that fits over your teeth and changes the shape of your air passage and the vibration pattern of your soft palate (located at the back of your mouth).
Somnoplasty is a relatively new procedure in which, after throat tissues are numbed, a small probe is inserted into the soft palate of your throat. When activated, the probe emits radio waves that kill cells in the inner layer of your palate. During the following week or two of healing, the remaining tissues shrink and a small amount of scar tissue forms. All of this tightens the palate, reducing its vibrations. Snoring is reduced or eliminated altogether.
Advantages
The procedure is more comfortable and heals faster than laser surgery.Disadvantages
There is less track record with this procedure, so there's less predictability of success.
After throat tissues are numbed, a laser is used to reshape the back portion of the soft palate. This reshaping enlarges your air passage and changes the vibration pattern of the soft palate.
Advantages
Laser surgery has a good, long-term track record and a high predictability of success.Disadvantages
There is greater discomfort and a longer healing period than alternative treatments (see somnoplasty).This procedure is generally performed by oral surgeons or ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians.
Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)...Teeth can often be whitened by the several new techniques of "bleaching" available today. The most common method used is the "in-office" method where a strong bleaching agent is placed over the isolated teeth and a special light is used to assist the bleaching material lighten the teeth.
Extreme Makeover VancouverYou don't have to travel to Hollywood for that Extreme Makeover. Those life changing new smiles are available right here in Vancouver. Visit our before and after galleries to see for yourself - more...
Voted "Best Dentist" Westender and Georgia Straight three years in a row.
Selected as the Vancouver dentist for Cirque du Soleil.
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