Could You Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?

January 23, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:27 pm

Snoring, while annoying to those in your household, is usually a harmless habit. Sometimes, it even takes years before someone lets you know you’re a victim of the condition – usually a tired spouse, or an annoyed friend at a sleepover when you’re still young. But did you know that snoring can actually indicate a much more serious problem? If you’re a chronic snorer, you might also be suffering from sleep apnea. At its core, sleep apnea is a condition that affects the way you breathe while you’re sleeping, causing your air intake to lessen or even stop altogether for seconds at a time, up to hundreds of time a night. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can lead to complications down the road if left untreated. Thankfully, Dr. Bobby Carmen is happy to help, here at his Norman office. Our team is committed to providing you with a comfortable and effective solution for your sleep apnea, letting you and your family get back to safe, peaceful slumber.

But first, how can you tell if you have sleep apnea? Here are some of the most common symptoms.

  • Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
  • Chronic sleepiness during the daytime, no matter how much sleep you got the night before
  • Waking up with a dry mouth or throat after sleep
  • Loud snoring
  • Long periods of silence when sleeping – check with your spouse to see if this sounds familiar!
  • Morning headaches

Those sound familiar! What can you do to help me?

Never fear – Dr. Carmen takes sleep apnea very seriously, and he has an easy solution so that you can get the rest and peace of mind you deserve. We will have a mouthpiece custom-made to fit your unique features, commonly known as a snoreguard. As long as you wear the snoreguard during sleep, your airways will always be held open, getting rid of that pesky snoring as well as eliminating dangerous lapses in breathing.

Our team wants to give you a reason to smile! Call our Norman dental office today to schedule a consultation for your sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Carmen also serves patients from Moore, The University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Happy with Root Canal Treatment in Norman, OK

January 16, 2013

Filed under: Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 6:24 pm

Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Happy with Root Canal Treatment in Norman, OK

Out of all the dental procedures and treatments you can undergo, “root canal” always seems to be the phrase that scares potential patients the most. Maybe the amount of pain experienced during the procedure has been exaggerated over time, or the supposed invasiveness is simply unsettling to think about. When all is said and done, root canal treatment certainly isn’t as bad as it’s been built up to be; in fact, it’s a crucial procedure that can rescue heavily decayed or infected teeth from needing to be extracted. With the help of up-to-date tools and sedation dentistry herein Norman, OK, Dr. Bobby Carmen and his team can help your root canal treatment be as quick and comfortable as possible, getting you back to smiling sooner.

How can I tell if I need treatment for a root canal?

Here are some common symptoms:

  • Serious tooth pain when chewing
  • Swelling and tenderness in the gums
  • A dark discoloration of a tooth
  • Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures

What happens during root canal treatment?

“Root canal” refers to the internal structure of the tooth that contains “the pulp” (the nerve). Treatment is necessary when a crack or decay exposes that inner area to bacteria and infection. Dr. Carmen will clean out all the bacteria and now-diseased pulp from the tooth then fill it with a biologically inert substance before sealing it shut again. He might also suggest other restorative measures, such as a crown, to fully restore the affected tooth to tip-top shape.

Okay, but it is going to hurt?

Root canal treatment is extremely effective, and many teeth that have undergone the procedure go on to last a lifetime. Dr. Carmen uses every tool and technique to minimize discomfort, and when all is said and done, most patients say that the pain is no worse than it is when receiving a common filling.

If you think you might be in need of root canal treatment, don’t wait any longer to seek out help! Dr. Carmen and his team are committed to providing you with excellent, personalized care that always puts your safety and comfort first. Call our Norman dental office today to schedule a consultation for your sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Carmen also serves patients from Moore, The University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Put a Stop to Bruxism Before the Stressful Holiday Season

September 21, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 7:01 am

We mentioned in our last post that the holiday season is coming up. The holidays are, of course, a time for getting together with friends and family and celebrating values like love and togetherness. But that doesn’t mean the holidays aren’t also a stressful time. And stress is often what causes an oral health condition known as bruxism.

The primary symptom of bruxism is teeth grinding. But there are other symptoms to watch out for in addition to this one. Those symptoms can include pain in the jaw, neck, back, and shoulders. Patients with bruxism may also experience frequent headaches or earaches.

Why is bruxism a serious issue?

Because the pressure of all that grinding can damage your teeth, as well as the muscles and tissues in and around the jaw.

You might think, then, that stopping bruxism is as simple as not grinding your teeth. That’s true, but many patients who struggle with bruxism grind their teeth unconsciously and often while asleep. That makes treating bruxism on your own much more difficult.

So how can you treat bruxism?

With a nightguard! By wearing a nightguard while you sleep, you can prevent the clenching and grinding associated with bruxism, preserving your oral health in the process.

