Have you been told you snore or do you think you might have Sleep Apnea? At Exceptional Dentistry we can do a very simple overnight screening that you do in the comfort of your own home. Below is a link to a video showing how easy it is to use. If you are interested in doing a in home sleep study, call our office and set up a consultation appointment and we will be happy to help.
We are happy to introduce Dr. Luke Simonis to our team!Personal
Dr. Simonis graduated from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2012. Since that time, he has practiced dentistry in Las Vegas, NV and New Zealand. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, water sports, and spending time with his wife Amy and daughter Adalia. He also enjoys traveling and trying different foods.
Professional Associations
The International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics, American Dental Association, Nevada Dental Association, Southern Nevada Dental Association, Psi Omega Dental Fraternity.
Achievements
Graduated cum laude, dean's list
Volunteer/Service Experience
Give Kids A Smile, Huntridge Teen Clinic, The Mission Dental Clinic, Clinica Latina Mobile Dental Unit.
My Philosophy
"I strive to offer advanced dentistry in a relaxed, caring atmosphere. My philosophy is to treat our patients like they are family. That's why I will treat you with gentle, friendly care and offer you prompt appointments that respect your time. Whatever I can do to make your visit more comfortable and to give you a healthier, more attractive smile, I'll strive to make it happen."
Dr. Laurie has added the Sinsational Smile whitening system to her practice!
Sinsational smile is the 1st and only Green Certified teeth whitening company in the world.
They donate a portion of its proceed to the following charities: Humane Society International, Oceana, St Jude Children Research Hospital, Surfrider Foundation, ECO accepted., Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Trips for Kids!
You can whiten after cleanings! Initial treatment is 40 min. includes whitening pen and tray; If you want to touch up..only 20 min including whitening pen and tray.
We have found most of our patients experience little to no sensitivity!
Imagine a relaxing, refreshing, and enjoyable dental experience...
Imagine leaving your next dental appointment feeling rejuvenated, balanced and actually happy you kept your appointment...
Imagine enjoying the experience so much you can't wait to tell your friends and family and, even looking forward to going back to the dentist...
Now you can!
NuCalm® is a safe, proven system that quickly relaxes you without using narcotics or controlled substances. NuCalm naturally brings your body to the first stage of sleep. You will feel the same way you feel just as you are about to fall asleep. The amazing thing is, you feel this way for your entire appointment!
NuCalm is administered at the start of your dental appointment - within minutes you will begin to experience deep relaxation. Once your dental procedure is completed, you can leave immediately with no side effects, no recovery time needed, and no impairment. You will leave your dental appointment feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!
NuCalm is administered at the start of your dental appointment - within minutes you will begin to experience deep relaxation. Once your dental procedure is completed, you can leave immediately with no side effects, no recovery time needed, and no impairment. You will leave your dental appointment feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!
How NuCalm Works
NuCalm uses four components that work together to bring the body to a deep state of calm. It is administered as soon as you sit in the chair and takes about 3 minutes. You will feel the relaxation effects in 3-5 minutes.
- First you chew dietary supplements that are designed to relax you by counteracting adrenaline. The proprietary formula is only available in the NuCalm system and includes structured, nutrient-sourced building blocks that rapidly create a natural relaxation response.
- Microcurrent stimulation patches are placed behind each ear. Research shows this helps facilitate the relaxation response.
- Noise-dampening headphones are used to deliver proprietary neuroacoustic software, layered with soothing music, to bring your brain wave pace to the pre-sleep stage.
- Light-blocking eye masks are used to negate visual stimuli and help maintain the NuCalm relaxation state
The combination of these four components provides you with a powerful and effective relaxation experience, especially during dental procedures. The more stressed or anxious you are, the more profound the NuCalm effect will be.
NuCalm will relax your mind and your body throughout the entire dental procedure. You will be conscious and able to respond to voice commands, but you will physically be unable to have an anxious response and will be unaware of time and space...you will feel like you are in deep meditation or about to go to sleep.
Your NuCalm appointment will provide a sense of balance and wellness for hours, and even days, after your appointment. The neuromuscular release will resolve any tension in your head, neck, and upper back which may also last for a couple of days. With NuCalm, you can be diligent about your oral health care and have the benefit of full body rejuvenation. It's going to seem strange wanting to go to the dentist, but you will get used to it!
What is OSA?
patients-osa
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious and lifelong medical condition that affects between 18 and 30 million adults over 18 in the US1; with approximately 90% of them undiagnosed. OSA is a chronic, lifelong medical condition that can affect your sleep, health and quality of life. It has been linked to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, work and driving related accidents and stroke.
