Dear Patient:
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety. 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:
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
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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.
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
59 Pleasant Street Skowhegan, Maine, ME 04976 Directions
19
Sep
Skowhegan, ME residents ask, “What causes sleep apnea?”
Drs. Imam and Khan in Skowhegan, ME offer dental appliances for patients who suffer from sleep apnea. As a disorder that affects over 22 million Americans, many patients wonder what causes sleep apnea and what treatment options are available.
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.
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LinkedinA graduate from New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Mohammed Imam began his practice in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom to continue his training in Oral & Maxillofacial Residency.
With over 30 years of expertise Dr. Imam regularly updates himself on modern techniques and methods whilst continuing to invest and perform procedures using the best technology and equipment to ensure his patients receive the best and most bio-compatible oral care possible.
Dr. Imam’s areas of specialty include implant dentistry, TMD and Orofacial pain. He is also SMART certified and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
An alumnus of New York University, Dr. Shafiulla Khan brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained over his 35 plus years of practicing dentistry. He is well known for his passion to improve his patients’ lives with his service. While being a SMART certified professional, Dr. Khan’s areas of specialty includes Tempro-mandibular Disorders, TMJ therapy and smile make overs. He remains a prestigious member of the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) amongst many others.
MCDM is continuing to protect our patients and staff from Covid-19. We ask that you postpone your appointment for 10-14 days if you or your household member are in the following categories:
Due to Governor Mills' change in the travel policy, patients who have traveled to NH, MA, CT, RI or VT do not need to quarantine. Therefore, patients that have traveled to or from these states do not need to delay their appointment with us. If you have traveled to or from any other state (or country) not listed above, the quarantine restrictions still apply.
As of 3/16/21, our front door will be unlocked. If you are a patient that has an appointment, you may enter 5 minutes prior to your appointment and undergo a covid screening upon entry. Others that do not have an appointment must call before entry. Anyone entering the building must wear a mask or scarf covering their mouth and nose.
Thank You,
- If you or your household member have been advised to quarantine due to Covid-19.
- If you or your household member have been in contact with someone who is being tested and do not yet have their results back, or if the results are back and they tested positive.
- If you or your household member are being tested for Covid-19, or have been tested and have a positive result.
- As always, if you do not know if you have been exposed and are not feeling well, please call us to reschedule.
Due to Governor Mills' change in the travel policy, patients who have traveled to NH, MA, CT, RI or VT do not need to quarantine. Therefore, patients that have traveled to or from these states do not need to delay their appointment with us. If you have traveled to or from any other state (or country) not listed above, the quarantine restrictions still apply.
As of 3/16/21, our front door will be unlocked. If you are a patient that has an appointment, you may enter 5 minutes prior to your appointment and undergo a covid screening upon entry. Others that do not have an appointment must call before entry. Anyone entering the building must wear a mask or scarf covering their mouth and nose.
Thank You,