Are you tired of restless nights and constant fatigue due to sleep apnea? If so, you're not alone. Millions of people suffer from this sleep disorder, but did you know that orthodontics might hold the key to a better night's sleep and improved breathing? Dr. Cartsos at Convivial Dental is here to help you discover how orthodontics can positively impact your life, addressing both sleep apnea and the growth of your face.

The Sleep Apnea Connection

Sleep apnea is more than just a nuisance; it's a serious medical condition that can have far-reaching effects on your health and quality of life. It occurs when your airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep, leading to breathing interruptions. These interruptions can be brief, but they can happen many times throughout the night, causing you to wake up frequently without even realizing it.

This constant interruption in your sleep cycle not only leaves you feeling groggy during the day but can also have long-term health consequences, including heart problems, high blood pressure, and even diabetes. Fortunately, orthodontics can be a game-changer when it comes to alleviating sleep apnea.

The Orthodontic Solution

Dr. Cartsos and the team at Convivial Dental offer a range of orthodontic treatments to address sleep apnea. By adjusting your bite and allowing you lower jaw to posture forward, Dr. Cartsos can help in preventing the collapse of your airway and promoting better airflow. In severe sleep apnea cases, orthodontic treatment in combination of jaw surgery is the most effective method in improving airway flow and resolving sleep apnea in adults.

The Impact on Facial Growth

Orthodontics goes beyond just addressing sleep apnea; it also plays a crucial role in the development of your facial structure. When your airway is compromised due to issues like mouth breathing or a misaligned jaw, it can lead to improper facial growth. Children, in particular, are susceptible to these problems, as their facial bones are still developing. Early screening and detection, as soon as the age of 6-7 years, is key to diagnosing any airway obstruction. Early orthodontic intervention can expand narrow jaws to increase space for proper tongue position, and enhance volume space of the airway. This early orthodontic treatment can modify abnormal jaw growth patterns, therefore reducing significantly the development of sleep apnea in their adult years.

Dr. Cartsos can identify and address these issues early on with orthodontic treatments, such as fixed appliances, braces or aligners. By ensuring that your child's teeth and jaws are properly aligned, you can help them grow up with a well-balanced facial structure and better airway function.

The Convivial Dental Difference

At Convivial Dental, our approach to orthodontics is centered around your comfort, health, and overall well-being. Dr. Cartsos and our skilled team are dedicated to creating customized treatment plans that not only address sleep apnea but also encourage proper facial growth. We believe that a healthy smile and better sleep go hand in hand.

Call us today at 617-735-0800 or click below to schedule a free consultation - we can start virtually or in person - your choice!

Let’s talk about a topic that can be a bit intimidating for parents – laser frenectomies for newborns and growing children. But fear not, because we are here to shed some light on this modern, gentle procedure that can make a world of difference in your child's life.

What Is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that addresses an issue with the frenulum, a small fold of tissue in the mouth that can sometimes cause problems. There are two main types of frenulum that might need attention: the lingual frenulum (under the tongue) and the labial frenulum (between the upper lip and the gums).

Why Might Your Child Need a Frenectomy?

Frenulums can occasionally be too tight or short, causing various issues. For newborns, a tight lingual frenulum can make breastfeeding a challenge for both baby and mom. In growing children, these frenulum issues can lead to speech difficulties or even orthodontic problems down the road.

Medical Problems of Restricted Frenums

In newborns, tongue-ties may cause feeding difficulties, weight loss, frustration and aerophagia (gulping air that leads to upset stomach). Many newborns end up with prescriptions to relieve stomach issues that are due to the tongue-tie.

As childhood advances, tongue-ties may cause speech impediments, snoring, sleep apnea and a generalized lack of mid-face growth with collapsed palates. 

Long term problems of tongue ties include malocclusions (jaw discrepancies and/or malaligned teeth), mouth breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. It is thus recommended to remove the source of the problem, the restricted frenulum, rather than trying to treat much more complicated and serious health issues.

Restricted upper lip-ties often cause feeding difficulties too and should be removed along the tongue-ties. Other problems include the development of cavities in the upper front teeth as a result of inability to brush, spacing of the upper incisors and more. 

The Laser Frenectomy Advantage

Now, here's where laser frenectomies come in. Gone are the days of traditional scalpel or scissor surgeries, which could be more invasive and intimidating. Laser frenectomies offer a more precise, gentle, and effective approach to address these problems.