Getting started with a nightguard is easy. The process starts with a complete oral exam at Dr. Carmen’s dental office in Norman. As part of that exam, Dr. Carmen will take an impression of your smile. A nightguard will then be made for you from that impression, and, once it’s ready, treating your symptoms  will be a simple as wearing your nightguard while you sleep at night.

To learn more about bruxism and how it can be treated, call our office today. Dr. Norman would be happy to answer your questions and talk to you more about how bruxism can be managed. Our office serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Have You Scheduled Your Fall Visit with Dr. Carmen?

September 7, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 6:00 pm

Another fall season is almost here. Starting on Saturday, September 22, we can look forward to the end of summer and the start of cooler weather. We can also look forward the upcoming holiday season, which will be here sooner than you think.

But until then, why not use the end of September or the beginning of October to schedule your last checkup and cleaning of the year.

A key part of enjoying the holidays—besides being with the ones you love—is enjoying the holiday goodies that come with it. When you know your smile is in good shape, you can feel less guilty about indulging (just a little bit!) in all that your end-of-the-year festivities will have to offer.

It’s hard to know how your smile is doing, though, without a dental checkup and professional cleaning. During a checkup at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, we’ll keep a sharp eye out for signs of common oral health problems like gum disease, tooth decay, TMJ dysfunction, and even oral cancer. If Dr. Carmen find anything at all, he can immediately suggest a service to help you while there’s still time left on your current dental benefits. If we had to do the same thing closer to the end of the year, it might be harder to give you the care you need before the New Year starts.

So, why wait any longer? Call Dr. Carmen’s Normal dental office to schedule your fall checkup. Our office serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

 

Creating Flawless Smiles with Porcelain Veneers

August 2, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 8:21 pm

Feeling confident about your smile is important, but two common problems can stand in your way: crooked or oddly spaced teeth and teeth stains. Thankfully, there’s a cosmetic dentistry service that makes it possible to overcome both of these in just two to three visit to Dr. Carmen’s Normal dental office—porcelain veneers.

Rejuvenate Your Smile without Braces

Do you wish you had a straighter smile, but you don’t want to spend months or years with braces? Porcelain veneers can help by covering imperfections to create a smile that looks naturally straight. Depending on your situation, though, hiding crooked, chipped, or misaligned teeth with porcelain veneers may not be your best option. That’s why we always recommend that patients dreaming of a straighter smile see us for a consultation visit before making up their minds. During a consultation visit, we can talk to you about the procedure, your smile, and your options. Then, if porcelain veneers really are right for you, we can begin working on your treatment plan immediately.

A Whiter Smile without Teeth Whitening

In addition to creating straighter-looking smiles, porcelain veneers can also help you overcome difficult teeth stains. After all, there are some stains that even the best professional whitening system can have trouble cutting through. But with porcelain veneers, you can enjoy a white smile without having to worry how effective your treatment will be or how long it will last.

Do you want to know more about how porcelain veneers can help you create a straighter, whiter smile? Call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to set up an appointment with us. Dr. Carmen serves patients from Moore, The University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Take the Pressure off Your Smile with a Nightguard

July 12, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:58 pm

Day-to-day life is stressful, there’s no doubt about that. Demands at work, hectic commutes, and the rapid flow of life itself can all be enough to leave you feeling tense.  That spells bad news for your health, but also for your smile.

It’s not uncommon to react to stress by clenching your teeth. In fact, it’s a pretty natural response. But no matter how natural it might be, it’s not healthy. Over time, clenching and grinding can harm your teeth and your jaw, causing painful symptoms and ruining your oral health.

So it might seem that the simplest way to treat this problem—which is called bruxism—is to just stop clenching and grinding your teeth. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Many patients who struggle with bruxism don’t even know they’re struggling, because they grind and clench their teeth while they’re sleeping. That makes it difficult to just stop.

But using a comfortable, custom-made nightguard, it’s possible for Dr. Carmen to provide his Norman-area patients with the relief they’ve been looking for.

Nightguards work by preventing the clenching and grinding that can so easily damage your teeth and jaw muscles. To experience relief, all you have to do is slip it on before you go to bed. Then, you can rest comfortably through the night and wake up feeling better than you have in a long time.

Learn More Today

Are you ready to learn more about how you can stop bruxism with a nightguard? Call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to schedule an appointment with us. Our team happily serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

What Type of Sedation Dentistry Does Dr. Carmen Offer?

June 28, 2012

Filed under: Sedation Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 3:57 pm

There’s more than one type of sedation dentistry out there to help patients, but not every dental office offers every kind. Some offices may only offer nitrous oxides, while others may favor IV sedation dentistry. But at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, you’ll find that in addition to nitrous oxide we also offer an effective option called oral conscious sedation.

