Sleep apnea and snoring are frequently caused by airway constriction reducing the supply of air to the lungs. Sleep apnea can be very dangerous to your health and cause:

• Chronic sleeplessness
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Heartburn
• Morning headaches
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Impotence

Fortunately an oral appliance has been invented that when properly fitted by a dentist will clear the airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing.

When the jaw relaxes and the tongue falls into the back of the throat, the airway narrows forcing air through the small opening. This creates vibrations in the throat known as snoring. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway completely collapses blocking the airflow into the lungs. The harder the person tries to breath the tighter the airway seals. This obstruction persists until the brain partially awakens the person. Unconsciously, he or she will close the jaw returning the tongue and throat to a normal position. This cycle can occur 50 times per hour during the night. With a blocked air passage the person does not receive enough oxygen. Both the awakenings and oxygen deprivation can trigger the severe health problems listed above.

Patients with possible sleep disorders are usually referred by a doctor for observation overnight in a hospital sleep center. Once a diagnosis is made, the patient is referred to a dental practice for selecting, fitting and training in the use of an oral appliance. The Nashville Dental Group has helped thousands of patients achieve successful outcomes.

Additional information may be found at the following websites:
Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
Airway Management Inc.

TMJ is the quick way to say temporomandibular Joint. The TMJ is the jaw joint just in front of your ear. Disorders of this joint can cause a great deal of pain lasting for days that appears in areas that are seemingly unrelated:

• Migraine headaches
• Buzzing, ringing in the ear
• Pain behind the eye
• Neck, back, shoulder and arm pain

TMJ problems are often a result of teeth that do not fit together properly. If a person has missing teeth, worn out crowns, bridges or dentures or if the teeth are out of alignment or crooked, the chance of TMJ problems is greatly increased. Physical and emotional stress make jaw joint problems worse (for example grinding your teeth) so management and control of stress is often a part of successful treatment. The cause of TMJ problems is complex and treatments are highly variable based upon the nature of the problem, how long it has existed, the patient’s age, etc. The Nashville Dental Group has helped thousands of patients with TMJ problems and achieve successful outcomes.

Gum (periodontal) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Non-surgical periodontal treatment, includes scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins), followed by adjunctive therapy such as local delivery antimicrobials and host modulation, as needed on a case-by-case basis.

Nashville Dental Group will provide necessary ongoing maintenance therapy. In situations where surgical treatment is necessary, a referral to a qualified periodontist will be given.

Many patients prefer to continue receiving services from the Nashville Dental Group. Our services include:

• Crowns and bridges
• Dental implants
• Dentures
• Home care instruction
• Mouthguards
• Nutrition counseling
• Orthodontics
• Partial dentures
• Sealants
• Teeth cleanings
• Tobacco cessation

If your teeth aren’t as white as you would like them to be our whitening procedures work safely and comfortably during the day or while you sleep. Tooth whitening is an easy way to brighten your smile and improve your appearance.

You can have beautiful white teeth and the smile you have always wanted in just a few weeks. Call for an appointment.

Healthy teeth and oral tissues are important for eating, speech and your health. Good appearance is a high priority in our society. When restoration of oral and dental tissue is required, restorative dentistry will develop a treatment plan that will help achieve oral stability.

The treatment plan may require the range of services offered by Dr. Farringer as well as additional specialists that will be referred.

Sealants prevent cavities and reduce associated dental treatment costs, especially among high-risk children, where sealants applied to permanent molars have been shown to avert tooth decay over an average of 5-7 years. A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth- premolars and molars.

This plastic resin bonds into the pits and fissures of the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.