Our office uses a specialized C02 laser, the Lightscalpel, for soft tissue surgery. The Lightscalpel removes the frenulum in just a few minutes and it cauterizes the mouth. Its precision is renowned. 

Lightscalpel will not penetrate deep into the tissue beyond its intended use. This characteristic leads to short recovery and excellent healing. 

Here's why you should consider a laser frenectomy:

Minimally Invasive: Laser frenectomies are less traumatic than traditional surgery. They result in no or minimal bleeding, discomfort, and a shorter recovery period. 

Precision: The laser allows for precise tissue removal, reducing the risk of complications and ensuring a faster healing process.

Quick Procedure: The entire procedure usually takes just a few minutes, making it ideal for even the tiniest of patients.

Anesthesia is Minimal or Optional: In many cases, only local anesthesia is required, and sometimes, not even that. This minimizes the need for sedation or general anesthesia and reduces the associated risks. 

No Postoperative Complications: Thanks to the minimized trauma and precision, most people undergoing frenectomies, newborns, children and adults, experience no or minimal discomfort after the procedure.

Your Child's Comfort is Our Priority

At Convivial Dental, we understand that your child's well-being is your top concern. It's ours too! We strive to make the entire experience as comfortable as possible. 

Our team has extensive training and performs a very large number of frenectomies every year. We are also experienced in handling pediatric patients and ensuring that they feel safe and secure throughout the process.

Insurance Coverage

Our practice is proud to serve insured patients as well as self-paying families. MassHealth does cover frenectomies. But certain private dental and medical insurances will not cover the procedure. Some companies do cover frenectomies only if they are performed later in life. 

Please let our front desk know what coverage you have and we will be happy to investigate the issue.

If you have any concerns about your child's frenulum, don't hesitate to reach out to us at Convivial Dental. We'll be happy to discuss your child's unique needs and explore the best course of action.

Click below or call 617-735-0800 today to schedule a consultation. We can’t wait to meet you!

First, let’s clarify what we mean about clear braces. We’re not talking about clear aligners, which can be a great option if you want treatment that is a) removable and b) almost invisible. But sometimes only traditional brackets-and-wires braces will do when it comes to your orthodontic treatment. Does this mean you can’t opt for a more subtle, less visible treatment plan?

No! Orthodontic advances in materials and design mean that you have more options than ever before when it comes to selecting brackets and wires. If you prefer more inconspicuous braces for professional or personal reasons, some of the current options in clear braces might be just the (inconspicuous) look for you.

“Clear braces” can refer to several styles of brackets and wires:

• Brackets themselves can be crafted in porcelain, ceramic, or plastic. High quality materials make them strong and stain-resistant.
• Brackets can be transparent or can be carefully tinted to blend in with your enamel.
• Some of these brackets require the usual ligatures (those tiny rubber bands holding the wire to the brackets), so it’s important to choose a band color to coordinate for a monochromatic look.
• Some of these brackets are self-ligating, designed to hold the archwire with built-in clips and needing no ligatures at all.
• Finally, there are coated and even non-metallic archwires that are designed to blend in with your enamel color and work without calling attention to themselves. Depending on your individual bite and tooth alignment, these wires might be an option.

Some of the common questions about clear braces include:

• Can everyone use clear braces?

While clear braces generally function just as traditional metal braces do, there are some cases where they might not be ideal depending on the amount and type of alignment and bite correction you need. Drs. Cartsos and Zavras will let you know the best options to treat your orthodontic problems as effectively as possible.

• Are they as strong as typical metal braces?

Clear brackets are quite strong, but they’re not as durable as metal brackets. If you choose porcelain, ceramic, or plastic brackets, we’ll give you all the information you need for their care.

• Do clear braces take longer to work?

They might take a bit more time to bring your teeth into alignment, or they could work just as quickly as traditional braces. They often take less time than aligners. Today’s orthodontic treatments work more efficiently and therefore more quickly than ever before, so if there are any differences in wear-time, they probably won’t be significant.

Your individual orthodontic needs will dictate how long any treatment plan will take, and if different treatment options will add or save you time. Before you choose any orthodontic plan, we’ll go over all your options and give you an estimate for treatment time for each of them.

• Any notable differences from metal brackets?

Clear brackets can be larger than metal versions. Because they can also be somewhat abrasive, they might be suggested only for your upper teeth. We’ll let you know if these brackets are a good fit for you.

• Do clear braces stain?

Today’s clear brackets aren’t prone to staining—that would certainly defeat the purpose of choosing them! We’ll give you instructions on keeping them as clean and clear as possible. Do remember, if you use ligatures, that these little bands can stain if your diet is big on coffee, tea, cola, blueberries, or any other colorful food.

