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What’s a Snoring Mouthpiece? I’m Glad You Asked!

What’s a Snoring Mouthpiece?  I’m Glad You Asked!

What Is A Snoring Mouthpiece? A snoring mouthpiece is a non-invasive, comfortable and affordable option for treating moderate sleep problems and disorders. If you snore, wake up feeling tired, constantly feel fatigued, or suffer from broken sleep, a snoring mouthpiece can be a simple and effective way to treat your sleep issues and help you say goodnight to interrupted sleep. How do snoring mouthpieces work? A snoring mouthpiece is an oral appliance, which positions the lower jaw forward. Moving the lower jaw forward allows the back of your throat to open, preventing your airway from collapsing during sleep and reducing your ability to snore. The mouthpieces can be customised and your dentist can assist you to ensure your snoring mouthpiece fits comfortably within your mouth. The devices are user friendly and easy to insert and remove. Why a snoring mouthpiece? When it comes to treatment options for sleep issues and disorders, snoring mouthpieces are the least invasive treatment option available. Alternatives to snoring mouthpieces include the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which some find difficult to sleep with and intrusive. The other option is surgery. Snoring mouthpieces are an effective anti-snoring solution and proven to treat moderate sleep apnoea and similar sleep disorders. Sleep apnoea Snoring can be a warning sign of a serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnoea. If you have obstructive sleep apnoea you can stop breathing while sleeping from 10 seconds to more than a minute due to your airway collapsing. This results in broken sleep leaving you feeling tired when you wake and exposing you to the risk of accident and injury due to fatigue. Sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders are serious and can be associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and heart attack. What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea? Obstructive sleep apnoea symptoms include gasping or choking at times during sleep, excessive tiredness during the day and fatigue related issues, and fractured teeth and fillings. Sleep disorder diagnosis Medibyte Home Sleep Testing Equipment allows you to undergo an analysis of your sleep experience from the comfort of your own home. The overnight sleep test can diagnose sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea, and assess whether it is mild, moderate or severe. Your dentist can then recommend the best course of action for treatment, with snoring mouthpieces the recommended treatment for moderate sleep apnoea. Contact Robert Duhig today on (07) 3269 2443 to find out how a snoring mouthpiece can help...

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Invisalign Vs Braces – Information For Parents

Invisalign Vs Braces – Information For Parents

Invisalign Vs Braces – Information For Parents It’s time to get your teen’s teeth straightened, but you can’t decide whether Invisalign vs braces is the best option. We take a look at these two teeth straightening methods to help you decide which is suitable for your teen. What is Invisalign? Invisalign uses clear, custom-fit trays to straighten teeth. The trays, known as aligners, are contoured to move teeth to the correct position. Aligners should be worn approximately 22 hours per day, but can be removed when required. Aligners are worn for about two weeks before your teen progresses to a new set of aligners. Progress is monitored every six weeks with average treatment time approximately one year. Invisalign is an alternative to braces for straightening teeth, resolving overcrowding, and closing gaps. Invisalign vs braces While Invisalign and braces are both effective options in straightening your teen’s teeth, they have their pros and cons. Invisalign benefits · Clear aligners are virtually invisible. · Aligners are made of smooth and comfortable plastic. · Aligners are removable making eating easier. · No food restrictions. · Easy to maintain good oral health. As if being a teenager isn’t hard enough, adding teeth straightening into the mix can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. With Invisalign, your teen can have the confidence to be themselves and keep smiling regardless of whether or not they are undergoing teeth straightening treatment. With Invisalign, you don’t have to be wary of what foods your teen eats for fear of getting food stuck in them or having highly coloured foods or drinks stain clear braces. Invisalign disadvantages · May not be suitable for all teeth straightening cases. · Reminding your teen to insert aligners after every meal. · Teeth must be brushed after every meal. The Invisalign specialists at Robert Duhig Dental can help you determine if the Invisalign method is right for your teen. They will also promote good oral hygiene habits and stress the importance of removing and inserting aligners. Braces benefits Traditional braces use metal wires and brackets to straighten teeth. · Permanent for a specified period. No need to remove when eating or brushing. · Can treat most teeth straightening issues. · Approximately monthly check ups and tightening. Braces disadvantages · Wires and brackets are visible. · Wires and brackets can poke and irritate the inside of the mouth causing ulcers. · Brushing and flossing requires more effort. · Food restrictions. Invisalign for adults Invisalign is the perfect option for adults wanting to achieve a winning smile with minimal impact on everyday life. Robert Duhig can also whiten your teeth to perfect your smile. Robert Duhig Dental staff are experienced Invisalign fitters....