Oral conscious sedation uses a common prescription sedative to help patients enjoy more comfortable, stress-free dental visits. As a result, patients who have put off essential dental care because of anxiety, a sensitive gag reflex, or neck or shoulder pain can reclaim their oral health again. Oral conscious sedation also makes it possible for patients to undergo more work in a single appointment, reducing the number of visits a patient might need.

How Does Oral Conscious Sedation Work?

If you’ll be taking advantage of oral conscious sedation on your next visit, here’s what you can expect. First, during your welcome visit with Dr. Carmen, we can talk about any treatment questions you might have. Then, Dr. Carmen will finish your visit by explaining how oral conscious sedation works and writing your prescription.

On the night before your appointment, you’ll take one of your prescribed pills. This will help you to get a full night’s rest before your appointment. Then, on the day of your appointment, you’ll take another pill in preparation for your appointment. As this pill goes to work, you’ll feel relaxed, almost like you could fall asleep. But the best part is you won’t recognize pain or remember anything from your appointment afterwards.

Want to Learn More?

Are you ready to learn more about sedation dentistry and oral conscious sedation? Visit our page for sedation dentistry or call our Norman office to learn more. Dr. Carmen gladly serves patients from Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

 

Rejuvenate Your Smile and Your Confidence with Kör™ Whitening

June 8, 2012

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:11 pm

Are you anticipating a family vacation this summer? Or what about either a family reunion or a wedding? Events like these always involve pictures, and if you’re already embarrassed of your smile, you might find yourself dreading what you should be excited about. All of which is why Dr. Carmen offers professional teeth whitening at his Norman dental office.

Powerful Results with Kör Whitening

At Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, we use Kör Whitening, one of the most sophisticated and effective professional teeth whitening systems available, to help patients revitalize their smiles and their confidence.

Teeth Whitening Options from Dr. Carmen

Using the Kör Whitening system, Dr. Carmen offers two convenient teeth whitening options: in-office and take-home teeth whitening. In both cases, patients can look forward to experiencing professional results and little to no sensitivity at all. Which one you choose all has to do with how soon you want to see results. If you’re looking for immediate results, you may want to choose in-office teeth whitening. With in-office teeth whitening, it takes just an hour to create a smile that’s more than 10 times whiter. If you don’t mind waiting a little longer for results, or you’d simply like to whiten your smile in your own home, take-home whiteng can help you achieve the same dazzling results.

To Get Started, Call Us Today

If you’d like help creating a brighter smile, call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to get started. We serve patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

 

Custom-Made Crowns in a Single Visit with CEREC

May 25, 2012

Filed under: CEREC Crowns,Restorative Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:15 am

When individual teeth become vulnerable, dentists will often restore them with a crown.  A traditional crown procedure takes at least two visits—one to prep your tooth and another to put your crown in place. But at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, we’re simplifying this process into just one visit, all thanks to CEREC technology.

CEREC crowns are made from durable dental porcelain and can be custom-milled in our office in about an hour. There’s absolutely no temporary crown to worry about, and you can leave our office with your new smile that same day.

A Restored Smile in Just One Appointment

When you come to our Norman office for a CEREC restoration, Dr. Carmen will start by creating a 3D image of your tooth. Then, while you’re relaxing in our office, our CEREC machine will use the information we’ve gathered to make your custom-made crown.

Compare that to the traditional process, where a temporary crown is put in place. With CEREC, instead of spending a week worrying about a temporary crown, you can enjoy a healthy, restored smile after just one appointment.

Want to learn more? Visit our CEREC page or call us today with your questions. Dr. Carmen gladly serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Complete Dental Implant Procedures from Dr. Carmen

May 11, 2012

Filed under: Dental Implants — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:05 pm

As a dentist for the Norman area, Dr. Carmen is committed to providing comprehensive dental care. Whether you’re looking for general, cosmetic, or restorative care, Dr. Carmen wants to see that you’re taken care of in exactly the way you need to be. That’s why we offer complete dental implant procedures at our Norman office.

Throughout his career, Dr. Carmen has completed extensive continuing education in implant dentistry to ensure that he can provide his patients with the excellent care. As a result, he’s able to place and restore dental implants, all in one location: his Norman dental office.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

As a popular restorative option for more than 30 years, dental implants work by mimicking a tooth’s natural structure, replacing both your tooth and your tooth root.

Here’s what you can expect from your procedure.

During the first phase of your procedure, Dr. Carmen will place your implant(s) right in his Norman dental office. Then, after your implant has had time to bond with your jaw, you’ll return to our office to have your crown, bridge, or denture restored, resulting in a restored smile that feels strong and natural.

Want To Learn More?

If you’d like to learn more about dental implants, call our office to schedule a consultation visit. Our office is conveniently located near The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, and Central Oklahoma.

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