It can have a significant impact on quality of life, placing unnecessary strain on relationships between bed partners, family and in the workplace.
What is Bruxism?
bruxism
Bruxism, is a term used to describe the action of grinding and clenching teeth and people may grind their teeth habitually while sleeping, or during the day due to anxiety or stress.
Grinding is an extremely common problem that could result in a number of serious problems if left untreated such as:
Permanent damage of the structure and surface enamel of your teeth
Jaw pain known as TMJ pain
Headaches
Loose teeth
Gum recession
Oral bacteria causing infections in gum tissue may threaten more than your teeth and gums. Research has established associations between oral bacteria and systemic diseases including:
Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Disease
Respiratory Disease
Blood Clots
Strokes
Preterm and Low Birth Weight Babies
Chronic Inflammation
Image of biofilm from a periodontal pocket.
The theories linking oral bacteria to other diseases explain that the mouth may be a portal for bacteria to spread to the rest of your body.
If you have been diagnosed with gum disease for example, pathogenic bacteria are likely forming colonies that cause localized inflammation and damage in your gum tissue. Those bacteria may enter the blood stream through small ulcers in your gum tissue.
© MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering, used with permission.
The growth of bacteria in periodontal pockets occurs in three stages. After the first stage of attachment, the bacteria form a colony with a filmy or slimy protective covering. The most advanced stage of bacterial growth involves clumps of bacteria detaching from the colony to form new infections.
© MSU Center for Biofilm Engineering, used with permission.
The bacterial infection, like the colony growing on the tooth surface in this illustration, spreads when small clumps of bacteria detach in a "seeding" effect to form new infections. Left unchecked, bacteria growing in the protective colonies in periodontal pockets can lead to the destruction of teeth and eventually the bone supporting the teeth. Because the bacteria may spread through your body to threaten more than your teeth and gums, it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk factors and treat any infected areas of your mouth.
To learn more about oral bacteria and PerioProtect click here.
What can you do at home to maintain your dental health in between your dental visits.
Yes, you should be maintaining a regular cleaning and check-up schedule for your dental health and the dental health of your family. We are always happy to see you when it is time for a cleaning or check up. However, sometimes it is important to review the things you can be doing at home to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Everything you eat has some affect on your teeth and it is important to make sure you maintain healthy teeth by avoiding what is commonly known as tooth erosion. This can lead to cracked teeth, discoloration, sensitivity and more. Basically tooth erosion is just like it sounds, where the teeth are work away by the acids in what you eat.
Keeping this in mind makes it easy to avoid contributing to the problem. When you eat acidic foods or drinks, simply rinse out your mouth with water to neutralize the remaining acid in your mouth. This simple step is probably the most effective easy thing you can do to avoid tooth erosion. Of course cutting back on carbonated drinks and acidic foods helps, too. When you do eat or drink something that is high in acid, swallow it quickly to avoid it remaining in your mouth a long time.
Brushing is important in avoiding tooth erosion, too. Using a soft toothbrush reduces the friction on teeth that can contribute to erosion and waiting at least an hour to brush following acidic foods helps as well. This gives teeth the chance to remineralize after being exposed to the acids you just ate or drank.
Remembering these simple tips will contribute to your dental health by helping you avoid tooth erosion. If you have any other questions regarding your dental care, please contact me any time. I look forward to seeing you on your next appointment.
When You Loose a Tooth What is the best way to Replace it?
When a patient looses a tooth there are 4 options:
1. Do nothing and simply live without the tooth.
2. Replace the tooth with a removable partial denture.
3. Replace the tooth with a fixed bridge (as long as there are strong teeth on either side of the empty space)
4. Replace the tooth with an implant supported crown.
A dental implant replaces the root of the missing tooth and allows the dentist to attach a crown (or cap) to an area where there is a missing tooth. Implant supported crowns are widely regarded as a long lasting solution that is the most like your own tooth. You can floss it, you can chew whatever you want, it looks very realistic, and it won't ever decay.
In the past-and even in many practices today-a typical implant procedure goes like this. The gums are cut open and peeled back, exposing the jaw bone. The implant is then placed into the bone and the gums are sutured closed. After several months of healing, the gums are opened again, exposing the top of the implant so that the dentist can attach a crown, and more sutures are placed. The problem with this approach is it involves 2 surgical procedures instead of 1, there are sutures to remove after the procedures, and there is more post op discomfort than is really necessary-as you will soon discover.
