Dental Care Procedures

Among the more advanced dental care procedure Dr. Chase performs are:

• Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy 

  Orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD) is a disorder of the muscles and functions of the face and mouth that may affect chewing, swallowing, speech, oral hygiene, and a slew of other normal functions. A typical OMD involves an abnormal bite due to the improper alignment between the upper and lower teeth. This is known as malocclusion, and it can lead to problems in chewing, swallowing, and the digestion of food.Myofunctional therapy consists of a regular program of simple and painless exercises designed to activate and use certain muscles to correct improper muscle patterns and enable proper coordination of the tongue and facial muscles.

• Sleep apnea

  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which you stop breathing periodically throughout the night due to a physical obstruction of the airway. The muscles in your mouth and throat relax during sleep to the point that soft fatty tissues fall back into the upper airway and block the flow of incoming oxygen. One option in the treatment of sleep apnea is the use of a continuous positive airway (CPAP) device, which delivers a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask into your respiratory system. However, this form of therapy can result in dry nasal passages, skin irritation from masks, difficulty tolerating the pressurized air, or feelings of claustrophobia.

  A better option for sleep apnea is an oral dental appliance for sleep apnea. There are two types: adjustable mandibular advancement devices (MADs) and tongue retaining mouthpieces. MADs work by pushing the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward, thereby helping prevent throat muscles from collapsing back into the airways, while allowing for normal breathing. Tongue retaining mouthpieces have a small compartment that fits around the tongue using suction to keep it held forward, preventing it from collapsing back into your airway.

Advanced dental care procedures such as these require advanced diagnostic tools. That’s why Mid Bay Dental is equipped with these cutting-edge, on-site technologies: