R. Michael Alvarez, DDS, Inc.
Our Blog & Other Resources
Blog Posts
Resources & Links
TMJ/TMD Quiz
On WebMD, there is a fun and informative QUIZ: “How Much Do You Know About Jaw Pain?”
The more you know, the better. Have fun.
Anti-Stress therapy
Clenching your teeth is a side effect of stress. We want to help relieve your stresses.
Click here to check out this great video sent in by one of our TMJ patients, Smilja.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Appliance
The SomnoDent® is an oral device that fits over the upper and lower teeth, much like a sports mouthguard. However, unlike a sports mouthguard, it is a discreet, precision-made, and clinically-tested medical device recognized for its clinical validity by the FDA, TGA, ISO 13485, and Swiss medic standards. Backed by over seven years of clinical research, it is no wonder that SomnoDent® is known as the MAS GOLD STANDARD among Dental Sleep Professionals across the world.
Click here for a video that explains why SomnoDent® is the best way to treat Sleep Apnea.
Get started with AODT today for more information or to get treated for Sleep Apnea!
Floppy Eyelid Syndrome Associated With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
First described in 1981, floppy eye syndrome (FES) is characterized by very elastic upper lids that become easily distorted and everted with minimal lateral traction. In a case-control study, Ezra et al. have found that FES appears to be strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and keratoconus. The study involved 102 FES patients and a control group of patients from a diabetic retinopathy clinic who were matched 1:1 in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), and sex. Not only did they find significant associations between FES and OSAHS and keratoconus, but between lash ptosis, dermatochalasis, upper lid medial canthal laxity, upper lid distraction, palpebral aperture, and levator function as well. In addition, while FES was more common in obese males in their 6th decade, the condition affected patients with a significant range of ages, BMI, and sex. The authors urge clinicians to keep in mind this strong association between FES, OSAHS, and keratoconus when determining the course of treatment.
*From the April, 2011 issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology.