Letter from Dr. Nelson

I have just returned from a national symposium on sleep apnea (February 2014) . Most of the speakers were experts in sleep apnea from the medical field. Ear, Nose and Throat specialists, Pulmonologists, Neurologists and Pharmacologists. They all discussed the importance of collaboration amongst dentists and the medical physicians to effectively treat this life threatening disease. They informed us that a research study from the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that untreated sleep apnea decreased a person's life by 10 years! The dangers of untreated sleep apnea include high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, headache, extreme sleepiness and cognitive impairment, relationship dysfunction and overall decrease in the quality of life.

Many car accidents are the result of people falling asleep at the wheel. In fact, patients with untreated sleep apnea have a 10 times higher chance of a car accident than patients that do not have sleep apnea. This also translates to accidents in the workplace as well.

Being excessively tired leads to the inability to deal with the demands of work, family and every day life due to impairments in cognitive functioning. Recent research shows that children with untreated sleep apnea have a lower IQ than kids that do not have it. Research needs to be done to see if this lowering of the IQ is permanent or improves with treatment.

Childhood sleep apnea has only recently come the forefront of medicine. It has not really made it to the dental profession yet, but is getting there. Many children have obstructed nasal airways from structural defects in the nose, allergies swelling the nasal mucosa so much that they cannot breath through their nose, narrow upper jaw (maxilla) causing narrowing of the nasal passages just to name a few. Chronically enlarged tonsils and adenoids is one of the main causes. Inability to breath causes unfavorable changes in facial growth patterns as well. Pediatric sleep apnea can typically be treated by removal of the tonsils and adenoids. Orthodontic expansion of the palate is also needed many times in order to improve nasal breathing. Sometimes nasal surgery is needed to open the airway.

Untreated sleep apnea in children can lead to changes in facial growth, obesity, cognitive disturbances causing poor school performance and behavioral problems. Many children are diagnosed with ADHD then treated with a stimulant drug known as Ritalin.

Proper diagnosis and treatment for adults and children with sleep apnea is imperative. It could save your life and definitely improve the quality of your life. We are committed to educating our patients about the problem and the treatments we provide to help you live a better life. Now that is something to smile about! God bless you.

Christianity and Business: Does it work?

In 2006, when Dr. Bryan Nelson began the process of buying out his orthodontic partner, he had the opportunity to re-name and re-structure his business. As he contemplated ideas and prayed for guidance, he was moved to take a bold step and name the practice Trinity Orthodontics; making a direct reference to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the essence of God. A risky move? Maybe. A good decision? Definitely.

Along with the name change, Dr. Nelson consciously redirected the focus of his thriving practice to always do what is best and safest for the patients, regardless of what everyone else was doing. He evaluated the benefits of doing early, or phase 1, orthodontics on primary aged kids and decided to recommend this widely used and accepted approach only when there is permanent risk to the teeth and gums, or if there is a significant cosmetic issue affecting the kids' self-esteem. Establishing Trinity as a Christian business moved him to stand by his decision to treat kids with one, cost-effective phase of treatment once the permanent teeth are in, even though it significantly reduced his cash flow. In his heart he knew it was the right thing to do. It was rough going for the first few years but he stood by his decision. He offers early phase treatment to those interested but is very clear in his criteria for recommending it.

When Dr. Nelson saw an increase in patients looking for relief from TMJ or craniofacial pain, and many looking for a treatment solution for sleep apnea, he realized that there were very few treatment options available. In line with doing what is "right and good" for patients, he decided to pursue further education so he could meet the needs of such patients. While running his busy, one doctor practice, he completed a fellowship program at the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and gained certification from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He loves being able to help those in constant pain and those suffering from sleep disorders. His mainstay is still creating great smiles using precision braces, but now he can help with most oral/facial issues, and expose more people to his overtly Christian practice.

The Trinity staff is very customer oriented and committed to patients having a "real" and different experience, and maybe "get a little God" along the way. The scripture "Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight." from Deuteronomy 6:18, is now the foundation of Trinity Orthodontics and that bold scripture is displayed visibly in the front of both Trinity offices. The scripture not only serves as a reminder to the staff, but also as a standard that patients can hold them to. Risky? Not so much. Posting the foundational standard helps Trinity stay committed and accountable in the process.

Now, Dr. Nelson starts out every day with a "prayer huddle" where the needs of patients, staff and the office are lifted to God, there is a prayer request basket at the front desk where patients can request prayers for themselves and their family, Bibles and Christian books are available in the waiting areas, and Dr. Nelson provides lunch so the staff can attend Bible study at work every other week. So, was it a risk, do God and business mix? No, it wasn't a risk to put God at the helm as much as it was a conviction, and YES, if you're a believer, bring God on as your COO (chief operating officer). He'll be in charge of prosperity and your work will be a blessing to many. To the best of their knowledge, no one has ever made a negative comment or chosen not to do business with Trinity because they are a Christian Business.

Dr. Nelson Can Help You with Sleep Apnea, TMJ Issues
and Craniofacial Pain!