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What Diseases Can A Dentist Diagnose?

What Diseases Can A Dentist Diagnose?

A simple visit to your dentist could give you early warning of serious diseases.  Your dentist will examine your teeth, gums and your mouth overall and can check for signs of problems with your general health.  At Robert Duhig Dental, we are passionate about patient health, and it doesn’t just stop with healthy teeth! Dental diagnostics for thousands of systemic diseases Your mouth can tell a thousand tales!  There is mounting evidence that up to 90% of systematic diseases manifest oral symptoms, suggesting your dentist should be the first port of call for disease diagnosis.  To ensure the best possible dental treatment, patients should: Choose a dentist and stick with that dentist Choose a dentist who is highly observant, and never “rushed” Make an appointment immediately if you notice any changes in your mouth Inform your dentist of any recent illnesses or symptoms Follow through with any further testing or treatment recommended   Warning signs it’s time to make an appointment Many of the common warning signs of serious disease can also be something completely benign.  It’s vital to check with your dentist to be sure. A dental diagnosis will often rule out serious disease and your dentist can help you with simple ways to prevent further problems. Mouth Ulcers We’ve all had an ulcer from time to time, and usually it’s a symptom of a minor bacterial infection in your mouth or an issue with the alignment of your teeth.  Mouth ulcers are rounded sore/s inside your mouth that have swelling and tenderness around the sore.  If you’re frequently suffering from ulcers, have mouth ulcers that won’t heal or have a particularly bad outbreak, this may be a sign of “nothing serious” but can also indicate: Reactions to drugs Reaction to certain chemicals Herpes simplex Autoimmune diseases Syphillis Gonorrhea TB Hand foot and mouth disease HIV Lymphoma Diabetes Mellitus Behcet’s Syndrome Inflammatory bowel disease Rare forms of arthritis Wegener’s Granulomatosis Fungal diseases Various cancers Varicella Rubeola Epidermolysis Bullosa     Oral Lesions Oral lesions are discoloured spots or shapes inside your mouth.  They can be white, purple, brown, black or even near to invisible, they can be very painful or not painful at all.  Different kinds of lesions appear in different parts of the mouth and can be completely harmless or very serious.  Because there are so many types and because they appear in so many places, it’s impossible to self-diagnose an oral lesion.  If you notice a change in your mouth, it’s time to see a dentist.  A lesion could be a simple, no worries issue or it could indicate: Oral cancer Submucous fibrosis Fordyce’s ganules Ectopic lymphoid tissue Cysts Parulis Lipoma HIV Vascula diseases Pregnancy Various granulomas Yeast...

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Happy Anniversary – 33 Years in Sandgate!

Happy Anniversary – 33 Years in Sandgate!

  On June 1st, 1983, Robert Duhig opened his dental practice here in Sandgate.  Back then, he was at Laurel’s Arcade at the other end of our little high street.  In 1993 Robert Duhig opened in the current site, just opposite the Town Hall.  In 33 years, we’ve been proud to provide the highest quality dental services to the folks of Sandgate, and now treat four generations of some of the local families! Sally Ann Atkinson was on the rise. Image Credit 33 years is a long time! It was the year that Malcolm Fraser was granted a double dissolution in parliament. It was the year Bob Hawke became prime minister.  It was the year we won the America’s Cup.  The average wage was $319.60 per week.   Electric trains had been coming to Shorncliffe for just a year.  There was no Gateway Bridge, so trips down to the other side of the river meant packing a lunch!                     Sandgate foreshore was a quiet day trip destination for Brisbane families Image credit     We went to Redcliffe via the bumpiest bridge in Brisbane Image Credit Parents actually took their kids for a day trip on one of the fancy new banana busses! Image Credit Everyone shopped at Toombul because Chermside was so small and lame!   Image Credit Sandgate got its beautiful Senior’s Centre. Image Credit And a trip to the Queen Street Mall was a BIG day out! Image Credit In 1983 Rob the Dentist was still someone who couldn’t show his face on TV and most of our staff were little tykes – some weren’t even born yet!     Brisbane was a lot smaller in 1983 when Rob Duhig first moved into Sandgate.  It was still a “big town” and the local dentist was still just like a country doctor – someone everyone knew and everyone could call on.  We’re still lucky to have Sandgate “township” but as the years go by, there’s more and more big business moving in.  We’re proud to have been part of Sandgate for so long and we look forward to fixing your grandkid’s teeth in the future!              ...

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