Blog

What is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a severe and life-threatening disease caused by a number of factors. The literal translation of the word apnea means “without breath,” which is exactly what happens repeatedly throughout a person’s sleep. Those who suffer from sleep apnea experience frequent breathing pauses lasting a few seconds due to an obstruction of the airway passage. Loud snoring, gasping, choking, and frequent awakenings can also occur as a result of sleep apnea.

Children are also at risk for sleep apnea as they can experience behavioral problems (ADHD), learning disabilities, and inattention. At night they may have loud breathing, unusual body positions, restlessness, and even bed wetting. Read More

Your orthodontic treatment has ended and your braces have finally come off. While your smile is much straighter than it once was, it isn’t as bright as you thought it would be. Straight teeth without a bright, white smile does not boost your confidence or make a good first impression in public.

DIY Teeth Whitening Trends

Within the last decade, more things have started to cater to the do-it-yourself market than ever before. From DIY face scrubs and other beauty hacks to home organization, more brands are using technology to find ways for us to do less outsourcing and get more hands on.

If you’ve been paying attention to social media, you may have come across a few DIY teeth whitening trends, like activated charcoal toothpaste, oil pulling, and even lemon juice. It is important to note that while some of these trends, like oil pulling, are ancient remedies that have not been scientifically proven to work. Read More

Orthodontic consultations are often times a complimentary introduction for orthodontists, like Dr. Carlyn Phucas, to get to know you and your oral health concerns. The best thing you can do to make the most of your consultation is to prepare a list of questions beforehand. To help you get started, we’ve come up with a list of common questions answered during our complimentary smile exams.

How Long Will My Treatment Take?

It is important to first note that orthodontic treatment is not a “one size fits all” approach to straightening teeth. At Carlyn Phucas Orthodontics, we develop orthodontic treatment plans based on the individual needs of each patient to ensure they get the best results. Be sure to ask the orthodontist for an estimate of how long your treatment will take as the length may vary depending on how complex your situation is. Read More

When you think of braces, who do you picture wearing them? If you’re like most Americans, children and teens come to mind. If you’re unhappy with your smile, you probably think you missed your chance for straight teeth, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Thanks to advances in technology, orthodontic treatment for adults has become more common while producing excellent results. So much so, The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) found that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 18. Read More