In the course of his daily orthodontic practice Dr. Nelson noticed an increase in the patients coming in looking for relief from TMJ or Craniofacial pain, and requests for oral sleep appliances. There were really no good resources for help for patients, so Dr. Nelson  enrolled in and completed  a residency program to learn how to treat TMJ and craniofacial pain.  He has also completed a certification program to treat sleep disorders. He has implemented these modalities  into his practice and is delighted to be able to help patients become pain free and healthy.

TMJ and craniofacial pain typically result from jaw para-function, bite discrepancy or damage to the jaw joint and can be very painful. Jaw locking, clicking, facial pain and headaches are common symptoms of problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Physicians are often unsure  how to effectively treat the pain and unclear how to correct the problem. Since orthodontists are focused on the jaw, bite, and teeth, it makes perfect sense for them to treat all of the related issues. Dr. Nelson is one of only a handful of orthodontists in the area qualified to treat these areas in addition to doing braces and creating beautiful smiles.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has recently come to the forefront of medical diagnostics as studies have

shown the health complications related to undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorder.  Research has shown that OSA is also common in children, and can contribute to health issues such as hyperactivity, ADD, heart irregularities, headaches, breathing difficulty, and inadequate growth.  Historically adult OSA has been treated with a CPAP mask which provides positive air flow into the nose and mouth during all phases of sleep. Many patients simply cannot tolerate CPAP and end up discontinuing treatment; a potentially dangerous decision. Oral appliances have come to the rescue. These appliances provide some of the most advanced, non-invasive, FDA approved treatment available. Results using oral appliances have been very successful. Restful sleep, decreased fatigue, increased energy, weight loss and decreased blood pressure have been commonly reported. Dr. Nelson and Trinity Orthodontics are skilled at making custom oral appliances and executing therapies to help sleep patients.

Braces? Of course we still specialize in precision bracket placement (PBP) which reduces the guesswork in bracket placement,  lessens treatment time by helping teeth move to their ideal positions over a shorter period of time, and fewer adjustment appointments resulting in less time missed from work or school. Bottom line; Trinity is constantly producing beautiful smiles that can last a lifetime. 

BACK TO SCHOOL

BACK TO SCHOOL

Now that many of the schools in Arvada and Thornton  and nearby communities are nearly back in session, Dr. Bryan Nelson and our staff at Trinity Orthodontics would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance in August and early September. With school, clubs and sports to consider this fall, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit our office. In order to accommodate all of our wonderful patients' busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you. We will accommodate before and after school appointments to the best of our abilities. As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you're unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call at (303) 427-5000 if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment. We hope you are having a fantastic summer and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces very soon!

THE TONGUE IS KING!

Inside your mouth there is a battle happening, Muscle vs Bone. Who will win? Your tongue is made up of 16 different muscles, which means there is a lot going on in a small space, and your tongue has the ability to move your teeth. When your tongue is not functioning the way it was designed, you have a problem. Have you ever heard the term Tongue Thrust? Did you go through Orthodontics and your teeth are crooked again? A Tongue Thrust means that your tongue is pushing against your teeth when you are in a rest position or when you swallow. If your tongue is functioning properly you should not be putting any pressure on your teeth. So what happens if you do have a Tongue Thrust? There is a very successful therapy that can correct this issue for life. Therapy involves not only strengthening the muscles in your tongue, lips, face and neck, but also creates a new and correct habit for your tongue. If the Tongue Thrust is ignored it will only continue to get worse and create more problems, such as failed orthodontics. If you think this may be an issue for you or someone you know, contact Dr. Nelson’s office for an appointment, or call Front Range Orofacial Myology for an absolutely free consultation. The tongue will always win, he is the “King”.

Front Range Orofacial Myology

Julie Peterson
303-736-6995
info@frontrangeom.com
www.frontrangeom.com

Having Straight Teeth is not Just About the Way our Smile Looks

Having straight teeth is not just about the way our smile looks, it is part
of a healthy mouth which is the entryway to the rest of your body. By
correctly aligning your teeth and jaw, I can help your teeth and
jaw function more properly reducing  excessive wear on your teeth and
strengthen the bone and gum structure that support your teeth.   Well
aligned teeth trap fewer particles and bacteria  in between your teeth
helping to deter cavity and plaque growth. Straight and healthy teeth also
produce stronger and healthier gums.

I am also concerned with teeth that do not occlude or "close"
properly as this also impairs the function of teeth.  Many dental problems
can result from misalignment of teeth which causes excess stress and force
on surrounding teeth. The position of your teeth plays a major role in the
ability to pronounce certain sounds correctly.
Lastly, there are more enzymes in your mouth than in your stomach. The
enzymes in your mouth and your ability to chew/break down food correctly,
contribute to a healthier digestion process and a healthier you. Straight
teeth are a huge factor in breaking up your food more precisely, so your
body can process your food more efficiently.

Overall, straight teeth are easier to brush and floss and require less
strain on your oral cavity.

So don't just smile because you feel good about how you look, smile even
wider, because you've invested in your overall health and how you feel!