• Are clear braces more expensive?

Cost of treatment is based on several factors, including the type of braces you select. We’ll be happy to compare the costs of your various treatment options.

If you want the benefits of traditional braces, but don’t necessarily want the visibility of regular metal brackets, consider the many transparent and tinted options available. Want more clarity? Talk to a member of our Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts orthodontic team! You might discover that clear braces are the clear choice to create your healthy, beautiful smile.

You have a lot going on. School. Sports. Activities. Family. Friends. Teens lead busy lives and have busy schedules, so you need to budget your time and energy. One thing you don’t want to spend any of your time and energy on? Dealing with gum disease.

Gum disease most often begins as a reaction to plaque and tartar. The bacteria in plaque produce acids which irritate gum tissue, causing inflammation, swelling, and bleeding. This is gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease.

Left untreated, early gum disease can become periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection which can cause receding gums, loose teeth, and even tooth and bone loss.

We usually think about gum disease as something that only older adults worry about. But the unfortunate fact is that children and teens are also at risk for gum disease—and the teen years bring special risks. Why?

• Braces

The teen years are the most common years for orthodontic treatment. Wearing traditional or lingual braces can make removing plaque from around brackets and wires, between the teeth, and near the gum line more challenging, and gum disease can be the result. When you’ve been working so hard to create a healthy attractive smile, you don’t want to delay your orthodontic progress to treat gum disease.

• Less-than-Nutritious Snacking

When you have after school commitments like sports practices, play rehearsals, or work, you probably carry a snack to give you the energy you need until dinner. Popular snacks like energy drinks, chips, or candy bars are common go-to choices, but they contain acids, simple carbs, and sugars which are bad for both gums and tooth enamel.

• Hormones

Increased hormone levels during puberty can make the gums more sensitive and more easily irritated.

• Your Busy Life

Maybe you’re not getting enough sleep. Or eating as well as you could. Or you’re feeling anxious. Lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and stress can affect your body’s immune system and your ability to fight off infection. And if you’re also not brushing and flossing regularly, your gum health can really suffer.

How do you know if you have gum disease? Good question! Sometimes the early stages of gum disease aren’t obvious. Perhaps you’ve noticed changes in your gums, such as:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Soreness
• Bleeding
• Bad breath even after brushing

Any of these changes can be symptoms of gum disease and are a good reason to give our Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts office a call, since time is important when treating gum disease.

Caught early, gingivitis is usually very treatable—in fact, you can often reverse early gingivitis by paying more attention to your daily dental hygiene. If gingivitis is more advanced, or if periodontitis develops, you need professional dental care to prevent serious damage to your gums, teeth, and bone.

Preventing gum disease from ever developing is always best, though, so let’s look at what you can do to keep gum disease from becoming a problem.

• Keep Up with Healthy Dental Habits

Even though you’re leading a busy life, take time for your dental care. Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes per session and flossing once a day take just a bit of your time and are the best way to keep your gums healthy. If you wear braces or have a tendency toward cavities and gum disease, Drs. Cartsos and Zavras might recommend brushing or flossing more often.

• Use the Right Tools

Using the right tools makes a big difference. You should always choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to protect your delicate gum tissue—especially if it’s extra sensitive. Too-harsh brushing can damage even your super-hard tooth enamel, so you can imagine what it can do to your gums! Change out your brush every three to four months when it starts to get frayed and worn.

If you wear braces, ask Drs. Cartsos and Zavras to recommend the best kind of floss to clean between your teeth and around your brackets and wires. The right tools will make flossing a lot easier, and will help you keep your gums healthy and your orthodontic treatment on track.

• No Matter How Busy You Are, Treat Yourself Well

Watch your diet. Drinking water to hydrate is a healthy (and inexpensive) alternative to sugary and acidic drinks. When you know you have after-school commitments, pack yourself a healthy snack. After snacking, it’s a good idea to rinse with water when you can’t brush to remove any food particles sticking around your teeth and gums.

And even though your schedule is demanding, caring for your mind and body should be a priority. If you have difficulties with sleep or stress, or questions about a nutritious diet, talk to your doctor for some valuable tips to make your daily life healthier and more enjoyable.

With so much going on in your active life, gum problems are problems you really don’t need. Make room in your schedule now for careful daily brushing and flossing, a healthy lifestyle, and regular visits to Convivial Dental, and you’ll be living that active life with a beautiful, healthy smile!