What Is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome And How Can it be Treated? If you’ve struggled with feeling tired and exhausted through the day, snoring and insomnia – speak with your dentist. You may be suffering from a condition called Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is like a milder version of obstructive sleep apnoea, although testing in sleep clinics will often not detect UARS. The disorder is more common in women and younger people and not unusual in the third trimester of pregnancy. It’s caused by difficulty breathing past obstructions in the upper airways, causing the brain to constantly rouse itself from the deeper, restorative stages of sleep. You may not even be aware of waking through the night; all you will know is that you wake feeling exhausted and you’re always tired, cranky and irritable. Symptoms of Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome The most common symptoms of UARS are: difficulty getting to sleep problems staying asleep snoring or heavy breathing excessive daytime sleepiness feeling exhausted in the morning morning headaches chronic jaw pain a dry and furry mouth and tongue on waking a scalloped tongue (teeth imprints around the edge of your tongue giving it a scalloped or frilled appearance). UARS is commonly misdiagnosed or mistaken for other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression. If you’ve been diagnosed with any of these and your current treatment and medication is not helping, it’s time to get a second opinion. How is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome diagnosed? UARS can be diagnosed via an at home sleep test using the Medibyte portable diagnostic system. You don’t need to book into a sleep clinic or leave home. You simply use the Medibyte as instructed by your dentist during a normal night’s sleep in your own bed. The Medibyte is comfortable to wear and easy to set up. It will monitor and record the number of times your brain is aroused from sleep. Not every dental clinic has invested in this revolutionary diagnostic portable sleep study machine. Contact Robert Duhig Dentist for more information today. How is UARS treated? Once Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome has been diagnosed by the Medibyte portable diagnostic system, your dentist will work with you to develop a treatment plan to correct the condition. Treatment for UARS usually involves the use of oral appliances, exercise and lifestyle changes. You can finally start getting a good night’s sleep! Life changing treatment and diagnosis Imagine how good it would feel to finally start waking in the morning feeling refreshed and energised for the day ahead? With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can get your life back. If you or a family member suffers from...

What Happens When You Get Your Breath Tested At Our Breath Clinic in Brisbane? Find the answers and get solutions to your bad breath problems while you wait. At Robert Duhig Dentist, our state of the art bad breath analyser gives answers within minutes! The team at our breath clinic are Brisbane’s halitosis treatment specialists. Diagnosing the cause of bad breath is essential to treating the underlying cause and eliminating the problem for good. The Oral Chroma bad breath analyser is scientifically validated, non-invasive, pain free and suitable for both adults and children. Results are ready in minutes and treatment can be started straight away. How does the Oral Chroma bad breath analyser work? The Oral Chroma bad breath analyser works by measuring the different volatile gases responsible for bad breath. These gases are produced by various species of bacteria in your mouth and throat. It’s now clearly established that bad breath is caused by the wrong type of bacteria living in your mouth. These bacteria produce gases that smell bad. The three main gases responsible for bad breath are: Methyl mercaptan, which smells like faeces Hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs Dimethyl sulphide, which smells like cabbage or gasoline. By analysing the concentrations of these gases in your breath, your dentist can determine which bacteria are the culprits responsible for your bad breath and start you on the most appropriate and specific treatment. How is your breath tested? When you arrive at our breath clinic in Brisbane, your dentist will ask you some questions and conduct an oral examination before testing your breath with the Oral Chroma. This typically includes questions about your medical history and diet followed by a thorough examination of your teeth and gums looking for infection, areas where food is impacted and tooth decay. Once the dentist is ready to test your breath with the Oral Chroma, they will place a syringe into your mouth – but don’t worry, there’s no needle attached to the syringe. You’ll be asked to breathe normally through your nose while the syringe is left in your mouth for a minute. The dentist will then suck up a sample of breath and inject this into the Oral Chroma testing machine. The machine takes about 5 minutes to analyse the gas samples in your breath and a report is printed once this is done. Your dentist will go through what the results mean and give you a copy of the report to take home. Identify and eliminate the bacteria that cause bad breath Once the Oral Chroma has analysed your breath and identified the problem bacteria, your dentist can work with you to correct the bacterial imbalance in your...

Does Your Child Have Dental Anxiety? Struggling to get your child to the dentist? Dental anxiety in kids is a common issue. Luckily there is something you can do about it! Why do children have dental anxiety? It’s perfectly normal for your child to worry about the dentist. If they are yet to visit a dentist for the first time, the stories they’ve heard or images they’re conjuring up in their mind could be quite different from the reality. Or, if your child has already undergone oral procedures he or she was not fond of, this can cause dental anxiety for future visits. Aside from that, your child’s dental anxiety could stem from the seemingly scary big chair, noisy machines and strange metallic instruments that are not found anywhere but the dentist’s rooms. These are big things for small people. Finally, it’s possible that you or other relatives in your family are fearful of the dentist or have been vocal about a bad experience. Children pick up anxieties from their elders and dental anxiety is no different. What can you do to alleviate dental anxiety in your child? Any of the above can cause worry for children, but the good news is, there are ways to combat dental anxiety early on. Don’t talk about your own negative dental experiences. Your own dental experiences are personal to you. Try not to voice your own negative dental experiences in front of your children. Remember that today’s dentists have improved technologies that alleviate pain and are far more sensitive to children’s needs than they might once have been. Start visiting the dentist from an early age. Take your children with you when you visit the dentist for a check-up yourself. By doing so, you instil the idea of positive experiences with dentists, which reduces dental anxiety due to fear of the unknown. Play pretend dentist visits. Consider acting out a pretend visit to the dentist to reduce dental anxiety. Have your child lie down on the couch or chair, then use a toothbrush to brush his/her teeth and count your little one’s teeth. Add some pretend equipment to the scenario – but nothing too daunting! Perhaps use mirrors or a face mask to add to the authenticity of your game? Emphasise the importance of dental health. You know the importance of dental hygiene, but your child with dental anxiety does not. Tell your child that the reason to visit to the dentist is to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Explain that healthy teeth and gums lead to beautiful smiles. Don’t delay! If your child has dental anxiety, book in a visit with Robert Duhig Dentist in Sandgate, north Brisbane by calling (07)...

