CLEARWATER, FL—(Marketwired – September 23, 2015) – Clearwater Dental Associates, a leading Clearwater dental practice that offers quality family dentistry, is now providing oral appliances to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disease in which patients experience a pause in breathing while sleeping. The problems occur as the muscles in the throat relax and create a partial or complete airway blockage. Patients with sleep apnea often snore loudly or wake up throughout the night gasping or choking for air.
Dr. Matthew Burton, a partner of Clearwater Dental Associates, can fashion an oral appliance for patients that leaves the airway open during sleep and resolves snoring and breathing issues.
“The general public often categorizes sleep apnea as simply heavy snoring, but the reality is that sleep apnea is known to increase your risk of life–threatening illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke,” Dr. Burton said. “It’s uncommon for dental offices to pursue the training to offer sleep apnea treatments, so we’re very proud to provide this great and needed service to our community.”
There are about 12 million Americans struggling with sleep apnea. The disorder is more common in men, patients with large neck sizes and patients with a history of high blood pressure. In addition to putting themselves at higher risk of serious illnesses, patients with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to experience constant headaches, anxiety and depression.
Dr. Burton works with patients who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea to create an oral appliance that moves the lower jaw slightly forward, leaving the airways open during sleep. The oral appliances are customized for each patient and fit much like a mouth guard.
“The oral appliance is very comfortable, and patients begin noticing changes almost immediately,” Dr. Burton said. “A lot of patients don’t realize the low quality of sleep they were getting until trying the oral appliance.”
Clearwater Dental Associates, 2226 Druid Road East, provides implant dentistry, general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. The office offers single and All–on–4 dental implants, implant–supported and removable dentures, Invisalign, veneers, ceramic crowns, at–home Zoom! whitening treatments, oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea, extractions for wisdom teeth, gum surgery, root canals and three forms of sedation dentistry (IV, oral conscious and nitrous oxide). Clearwater Dental Associates has five general dentists and visiting specialists, making it a comprehensive dental practice. Dr. Burton is a partner in the practice alongside Dr. James Hayslett and Dr. Nolan Allen.
Dr. Burton joined Clearwater Dental Associates in 2003. He and his family were patients at Clearwater Dental Associates before he joined the team. Dr. Burton, a Clearwater native, said he got interested in dentistry after spending five years wearing metal braces as a teenager. He received his undergraduate degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., and then earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Alabama. He has received continuing education from The Pankey Institute and The Dawson Academy, and he has enrolled in a comprehensive implant course to expand his services. He is also active in the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Burton gives back to his community by volunteering at two local dental clinics.
Dr. Hayslett has lived in Clearwater for 30 years. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Indiana University School of Dentistry. He has a long tradition of public service, having recently traveled to Africa twice to provide dental services to young students.
Dr. Allen graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps for two years before co–founding Clearwater Dental Associates. Dr. Allen has been the president of the West Coast District Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and Upper Pinellas County Dental Association. He is a Delegate of the American Dental Association House of Delegates and serves on the National Elder Care Advisory Committee and ADA Council on Access, Prevention and Inter–professional Relations.
Dr. Maria C. Hernandez, a fourth dentist in the practice, graduated from the University of Miami and the University of Florida College of Dentistry. In 1992, she joined Clearwater Dental Associates and completed her General Dentistry Residency and Advanced Education at the University of Florida. Dr. Hernandez focuses on cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery and preventive care.
Dr. Keith Kiskaddon, the practice’s newest associate dentist, is a Pinellas County native who joined the Clearwater Dental Associates staff in late July. Dr. Kiskaddon earned his undergraduate degree in pre–medicine and minors in Bible studies and chemistry from Clearwater Christian College, graduating magna cum laude. He received his doctor of dental medicine degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Dr. Kiskaddon has advanced training in oral surgery, endodontics, implant dentistry, as well as dental occlusion and its relation to TMJ disorders.
Clearwater Dental Associates opened in 1978 and was renovated in 2008. It now includes 17 state–of–the–art operatories. Some of the professional staff of dental hygienists and dental assistants have been with the practice for more than 20 years.
For more information about how Clearwater Dental Associates provides some of the best Clearwater family dentistry, visit the website at www.cdadental.com or call 727–373–6628.
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