Dr. Steven Cload's Dental Blog

Porcelain veneers are designed, created, and placed in a three step process.

The first visit is when Dr. Steven Cload, really needs your input, and it is when he will answer all of your porcelain veneers questions. The two of you will discuss your goals and what you want to get out of your veneers. This is the design phase, and Dr. Cload will go over your options with you. He will also explain the details of the steps involved in your porcelain veneers procedure.

When you come in for your second visit, Dr. Cload will prepare your teeth to accept the porcelain veneers and get the precise measurements needed to create them. Preparing your teeth ensures secure bonding and can also be part of creating the beautiful shape that your and Dr. Cload have decided on for your smile. Temporary veneers will cover and protect your teeth until your next visit.

Impressions made of your prepared teeth, as well as other specifications, such as those needed for color-matching, will be sent to the lab where your porcelain veneers will be custom crafted.

When you return, your beautiful new veneers will be permanently bonded in place.

For more detailed information on your custom porcelain veneers procedure in Calgary, Alberta, please contact Southcentre Dental Clinic and schedule your consultation today.

The Epworth sleep apnea test is a short and simple questionnaire in which you are asked to rate your likelihood of dozing off or falling asleep in eight common situations, such as riding in a car or watching TV. It takes most people about two or three minutes to complete; you can take the test and score yourself at home.

Although it is a quick and easy test, the results are very meaningful. It is used by healthcare professionals worldwide as an initial assessment of daytime sleepiness, to determine if a patient may suffer from a sleep disorder and how severely it is affecting their health and lives. Used at home, it can help you determine if it is time to seek medical advice.

The Epworth test is particularly effective in detecting sleep apnea. Dr. Steven Cload uses the test to differentiate sleep apnea from primary snoring. Whether your snoring is caused by sleep apnea or not, Dr. Cload can help you stop. However, his approach to treatment will be affected by the underlying cause. If the Epworth test suggests that sleep apnea is at the heart of your snoring he may want you to use the Apnea Risk Evaluation System™ (AREAS), which monitors you while you sleep.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can lead to life-threatening health problems, as well as the daily risks caused by sleep deprivation. Fortunately, sleep apnea and snoring can be treated, giving you and your family the gift of restful sleep again. Dr. Cload can provide you with a custom-fitted device to wear while you sleep that keeps you jaw in the proper position so that you airway stays open. If the underlying cause of your snoring or sleep apnea involves a misaligned bite or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD), he can help you resolve that as well.

If you live in the Calgary, Alberta area and snore or experience daytime sleepiness, please contact Southcentre Dental Clinic today.

The temporomandibular joints are located on either side of your face in front of your ears where they connect your jawbone to your skull. The temporomandibular joints move by pivoting and gliding which allow you to open your mouth and move your jaw from side to side.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a term that refers to a group of disorders or conditions that involve this joint. Teeth grinding and clenching, chronic gum chewing or cradling a telephone between your shoulder and the side of your head can instigate TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder). An injury or trauma from an automobile accident or a blow to the head or face can also trigger TMD/TMJ.

Symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder include the inability to fully open or close your mouth, difficulty swallowing, headache, facial, neck, shoulder and back pain, insomnia and depression.

Medications prescribed for these symptoms do nothing to alleviate the actual cause of these symptoms. A neuromuscular dentist is trained to recognize and treat the underlying causes and bring relief to the many sufferers of TMD/TMJ.

The treatment for TMD/TMJ may involve conservative measures such as reducing stress through physical therapy, avoiding those activities that trigger pain and discomfort such as gum chewing or wide yawning, and anti-inflammatory medications. More aggressive measures such as orthodontics and surgery are also available to the neuromuscular dentist.

If you live in Calgary, Alberta and would like to learn more about the temporomandibular joint and the part it may play in the pain you are experiencing, please contact Dr. Steven Cload at Southcentre Dental Clinic today.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TMJ) is a medical condition involving the jaw joint. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull in front of your ears. Problems in this area have been known to cause headaches and head, neck and shoulder pain among a long list of symptoms.

The symptoms of TMD/TMJ can either appear gradually from habitual activities such as teeth grinding or clenching or can appear suddenly as a result of an injury or trauma, such as a blow to the head or from an automobile accident.

The symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder are many and varied and include headache and facial pain. Some people experience dental pain, pain or pressure in the ears, and neck, back and shoulder pain. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, insomnia and depression.

Headaches caused by TMD/TMJ are described as sharp and searing by some sufferers and dull and aching by others. The pain is usually located below the ear on one or both sides and may extend to the temples, the middle of the face or across the top of the skull. The headaches associated with TMD/TMJ have also been described as similar to migraine headaches and are sometimes confused with tension or sinus headaches. The headache of TMD/TMJ is often accompanied by nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Pain medication prescribed for the headache of TMD/TMJ does nothing to eliminate the underlying cause of the pain.

If you live in Calgary, Alberta and you suffer from headaches caused by TMD/TMJ, please contact Dr. Steven Cload at Southcentre Dental Clinic today.