With the advent of low-dose digital CT technology, the jaw bone can be accurately visualized on the computer in 3 dimensions, just as if you are holding the person's jaw bone in your hand. The CT is to proper scale for accurate measurements. The data from the CT is integrated into implant design software that allows the dentist to drag and drop-on the computer-the implant of choice into the exact location in the jaw bone that works. Vital structures, such as the trigeminal nerve and the maxillary sinus, can be accurately identified, located-and avoided-prior to surgery. With this information, a surgical guide can be made, that allows the surgeon to place the implant exactly as pre-determined in the design software. This is called Guided Implant Surgery.
An added advantage to Guided Implant Surgery is that only a small hole the width of the actual implant needs to be made to secure the implant into place. There is usually no need to make a large cut into the gums or to peel them back, or to suture them at all. (The exception is when bone grafting needs to be done.) Since there is so much less trauma to the patient during this procedure, there is much less post operative discomfort. The implant is placed in one easy-pre-planned-procedure.
To summarize the advantages of Guided Implant Surgery:
1. Less surgical trauma
2. Less painful procedure
3. More comfortable recovery
4. More accurate implant placement
5. More ideal placement of implant supported crown
6. Fewer procedures
7. Less time spent at the dentist or surgeon
8. Safer
If you are interested in replacing a tooth and you have thought about getting an implant, please call our office at 702-463-8600
Dental lasers and how they benefit the patient
Laser Dentistry has been a part of my practice for a long time. Using my laser is as common as picking up my high speed and I don't think I could practice without either. After attending a laser course recently, I thought I should bring to everyone's attention some of the things that we do with lasers to help our patients. First of all, we have two lasers in our office so that both myself and my hygienist, Shauna, can help our patients with lasers.
Here are some ways lasers can help you:
1. Avoiding gum surgery. In some cases, gum surgery is necessary, but oftentimes gum surgery can be avoided by treating gum disease conservatively with a laser. Many research articles have shown lasers to decrease the deep, infected pockets of gum tissue around a tooth that often lead to losing the tooth. By painlessly removing diseased gum tissue inside the pockets, bone has also been reported in the literature to grow back where it has previously been lost, helping to tighten up loose teeth.
2. Uncovering dental implants without surgery. After a dental implant has integrated into the jaw for several months, it has to be uncovered so that a tooth can be attached for chewing. In the past, this was a surgical procedure involving stitches. With a laser, a small opening is created in the gums to expose the implant painlessly and without stitches.
3. Better fitting crowns and fillings. Sometimes, a tooth will decay (rot) below the gumline. In order to make a restoration that fits the tooth precisely, it is important to expose strong healthy tooth structure. This is successfully accomplished by using the laser to painlessly create a small trough of space between the gums and the tooth. Research articles show that this method creates better fitting/more successful crowns and fillings.
4. Treatment for cold sores and canker sores. In the past, treatment options were limited for cold sores and canker sores. Lasers can significantly improve the uncomfortable symptoms and speed healing. No injections are needed for this treatment.
5. De-sensitize exposed roots at the gumline. Patients who use Sensodyne may appreciate that their sensitive roots can be successfully treated with lasers. No injections are needed for this. The tip of the laser does not even touch the sensitive area. A warm laser beam is shined on the area like a flashlight and gently de-sensitizes the tooth.
6. Treatment for "gummy" smiles. Lasers work nicely for painlessly sculpting excess gum tissue for a more esthetically pleasing smile. We routinely use a laser on almost every smile makeover case we do to turn a good case into a great case.
7. Treatment for Oral Lichen Planus. Oral Lichen Planus is an auto immune disease, which tends to present bilaterally as mostly white lesions on the inner cheek and sides on the tongue, although any mucosal site in the mouth may be involved. In severe cases Oral Lichen Planus can cause the affected areas to be very sore and painful. Though there is no cure for Lichen Planus we can use out lasers to significantly reduce the inflammation and discomfort associated with the disease.
For more information on how we can help you with our lasers, just call us or ask at your next visit.
That Ringing in Your Ears Maybe Your Jaw Trying to Tell You Something
Every once in a while, I am reminded how random the symptoms of TMJ can be. As you know, I am a neuromuscular dentist and I treat Tempromandibular Joint Disorder. Is this always characterized by straight up jaw joint pain. Absolutely not.
It takes a neuroumuscular dentist to recognize that Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is another symptom of TMJ that is commonly misdiagnosed and often goes untreated or is treated ineffectively. In many cases ringing in the ears is one of the results of having a strained bite in which the jaw is not aligned. The jaw area of the face is a complex network of muscles and nerves, and when the bite is misaligned muscles and nerves throughout the head, including the ears, can be affected.
Tinnitus can also be one of the most alarming and hard to live with conditions a person can have. If you are experiencing a ringing in your ears, please make an appointment with me for a TMJ screening.