It seems that the old adage that “straight teeth in your mouth is more important than the words that come out of it” remains true – at least when it comes to job interviews and promotions.  A recent study by the The British Dental Association found that bad teeth can dramatically hinder job applicants at interview.  When surveyed, 83% of respondents agreed that visibly decayed or missing teeth and bad breath would disadvantage applicants to a client facing role (eg.  customer service, reception, solicitor).  In fact, respondents would rather see an interviewee looking unkempt than lacking in dental hygiene.  Bad teeth and breath were found to be the biggest hurdles to career advancement. Bad teeth and career prospects The report found that: 70% rated visibly decayed or missing teeth as a hindrance to gaining employment in client facing roles 62% rated bad breath as a hindrance to gaining employment in client facing roles  83% agreed that these factors are disadvantageous in a job interview for these roles 62% agreed that these factors would harm an interviewee’s chance in any role 60% agreed that these factors would hinder promotion prospects   Options for improving your smile, and your career prospects! If you’ve got a “bad smile” it’s likely that you feel self conscious not just in job interviews but in everyday interactions.  So many of our cosmetic dentistry clients come to us because they want to feel more confident in social situation, first dates and when interviewing.  Luckily dental technology has made leaps and bounds in recent years and there are some quick, simple fixes available. Crowns and Veneers Dark teeth  and teeth that have suffered such decay that they cannot be saved by fillings… these are the main hindrances to climbing the corporate ladder.  Veneers are placed in a cosmetic procedure called a “smile makeover”.  Your new look tooth is colour matched to your existing teeth and bonded to the discoloured tooth.  A crown is a ceramic or metal “tooth cover” that gives at flawless look – so it’s ideal for teeth front and centre of your smile.  Learn more about cosmetic dentistry. Implants, Bridges and Dentures Implants replace missing teeth for a smoother smile, and for easier chewing!  They’re tough and permanent.  Bridges are also permanently placed but may need further maintenance in the future.  Old fashioned dentures (or false teeth as they’re commonly known) are the most affordable option but can be fiddly and inconvenient.  They’re also prone to making existing mouth issues worse.  Learn more here. Zoom Whitening Attention coffee addicts and cigarette smokers!  Zoom Whitening is ideal for removing “lifestyle stains” from your teeth.  If you don’t want to advertise that you smoke a pack and drink five cups a day,...

Suffer From Sleep Apnoea? This Is How We Can Help With Sleep Disorder Treatment Are you tired of waking up in the morning still feeling exhausted? Sick of wondering why after eight ‘solid’ hours of sleep you are still tired? You aren’t alone! It may be time to consider sleep disorder treatment. You have worked hard all day and cannot wait curl up in bed and get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, if you’re one of the 5% of Australians affected by sleep apnoea, a restful night is far from your reality. The good news is that you can get help and minimise side effects with effective sleep disorder treatment. How do you know if you suffer from sleep apnoea? As the name suggests, sleep apnoea occurs when you are sleeping. During sleep the walls of your throat come together, which ultimately blocks your airway. This results in breathing pauses typically lasting anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, or repeated shallow breathing. Unfortunately, odds are you will not even realise if you suffer from a sleep disorder. Knowing the tell-tale signs will give you the knowledge you need to seek professional assistance and be diagnosed sooner. Signs of a sleep disorder include: excessive tiredness and possibly falling asleep throughout the day snoring waking from sleep gasping for air obesity high blood pressure. Diagnosing sleep apnoea is easy. Thanks to modern medicine, patients can now use home sleep testing equipment and perform the test in the comfort of their own beds. Once analysed, your doctor and dentist team can discuss treatment options with you. Sleep disorder treatment options Like most disorders, there are several treatment options available. They include: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This is a mask that is worn at night and transfers increased air pressure into the throat, preventing the throat walls from collapsing. It is a very effective treatment for severe cases, though many find this impractical as a long term solution. Oral appliances – Mouthguards are an option for mild to moderate cases. When sleeping they hold your jaw forward, changing the direction of airflow. Lifestyle changes – Reducing alcohol intake and losing weight can be a step in the right direction to improved sleep. Surgery – In some severe cases, having surgical adjustment of your upper airway obstruction is effective. You don’t have to suffer from sleep apnoea anymore. Speak to your healthcare provider about getting diagnosed and then consult a sleep disorder treatment specialist to help you get the good night’s rest you crave. If you want professional help from sleep disorder treatment experts, give the team at Robert Duhig Dentist a call today on 07 3269...