Snoring vs Grinding

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Snoring vs Grinding

Hello again. I hope that you are well.  Phew, it’s been hot for a good while.  So glad have the air conditioning at work as mines a South-facing window.  It’s nice to stay cool and confortable.  Looks like it’s going we hot a while longer as I write.

Snoring vs Grinding?

So what the heck has snoring got to do with grinding and vice versa?  Well, first of all we see lots of people who clench and grind.  This causes symptoms like jaw ache, earache, teeth sensitivity, migraine-like and even neck and shoulder pain as well as breaking teeth and fillings etc.  About 40% of the adult population snore.

Snoring is caused by a collapse of the airway causing vibration of the tongue against the soft palate.  This means that the further back the tongue is the greater the chance of snoring.  The tongue is attached to the jaw, so if the jaw drops back so does the tongue. With me so far??  Good.  Well, the most common way we treat clenching and grinding is to make an appliance that helps relax the muscles that make the jaw clench.  

However this always leads to the jaw moving backwards  o a more retruded position we call it.  So you can see the predicament.  If we help with the clenching and grinding then we can sometimes make the snoring worse.           
              
What’s The Solution Then?

A good way of trying to tackle both problems in one go is with a Sleepwell appliance.  It is a mandibular (lower jaw) advancement device.  So by definition, almost, it moves the lower jaw forwards.  

This brings the tongue forwards and helps open up the airway to help with snoring.  It also prevents grinding and clenching as the back teeth are separated (which is key with clenching).  

 Sleepwell Appliance

moves lower jaw forwards

Believe It Or Not

Well believe it or not I have a book coming out soon.  I felt it time to do it and, through a lifetime of searching for better and learning, try to give some hope to people who struggle with dentistry and related issues. Heart on my sleeve.  Here’s a sneaky preview of the cover.

A Return By Popular Request

Oh, I’m really pleased to get another invitation to speak to dental students at Sheffield University at a careers event.  Several of the students asked for me back after I gave a talk on dental mavericks in April.  

It’s so nice to make a connection and possibly make a difference for the better if even in a small way.  Anyway, I’m giving up a bit of time in September to do it.

I here Hull City have a made a few new signings gearing up for the new season.  Are we going up?  Hope so.  Come on the Tigers!!

Until next time.   

Have a great summer. Take care and be good.

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 25 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’ humanitarian work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk

Knitting With Purpose

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Knitting With Purpose

Hello again. I hope that you are well. Oh, what a month. My first time giving a speech at an International Medical Laser Congress.

Really exciting, if a bit daunting. It was OK once I got going with some great feedback, which was nice. My colleague and gum expert here at the practice, Ilay, was keynote speaker and started the dental part of congress.

Everybody seemed to know Ilay as he had trained many of them all over the world. There were other parallel sessions going on for other specialities including dermatology, gynaecology, aesthetics and male gento-urinary medicine. 

Ilay Maden

Some of the topics shown the timetable on the big screen in reception for some of these subjects made me wince. I made new, interesting friends from all over the world. I was sat next to Johnny Wong from Hong Kong. What a nice guy. In fact everybody I met was, really positive and enthusiastic.

Yours Truly

I made friends with people from India, Australia, Romania, Canada, USA, Israel, Slovenia, Italy, Hong Kong, England and Singapore. Mostly dental but also with other specialities. I spoke on the Saturday morning and there was a party the night before so there were less people than the day before. I was sensible and got a relatively early night!

Knitting?...Purpose?

Here we go, Branfield off on one again. Just stick with me this is really good. I have mentioned before that two lovely patients knit some fantastic clothes for children that we take to Morocco and send to Syrian refugees in camps and orphanages in Lebanon and Greece. 

Well, a Knit And Natter group in the area got inspired by this and they have been really prolific in knitting clothes and blankets for these needy people. I think that this is so great, people getting inspired to get involved doing good for people they don’t know who have nothing for nothing. That is what our Dental Mavericks Charity is all about.

Having A Catch Up Over Tea And Cake 

So, we finally met one sunny evening just recently as I wanted to say a personal thank you and show them what Dental Mavericks was about with pictures and tell the story of how it happened and illustrate with a few case study stories.

My colleague made the cakes that went down a storm (thanks Gail for all your hard work and organising). 

So, once again, a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the Knit And Natter group for your support and our anonymous patients for all that you do. I’ll be off to Morocco in October for a big project in the Rif Mountains. 

Becoming A Bigger Player

In the Lebanon Dental Mavericks have now a reputation for being very much people and caring based and making things as fun as possible in such awful circumstances. Now working with other NGO’s and even involved with research with King’s College, London and Harvard University, Boston, USA. Well done Cally Gedge for driving this and your energy and love. Well proud!

Until next time. Take care and be good.

Here’s to a good night sleep

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 25 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’ humanitarian work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk