Qualifications of Doctors Who Treat Sleep Apnea

With sleep apnea, properly determining the cause and the most effective treatment for you can only be done by a qualified sleep specialist. Sleep specialists are defined as doctors who diagnose and treat people who have sleep problems. Yet, there are a number of sleep specialists that come from a variety of medical backgrounds. A number of lung specialists, otolaryngologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, dentists, and even primary care physicians have special training in sleep disorders.

The first step recommended in determining if you have sleep apnea is by reviewing your known symptoms with your primary care physician. By previously keeping a sleep diary that consists of when you went to sleep, how often you wake up, and how you feel when you are awake, a more thorough exam can be done with your doctor. Having your doctor look over any previous health concerns or other over-looked symptoms in your medical history will help patients prepare for a quick diagnosis and determine if a sleep study is needed. Seeking a recommendation from your primary doctor will also improve the chances of coverage from your insurance company.

While your general doctor can evaluate and discuss your sleep apnea symptoms, a sleep specialist is needed to perform a sleep study. A sleep study will help determine the underlying cause of the sleep apnea, review all of your nightly symptoms, and effectively treat it altogether.

A sleep study is given in a sleep center, where a team of specialists record your body’s movements and functioning rates as you sleep. A number of sensors are attached to your face, scalp, chest, limbs and fingers in order to record the body’s sleep efforts. Records of the heart rate, blood oxygen levels, breathing patterns, eye and muscle movement and more is done throughout the night. While a home sleep study can be performed for those uncomfortable in a sleep center, a proper diagnosis is only given be professionals.

For more information on treating your sleep apnea or to make an appointment, contact our sleep apnea doctor in Pasadena.

What are the Pros and Cons of Veneers?

In terms of a smile makeover, porcelain veneers have a proven track record. These thin, translucent shells bond adhesively to your natural teeth to disguise any chips, cracks, or stains. Yet, each case is different and the results are not guaranteed. By overall knowing the porcelain veneers pros and cons, you can make a sound minded decision as to if porcelain veneers are the right investment for your smile:

Pros
•    They appear just like natural teeth, by virtue of being stain-resistant and color-safe. Veneers are quite good at mimicking the light-reflecting properties of natural teeth.
•    They are procedurally conservative, and require only minor adjustments to the affected teeth. In terms of timetable, your porcelain veneers procedure can be completed in as few as two sessions.
•    Veneers are long-lasting and durable, providing most patients with at least a decade of use.

Cons
•    A tiny percentage of enamel is removed from affected teeth, so the process should not be considered reversible.
•    Once chosen, the color and shape of the laminate cannot be altered. Unlike your natural teeth, the color and shape will not change over time, so you will need to practice good oral hygiene to keep your smile color equal.
•    Porcelain veneers are priced by tooth and can be expensive. You may incur costs of over $3,000, depending on the complexity of your case, the number of veneers desired, and the expertise of your doctor and lab professional.

If you still have questions or concerns, schedule a consult with our expert in porcelain veneers in Pasadena.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost?

For patients who are looking for an effective and minimally invasive way to restore their smile, you cannot get much better than porcelain veneers. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the surface of your teeth to cover up minor chips, cracks, gaps, and discolorations. Porcelain is a non-porous substance that will not stain, and it mimics the natural light reflecting properties of natural dental enamel. Our Pasadena porcelain veneers dentist is able to examine your smile to determine if you qualify for this treatment.

During the initial consultation is when the dentist will review your teeth and gums. This is also the time most patients will want to discuss the final price. The porcelain veneers cost in Pasadena can vary from patient to patient because several factors need to be taken into consideration. The more teeth that are treated with veneers, the more the final cost will be. The material the veneers are made of also plays a role. Veneers can be made out of composite resin, which is cheaper, instead of porcelain, but porcelain is much more durable and is more likely to last longer.

It is important to view veneers as an investment in yourself. Most dental insurance plans will not cover veneers since they are a cosmetic procedure, but you can talk with your dentist about setting up a payment plan.

Do All Dentists Offer Invisalign?

Some doctors are more experienced with Invisalign than others, so you should also browse through previous patients’ reviews to see if any doctor you are considering will be able to help you. You can schedule a consultation with our Invisalign doctor in Pasadena, who will be able to examine your teeth to see if Invisalign is right for you. Many of the same orthodontic issues that can be treated with metal braces can also be treated with Invisalign, so many patients find that they qualify for the treatment.

In order to qualify for the treatment, you need to be willing to schedule regular appointment at our office so that our dentist can make sure your treatment is progressing as planned. These appointments are often shorter than what you would get for metal braces because no tightening is involved. Our dentist just needs to make sure your teeth have straightened as much as they should, and then we will give you your next set of aligners.

Aside from these appointments, you should be taking care of your teeth and Invisalign aligners on your own time. This involves taking out the aligners when you eat so that they do not become damaged. Our doctor will also give you an Invisalign cleaning kit so that you have all the tools necessary to care for your aligners on a daily basis.