Dear Patient:

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You'll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (207)474-9503 or visit our website at www.dental-holistic.com

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely,
Maine Center for Dental Medicine

Skowhegan, ME residents ask, “What causes sleep apnea?”

Posted By: Dr. Imam Mohammed | Published On: Sep 19, 2017 | Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

An individual who has pauses in breathing while asleep may have sleep apnea. The breaks in breathing last more than 10 seconds and may happen multiple times per hour. The individual does not get enough oxygen while sleeping. Typically, the person snorts or makes a choking sound when breathing resumes. Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea but snoring alone does not mean a patient has this disorder. Many patients are tired the next day from not having a restful night of sleep.

Causes of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea can affect patients of all ages, even children. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage in the airway at the back of the throat usually from the soft tissue collapsing during sleep. There are many risk factors for sleep apnea.

Overweight
Large neck size
Large tongue or tonsils
Small jaw
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Nasal obstruction
Family history of sleep apnea

Alternative treatment options

Many doctors recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to help the patient breathe while sleeping. This bulky machine uses a mask and air pressure to keep the airway open.

At Maine Center for Dental Medicine we offer Respire oral appliances as an alternative treatment. The Respire sleep devices were designed to address two of the most common problems with sleep apnea, an enlarged tongue, and a narrow arch. Worn while sleeping, the device keeps the upper and lower jaw in appropriate alignment to keep the airway open.

To schedule your appointment with Drs. Imam and Khan, call (207) 808-7355.

Back to Sleep Apnea Home Page