Here’s to Overall Health in 2019!

My biggest concerns for all of my dental family are diseases that affect us systemically. They include oral cancer, infections and nighttime airway issues. Here’s how I address these each of these health concerns:

Oral Cancer: At a minimum, oral cancer checks are done annually at your hygiene visits. I’ve surrounded myself with wonderful specialists in the event that anything even remotely suspicious is discovered. One American is diagnosed with oral cancer every hour. Early detection improves a patient’s chances, but the long term prognosis is not good.

Infections: Infections in the mouth come in two ways; infected teeth or infected gums. Infected teeth are painful and easily recognizable by the patient. They are also one of the biggest reasons a patient visits us for the first time. Infected gums are typically not painful, until the patient is nearing the point of losing a tooth (or teeth) due to bone loss. Gums that are swollen, tender, red or bleed when brushing or flossing are an indication of infection present. 

What both types of oral infections have in common is that they travel through the body and create other issues. These systemic links include heart disease, stroke, premature/low birth weight babies, as well as additional complications for those diagnosed with diabetes.

If you’ve been diagnosed (or suspect) that you may have an oral infection – do NOT delay!

Nighttime Airway Issues: Typically known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), untreated, it creates an increased risk for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, heart attack, stroke, obesity, day time sleepiness and depression, to name a few. Childhood symptoms include ADD, ADHD, bed wetting, daytime sleepiness (falling asleep in class, need for naps), etc.

The medical community believes that there are between 30-40 million undiagnosed sleep apneics. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice, but studies show that 60-70% of patients abandon (or cannot tolerate) CPAP use. Oral appliances, like the ones created in our dental practice, are very effective in treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. I have actually seen success in treating several patients diagnosed with severe OSA.

If you suspect you or a loved one may be suffering from OSA, we will gladly do a FREE at-home sleep study! If you’ve been diagnosed, but cannot tolerate or use your CPAP, we’d love to discuss other treatment options.

Let us help you and yours make 2019 a year full of health!

Snore No More

With so many patients complaining about their spouses snoring and keeping them awake my team and I decided it was time to invest in a laser that can help tremendously reduce snoring. 

This procedure, done solely with lasers, called NightLase provides a non-surgical path to a better night's sleep. The laser light therapy tightens and opens the airway with a very high success rate and there is no anesthesia necessary. After just one treatment most patients notice at least a 50% reduction in snoring!

While this treatment will probably not cure the underlying disease of sleep apnea, it will allow patients utilizing CPAP therapy to, in most cases, turn down air pressure. Nightlase also works very well in conjunction with oral appliance therapy.*

"After my first NightLase procedure with Dr. Gardner, I immediately felt like I could breath better, and every night since then my husband has said that I have just lightly 'purred,' instead of a loud snore like before. And that's after just one treatment!" - Rachel P. (actual patient)

We invite you to try NightLase, the alternative treatment for snoring, with us for a very special price. This procedure, which is three sessions, is normally an $1,800 investment. Beginning now until October 31 we're happy to offer this to our patients for only $1,200. That's $600 in savings! 

For more information on this revolutionary treatment we've included a video below.

For more information and to schedule your reservation please give us a call: 936-585-4353.

*Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to CPAP therapy and is offered in our office. For more information visit this blog post

Say it Ain't So....A CPAP Alternative?!

Did you know that sleep apnea affects millions of people - and many of them don't even realize they have it?!

Although snoring is the most obvious of sleep apnea symptoms, skipping breaths while you sleep is by far a more serious health concern. Left untreated, sleep apnea can be associated with higher risks of serious health problems like heart attack or stroke. Sleep disorders can compromise your whole-body health. It is the number one most undiagnosed disease in this country and unfortunately affects a lot of us.

Imagine if you could stop snoring, stop feeling daytime fatigue, and start sleeping soundly… A good night's sleep may be closer than you think! I’m proud to offer alternatives to uncomfortable CPAP masks.

I have been making sleep/snoring devices for 10 years now, but four years ago instead of placing the lower jaw arbitrarily, judging by where my patient was unable to snore, I began fitting the appliance to the lower jaw's physiological position. The physiological position is where the jaw and muscles are most comfortable and relaxed. This greatly lessens the chance of incurring other problems, like headaches, muscle pain, bite changes, etc., when wearing an oral appliance. In fact, I have yet to have any patients complain of those symptoms since making the change.

Worn while you sleep, oral appliances position your mouth and jaw in a physiological position that makes breathing easier and will, in most cases, stop snoring and get rid of sleep apnea. The best part about these oral appliances is that they are less cumbersome than a CPAP machine. For patients who struggle with feelings of claustrophobia oral appliances have been a lifesaver…literally! My patients also enjoy that they are able to travel with their oral appliance with great ease, unlike a CPAP.  

If you're ready to start sleeping better, just give us a call at (936) 585-6611. I'd be happy to discuss your sleep apnea treatment options and find the sleep solution that works best for you.

For more information about sleep apnea solutions be sure to visit us here: www.drtimgardner.com

The more we learn, the more YOU benefit!

The practice of dental sleep medicine in Conroe just advanced, thanks to Timothy Gardner of Conroe Comprehensive Dental Center. Dr. Gardner, a member of the national non-profit American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), was one of more than 1,100 registrants at the AADSM’s American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine 23rd Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The annual event aims to foster the advancement of oral appliance therapy as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

An effective alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliance therapy uses a mouth-guard like device, worn only during sleep, to maintain an open, unobstructed airway. Gathering with leaders in the field of dental sleep medicine, Dr. Gardner reviewed new clinical studies and treatment procedures centered on oral appliance therapy that he can now apply to his Conroe practice.

“Opportunities like these allow me to further hone my skills in dental sleep medicine and ensure that I can continue to provide my patients with the best treatment solutions for their snoring and sleep apnea”, Gardner said . “Many local residents need an effective alternative to CPAP, and participating in helps me provide cutting-edge oral appliance therapy for my patients.”

AADSM’s American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine 23rd Annual Meeting was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 29 – 31, 2014. It offers the opportunity for further education as attendees discuss recent advances in sleep apnea and snoring treatments, review the relationship between sleep apnea, snoring and various health problems and come to understand new evidence regarding long-term oral appliance therapy care.

Patients with loud snoring and diagnosed sleep apnea sufferers with difficulty tolerating CPAP should contact Dr. Gardner at 936-539-3636 to schedule a consultation. Dr. Gardner works closely with sleep physicians to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. 

For more information check us out online at www.drtimgardner.com

The Hidden Danger of Snoring and Sleep Apnea

The more we learn the more we've realized that our greatest desire is to help the children of our practice. Children should not snore! If your child is snoring please bring him/her in for an evaluation. The sooner the better.

If a young child habitually mouth-breathes or exhibits any of these indications, it is especially important to have them evaluated as these conditions have a significant negative impact on development and form of oral, as well as facial, structures. It is also interesting to note that studies have shown that sleep disordered breathing is common among children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you are an adult and experiencing any of the following symptoms please give our office a call to schedule and evaluation:

-Snoring
-Fatigue
-Waking up tired
-Weight Gain
-Dry mouth/throat
-Sleepiness
-Difficulty concentrating
-Irritability

We know how debilitating sleep apnea can be; from chronic fatigue to heart attacks and strokes. In adults all we can do is manage the disease, but in children we can practically cure it by allowing the airway and mouth to develop correctly.


What is sleep apnea?
Apnea means to stop breathing. Sleep apnea refers to a condition wherein you stop breathing during sleep. Most of us know someone who snores during sleep. You may also know someone who has commented that their partner has stopped breathing during sleep for seemingly long periods-long enough to be frightening. While snoring is often made the subject of jokes or teasing, it could be an indication of a serious health problem. The severity and danger associated with sleep apnea range from snoring that irritates your partner to life-threatening medial conditions.

What are some options for treating sleep apnea?
In some cases, surgery to remove obstructions or to stiffen the flabby throat tissue may be recommended for treatment. For cases of severe sleep apnea, a CPAP is often the first choice for treatment. This means wearing a mask while sleeping that is connected to a small device that maintains a positive air pressure, pushing air into your lungs. However, although painless and effective, some patients and their partners do not tolerate sleeping with the CPAP machine very well. In those cases, and in many moderate cases, oral appliances, which are available in our office, are often a good choice.

What is the our role in treatment?
Dr. Gardner can make custom fitted oral appliances that are worn over the teeth at night to prevent the jaw from falling back during sleep, keeping the airway open. There are many designs of such appliances, and we'll help find the best one for your situation.

If you or someone you know exhibits any of the symptoms listed, be sure to bring it to our attention. We can provide further information about this potentially serious condition. You could save a life!

www.drtimgardner.com