The Center for Advanced Dentistry's Blog

Treating Sleep Apnea With Three Different Options

November 28, 2012

Sleep apnea is a common issue with men and women, ranging in age from children to adults. If not treated properly with the right amount of examination and care, the effects can be fatal. Don’t let the early warning signs pass you or your loved ones by.

With the modern technology found at the Center for Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Hornstein can help you treat it, no matter what your age is.

Basically, there are three main methods of treatment:

Surgery
Using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine
Wearing a custom fit oral appliance at night.

Surgery might sound a bit extreme at first, but if you have a blocked airway, surgery is highly recommended. With an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), blockages somewhere in the airway occur repeatedly in a short amount of time. Your breathing can stop for as little as a few seconds to a few minutes. The hope with the surgery option is to open the airway. That way, you can reduce obstructions to a safe level. Your uvula, palate and jaw are looked at.

With a CPAP machine, oxygen is continuously pumped into your nose or a facial mask.

If you find a CPAP to be a ball and chain, there is another option. Oral appliance therapy involves an orthotic made with you in mind and you wear it at night. This orthotic can do all kinds of things, like preventing the soft palate from blocking your airways and repositioning your tongue. Even better, an oral appliance lessens snoring.

Dr. Hornstein and the Center for Advanced Dentistry are here to help. We’re happy to talk with you about what’s best for treating your sleep apnea. Give us a call today. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and surrounding areas.

What is Holistic Dentistry?

November 21, 2012

You might have heard a lot about holistic dentistry in the past few years. You might have a lot of questions about it. What are the benefits? Why do some dentists boast about being Mercury-free for all these years? Is this kind of dentistry right for me, beyond the dental care I’ve had for years?

Holistic dentistry has been called a few different things over the years: alternative dentistry, biologic dentistry, biocompatible dentistry, and unconventional dentistry. But what exactly is involved with holistic dentistry? Essentially, it combines modern dental technology with healing methods from around the world. Your whole body is examined; not just your oral health. Much more thorough than general dentistry, there are so many aspects of it. At the Center for Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Hornstein, Dr. Gray and their qualified staff offer the best in holistic dentistry.

Here are the services that we offer:

Since part of holistic dentistry involves massage therapy, we offer different types of it, including:

Paraffin Therapy
Reflexology Massage
Chair Massage
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Massage
Full Body Massage

At the Center for Advanced Dentistry, since holistic dentistry promotes stress reduction and nutrition, we offer the latest and most helpful nutrition information available. Plus, we offer a thorough list of holistic practitioners in the area. The focus is on your overall wellness, going on an organic and natural route. Hoping to prevent and reverse degenerative dental disease, nutrition, proper nutrition is a major part of holistic dentistry.

We’re happy to answer any or all questions you might have about holistic dentistry. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and surrounding areas.

Dental Implants As a Gift

November 14, 2012

Want to give the gift of dental implants for the new year? It’s not that far fetched.

You’ve heard a lot about dental implants on this blog for good reason. As a reminder here are some of the reasons why.

Implants are a safe and organic alternative to other plans
They can help prevent you from losing more teeth in the future.
You have the root of your tooth and your smile restored at the same time.

Interested? There are steps to what happens next.

Dr. Hornstein will decide if you or your loved one is a candidate for implants. If Dr. Hornstein believes you are, the proverbial ball can begin rolling as soon as possible. Doesn’t matter if one tooth or a whole row needs replacing, dental implants do the heavy work. By forming an artificial root for your tooth or teeth, these aren’t like dentures. They don’t slip like dentures, so don’t worry about that common problem. You must have a stable jawbone, and if you or your loved one qualifies, get ready for a life-changing experience in only a few visits.

Sometimes, bone grafting may be needed beforehand. Most people qualify for dental implants, so rest assured. Schedule a consultation. In addition to regular brushing and flossing twice a day, regular check-up with Dr. Hornstein will make sure things are going accordingly.

Imagine improved speech along with the confidence found in a bright and healthy smile. Speaking with ease and clarity is always a plus, no matter what your age is. No need for a soft-spoken approach or sentences with only a few words. Dental implants can get you or a loved one on that road.

Give us a call today. The new year will be here sooner than you think. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and surrounding areas.

Check Back in Before the Holidays!

November 7, 2012

Now that Halloween is over with, it’s time to think about the holidays. We’ve talked about it before, but the holidays will be here sooner than you’d expect. Thanksgiving and Christmas may be only a few weeks apart, but they can seem closer than that, especially if you’re hosting a lot of friends and family. Of course you have a lot of shopping to do in between then, but don’t forget the importance of having a clean bill of oral health.

If it’s been six months since your last visit and you haven’t scheduled a checkup, there’s still time. The Center for Advanced Dentistry is here for you, so call today to schedule your next appointment.

But I saw Dr. Hornstein earlier this year and I was fine. Why another one this year?

Well, do you want to eat that pumpkin pie, turkey, and stuffing without worry about its impact on your teeth? Dr. Hornstein will give you another good look with your cleaning and decide if you need anything done. Just think: one hour in a dentist chair and you can rest easy. This way, you’ll be on track and up to date with your oral health. Certainly will be something to keep in mind going into 2013.

As great as sugar tastes, its affect on your teeth might not be if you haven’t had a recent checkup. Don’t let plaque set up camp and start a long war on your teeth. Get that taken care of because preventative measures are much easier to take care of now instead of later.

But if you need something more than a regular cleaning and oral exam, we offer restorative or cosmetic therapies too. Schedule your next appointment today, and end 2012 on a good note. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond.

Oral Care Reminders from The Center for Advanced Dentistry

September 21, 2012

Even if you’ve been to the dentist just once in your life, you know that sugary foods and drinks are bad for your teeth. But do you know why that is?

The simple truth is that it’s not the sugar per se but the chemical reaction that happens between the sugar and the bacteria in your mouth. As bacteria metabolize sugar, the byproduct is acid. When this acid comes into contact with the enamel on your teeth, it has a destructive influence. As a result, teeth are left weakened and exposed to the possibility of experiencing decay.

Fluoride helps strengthen teeth by attracting important minerals, but some patients aren’t getting as much fluoride as they used to or need to. Thanks to the popularity of bottled water today, many patients are drinking non-fluoridated water every day, depriving their teeth of essential protection.

So, how can you protect your smile?

The first way is through regular maintenance at home. Brush and floss after every meal if you can. If you can’t do that, try rinsing your mouth with water between meals. Chewing a sugar-less gum sweetened with xylitol can also help, and you may also want to use a fluoride mouthwash to help strengthen your teeth.

Regular checkups are also important. Remember to schedule one every six months, or about twice a year. During a regular checkup, Dr. Hornstein and the rest of our team at The Center for Advanced Dentistry in Beachwood can thoroughly examine your smile and look for signs of decay. If we find any sign of trouble, we can create a treatment plan to help you combat it before it develops into a serious problem.

Call our office today to schedule next appointment. The Center for Advanced Dentistry serves patients from Beachwood, Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond.

Now Is Not Too Early for Your Fall Checkup

September 7, 2012

Fall starts on Saturday, September 22. That means a new season, and the cooler weather that comes with it, is on the way. It also means the arrival of the holiday season, a joyful but notoriously hectic time for most of us.

Given both of these statements, your next dental visit is probably the last thing on your mind. But despite that, now is actually the perfect time to get your fall visit out of the way, especially if your last checkup with The Center for Advanced Dentistry was in January or February.

When you consider how important rich, decadent foods are to the holiday season, don’t you want to enjoy all that you can without letting thoughts about your oral health hold you back? With your regular checkup and cleaning, Dr. Hornstein can tell you where you stand and, if need be, offer restorative or cosmetic therapies that will help you get your smile into great shape just in time for all the fun.

What’s more, if you’re like many patients, you have dental benefits that will expire at the end of the year. By coming to see us sooner rather than later, we can help you apply those benefits to the essential care you need now instead of later next year.

Call The Center for Advanced Dentistry in Beachwood today to schedule your fall checkup. During your checkup, Dr. Hornstein will complete a thorough oral exam and help you understand how your smile is doing. And if we need to, our team would be happy to talk to you about brushing and floss, in addition to recommending additional services. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond.

Time for a Back-to-School Visit!

August 8, 2012

We’re only a week into August but a new school year is just around the corner, which raises an important question: have you brought your son or daughter into The Center for Advanced Dentistry for a back-to-school checkup yet? If you haven’t, why not schedule an appointment today? We know how busy life can get once school has started, so don’t wait—call Dr. Hornstein’s Beachwood dental office today!

Why Are Back-to-School Visits So Important?

As we already mentioned, once school gets started life can get pretty busy. But putting off important dental visits won’t put common oral health problems like tooth decay or gum disease on hold. If your child has any of these, they’ll only get worse as more time passes.

