Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Have you ever been told that you clench or grind your teeth? You may be unaware of this habit until you visit the dentist. Most of the time bruxism, which is the technical term for teeth grinding, usually occurs while you sleep.

Common symptoms clenchers and grinders experience include:

• chipped teeth


• tooth sensitivity


• dull headaches


• TMJ soreness


• "notching" at the gumline, also known as abfractions


• recession of the gum tissue


• not getting a good nights sleep can also be be a symptom of grinding.

Occlusal guards, which are hard acrylic appliances custom made to fit the teeth, help to prevent any further damage by protecting your teeth. The appliance is worn on the upper teeth while you sleep, or during your most stressful times of the day. Occlusal guards do not fix any damage that has been done to the teeth, it is more of a way to prevent any further damage that may be done while clenching and grinding. The occlusal guards absorb the forces of your bite. Over the counter guards are uncomfortable and can make you grind more because they are soft and your brain registers that as food. Only the custom made occlusal guards are recommended by us at Rochester Advanced Dentistry.

The Truth about Snoring

Most of us have had some experience with snoring, either personally or with stories told by others. In addition to being a nuisance snoring can be a sign of a bigger problem; sleep apnea.

Often people who snore experience "apnea" episode where they completely stop breathing.

When you stop breathing your oxygen levels go down making your heart work harder. These episodes put a person at a higher risk for heart attack, stoke and many other life threatening conditions.

If you or someone you know snore they should be tested for sleep apnea.

In years past testing for this condition required spending the night in a sleep clinic. Today monitoring can be done in the comfort of your own home.

A small sleep monitor is worn over night and records your sleeping pattern.

Information obtained such as blood oxygen level, breathing, and apneatic episodes are evaluated to determine if you are at risk for sleep apnea.

If you are at risk for sleep apnea there are many options available to treat this condition.

To schedule your sleep apnea monitoring contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Improve Your Smile

Veneers are a great option for many people who are looking to improve the aesthetics of their smile. When looking for a cosmetic dentist there are many things to consider, one question that you want to ask the dentist is what laboratory they use for their dental work.

Many dentists place "Lumineer" veneers. Lumineers are a brand of veneers and are made by specific laboratories, often in other states.

At Rochester Advanced Dentistry we choose to use a local laboratory. We feel that providing our patients with the highest quality materials and aesthetics is our top priority. Since our lab is only a few miles from our office Dr. Doolin, Dr. Haddad, the laboratory technician and patient are able to work hand in hand creating the perfect smile.

For a smile consultation please contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Rochester Advanced Dentistry Smile Gallery

Healthy Gum Tissue

At Rochester Advanced Dentistry we strive to maintain and promote healthy gum tissue. In the past "silver fillings" were often placed in teeth, in addition to being unattractive these fillings have also shown to cause irritation to gum tissue often due to less then ideal margins and/ or metal allergies

We only use materials that are of the highest quality and that have been proven to promote ideal tissue response.

All of our materials are BPA free.

For more information on tooth colored fillings please contact

Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Sleep apnea has become a very common diagnosis for many Americans. In years past snoring was merely something people were embarrassed of or annoyed by depending on if you were the snorer or the person trying to sleep next to the person struggling to breath.

It is now known that snoring is more than a nuisance and can actually be shortening a persons life span. Often times people who snore also experience apnea episodes in which they completely stop breathing. These episodes can occur 5 - 50 times an hour.

When you stop breathing, the oxygen levels in your blood go down and carbon dioxide levels go up. This makes your heart and blood vessels work harder increasing your risk for heart attacks, high blood pressure and death.

Numerous treatment options are available depending on the severity of your sleep apnea;

Option 1: Surgery

Tissue if removed from the back of the throat to open the airway.

Option 2: C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure )

Air forces the airway to remain open via a hose to a nasal pillow, nose mask, full-face mask, or a combination.



Option 3: A dental appliance


Opens the airway by minimally advancing the lower jaw while sleeping

For more information on sleep apnea screening and treatment options contact

Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Migraine Free

I have had Migraines since I was a teen, I was given my orthotic in September and pretty much knew right away that my headaches were better. I wasn't until a few weeks later that when I would take my orthotic out that other symptoms would arise. I would notice ringing or clogging in my ears especially the right one, pain behind my eyes , dizziness, and fatigue in my face a jaw. All symptoms of TMD or TMJ disorder when i put the orthotic back in the symptom would go away,I would also get a headache as soon as twenty min of the orthotic being out. I now know how important my "proper" bite is. I wear my orthotic 24,7, because I like the way "normal" feels

Dental Overhangs

An overhang is an excess of dental filling material beyond the normal tooth contour. Older silver fillings can expand and shrink over time causing overhangs. A poorly done filling can also have an overhang. These poor margins can cause bad breath, bleeding and food traps
which can lead to bone loss.

Your dentist or hygienist will monitor your fillings through routine exams and x-rays and recommend the proper treatment when necessary.