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Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C), Health Canada and the Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

To ensure the health and well-being of our patients and team members, we have installed 2 different types of air purifiers at our dental office. Both of these are manufactured by the Canadian company, Surgically Clean Air.

• CASCADE WHITE - The Cascade White is the first unit you will see when you enter our office. We have placed this in the waiting area because this is the largest room in our office. The Cascade White is able to filter up to 576 cubic feet per minute.
  
  The Cascade White filter has 6 stages of filtration including UV sterilization, plus two additional negative ion chambers to ensure the air is as fresh as possible. These six filters capture 99.998% of dust particles, pollen, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), mold, allergens, viruses, odors (like formaldehyde and smoke), bio-aerosols, laughing gas, and many other pollutants that are found in the inside air. The negative ion generator makes the indoor environment feel more pure, clean, and energized.

• JADE - The Jade filter is what you will find in each of our operatories. The Jade filters still have the same 6 stage filtering system and will move 383 cubic feet per minute. This means the Jade will filter all the air in a 10 x 10 room in about 2 minutes. 

Both of these filters perform their duties without being loud, (an industry-leading low level of about 55DB) or creating a “breeze” that can be uncomfortable for our patients. 

Some additional changes you may also see when it is time for your next appointment. For example:

• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office. We will not allow patients to enter our office who have symptoms or have traveled outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks.
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• In the interest of physical distancing, we are advising all adult patients to attend the office alone to prevent crowding. 
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
• For our safety and yours, we currently cannot accept walk-ins. 

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (403) 382‑2273.

So come on in to get your dental work done and enjoy Surgically Clean Air! 

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Improving Sleep for Better Life Quality

If you’re concerned about your excessive snoring or that of your loved one, our dental team at Cool Dental in Lethbridge can help.

We’ll work with you to identify the cause of the problem. We'll look into suitable treatment options, such as using oral appliances.

Snoring may not be serious if it only happens once in a while. But if you’re snoring heavily, this can already be a sign of a health issue.

Without proper sleep, you feel exhausted and sleepy throughout the day. Your partner and anyone sleeping nearby may also experience sleep deprivation.

All these combined can affect your relationships, health, and everyday living.

What is Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes breathing pauses.

The pauses can each last for a few seconds to more than a minute. They occur due to the blocked air passageway. When your breathing stops, your sleep also gets interrupted. This results in poor sleep quality.

Snoring is the main symptom of sleep apnea. There are two types of sleep apnea - Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Central Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea. It happens when the soft tissue in the throat relaxes too much, it already blocks the airway during sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), meanwhile, occurs when the brain does not send signals to the muscles to breathe.

Risk Factors

Here are some of the factors that can increase your risk for sleep apnea.

• Age. Sleep apnea is more common among adults ages 40 and above.
• Gender. Men are twice to thrice more likely to develop sleep apnea.
• Family History. Your risk can also increase if you have family members experiencing sleep apnea.
• Excess weight. Obesity can also contribute to sleep apnea. Excess fat around your upper airway can interfere with your breathing.
• Smoking. People who smoke are also more likely to develop OSA than those who do not.
• Alcohol intake. Alcohol can cause the throat muscles to over-relax.
• Nasal congestion. Difficulty in breathing through the nose can also contribute to sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

• Sleepiness or exhaustion during the day
• Morning headaches
• Forgetfulness
• Waking up with a dry mouth
• Forgetfulness
• Mood changes
• Insomnia

Treatments for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

You need to treat snoring and sleep apnea so you can get quality sleep. Also, sleep apnea is a serious disorder that can increase your risk of developing heart diseases, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Here at our Lethbridge dental office, Dr. Lachman performs routine dental checkups to examine your mouth for decay, gum diseases, and other potential health issues. If you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, we may refer you to a sleep specialist.

If the sleep apnea is caused by a misaligned jaw, we’ll recommend using a custom dental appliance. This device can correct the position of the jaw and tongue to prevent blockage and help improve airflow while you sleep.

We’ll be taking impressions of your mouth to ensure the proper fit of the device. A sleep apnea dental appliance looks similar to an athletic mouthguard, but its purpose is to help minimize your snoring. When airflow isn't obstructed, you’ll be able to sleep properly and wake up fully rested.

We may also recommend other treatment methods, depending on your case. This includes making simple changes to your lifestyle or updating your dental home care routine.

How Will I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?

Some patients aren’t aware they have sleep apnea until they undergo comprehensive exams. We encourage you to book an appointment with our Lethbridge dentist, Dr. Lachman for a check-up.

Whether you need help with your snoring or are looking for further information about sleep apnea, we can help. Call our dental team today at (403) 382-2273.

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