During a regular, back-to-school checkup, though, Dr. Hornstein can look for signs of these common conditions and can treat them now, before they require more extensive treatment.

What’s more, during your child’s visit, Dr. Hornstein can offer him or her extra protection from cavities with dental sealants. Recognized by the ADA as an effective cavity-prevention tool, dental sealants work by shielding chewing surfaces from decay. You can learn more by visiting our dental sealants page here.

And if you’re ready to schedule your child’s back-to-school visit, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Creating healthy smiles for patients from Beachwood, Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond is our passion. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Fourth of July and Your Smile

July 6, 2012

The Fourth of July was on Wednesday, and from all of us at Dr. Hornstein’s Beachwood dental office, we hope you and your family had a safe and fun holiday.

And while we’re on the topic, we’d like to talk a little bit about freedom, which is what the Fourth is all about.

You already know how important freedom is. It’s what enables us to pursue our dreams and live according to our most deeply held beliefs. But in the context of dentistry, freedom is also about choosing the best dentist for your personal needs. That means finding a dentist who will not only provide excellent general dentistry services but will also make preventive and holistic dentistry a priority.

If that’s what you need, that’s what you’ll find at The Center for Advanced Dentistry. As we mentioned back in May, the goal of holistic dentistry is supporting and improving your overall wellbeing. When you do that, you improve your smile’s chances of staying healthy and strong. And with preventive checkups and cleanings, Dr. Hornstein can keep an eye on how your teeth are doing. Catching decay and gum disease early are important, and it’s through twice-yearly visits like these that we have a chance to catch them before they develop into a more serious problem.

Is it time for you to schedule your next regular exam or cleaning? We hope you’ll choose The Center for Advanced Dentistry. Call our Beachwood office today to schedule your appointment. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond.

What Are Our Patients Saying About The Center for Advanced Dentistry?

June 21, 2012

At The Center for Advanced Dentistry, we know how nerve-wracking it can be to visit a new dental office for the first time. That’s why we have a page for patient testimonials that we’ve collected. With these quotes, we can begin building the kind of trust a doctor and his or her patients need to share, so that when you arrive at our Beachwood office, you’ll feel relaxed and confident in our team.

Below, you’ll find just one of our testimonials. To rest all of them, visit our patient testimonial page here.

Jack

If you think that all dentists’ office are the same or that their level of expertise and service is comparable, you are sorely mistaken. Never have I walked into an office and been given the kind of service that I got when I walked into The Center for Advanced Dentistry. Ben Hornstein and his team are the most professional, accommodating, and genuinely nice people that you will encounter in any office, anywhere. Ben’s vision of being the best is exemplified in his never ending search for up-to-the-minute technology, including digital imaging and customer service over and above the norm, which includes a massotherapist on the premises to massage you after extended time in his chair. His work goes way beyond meticulous and his attention to detail is second to none. I guess it is fair to say that my experience at the Center was far and above what I expected and the results even better.

Are you ready to schedule your appointment with Dr. Hornstein and The Center for Advanced Dentistry? Call our Beachwood dental office today. We serve patients from Cleveland, Solon, Shaker Heights, Pepper Pike, and beyond.

What Is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

June 7, 2012

There’s a term you may have come across if you’ve visited our site before. It’s a term that sounds complicated but actually concerns a simple and common condition. We’re talking, of course, about neuromuscular dentistry.

What is it?

In short, neuromuscular dentistry looks at your jaw muscles, your jaw joints, and how your teeth fit together (also known as occlusion). When a problem occurs in one of these areas, the result can be painful symptoms like frequent headaches, neck or shoulder pain, ringing in the ears, and more.

The two conditions most commonly associated with neuromuscular dentistry are TMJ disorder and bruxism. But the good news for patients from Beachwood and surrounding areas is that both of these can be effectively treated. With the use of an orthotic appliance, Dr. Hornstein can deliver comfortable relief that will help you preserve your smile and reclaim your life.

Protect Your Smile with an Orthotic Appliance

An orthotic appliance is custom-made for your smile so that it fits comfortable over your teeth. They’re designed to correct your bite, bringing it into its natural alignment and easing strain on your joints and muscles.

Have you recently learned that you have a neuromuscular condition like TMJ disorder or bruxism? Call The Center for Advanced Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hornstein. During your appointment, Dr. Hornstein can talk to you about your situation and begin working on a treatment plan to help you save your smile and reclaim your life.