Smiling Faces 2018

www.ChsDentists.com | www.MountPleasantPhysicians.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com smiling faces W hat does dentistry have to do with sleep? Well, actually, a lot. According to Dr. Dana Blalock of Daniel Island Dentistry, if there is an issue with your sleep, there is likely a connection to your mouth. The U.S. National Library of Medicine recognizes that obstructive sleep apnea can be relieved with an oral appliance, which can be issued by qualified dentists, as advocated by the professional societies of both sleep medicine and dental sleep practitioners. One of those qualified dentists happens to be Dr. Blalock. She became the first dentist in South Carolina to be certified in providing the DNA Appliance – which actually grows, reshapes and idealizes the bone, rather than just moving the teeth – to her patients. She is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, International Academy of Sleep, Dental Sleep Masters and a diplomat to the Board of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. Dr. Blalock started her interest in dental sleep medicine about five years ago. “I noticed it was a need with my patients,” she said. “I really wanted to help people sleep better, and I knew that if they had a better airway, they could indeed get better sleep.” She still practices general dentistry with Daniel Island Dentistry, but she can handle more patients with sleep disorders now that she can file with all insurance companies, as well as with Medicare. Dr. Blalock was quick to clarify that sleep disorders are a medical disease but that she has special training in creating oral devices that aid in better sleep. “I communicate with the doctor who is treating the patient,” she said. “This is a medical problem, and I want to do the right thing. I follow up with the patients after they have their appliance as well.” She said that the role of the dentist can be quite crucial in helping a person with sleep apnea. “We see most patients two times a year, and that usually is more often than they see their regular doctors,” she said. “We can sometimes be the first doctors to see the sleep apnea problem that appears in their mouth.” She said that their palate will be red and inflamed: “We see several signs and symptoms in the oral cavity such as red, inflamed soft palates and uvula, worn down teeth and narrow mouths and noses.” The oral appliance she can create for sleep apnea is designed to keep the airway open and to keep it from collapsing. With TMD, otherwise known as TMJ, or clenching and grinding of the teeth, she said a night guard helps, which Dr. Blalock is also trained to create for her patients. “Many times, the clenching and grinding is in response to the airway collapsing or decreased oxygen,” she said. “I have so many patients that have told me that before their oral appliance, they would wake up with morning headaches or they would snore. One appliance can fix many ailments when it comes to sleep.” To learn more, visit www.danielislanddentistry.com or call 843-881-4545. Photo courtesy of Dr. Dana Blalock. DR. DANA BLALOCK Daniel Island Dentistry 210 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 103 Daniel Island, South Carolina 843-881-4545 www.danielislanddentistry.com BY THERESA STRATFORD