Jerry C. Hu, DDS Family Dentistry, LLC
Anchorage: 907 202-9685
Soldotna: 907 262-6466
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Is Invisalign Right for You?

1/21/2022

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Straightening your teeth no longer necessitates the use of inconvenient metal braces. With the help of Invisalign clear aligners, people of all ages can enjoy the benefits of a more symmetrical smile thanks to modern dental technology. 

Invisalign is a cutting-edge orthodontic system that gradually realigns slightly misaligned teeth using custom-made, clear aligners. Invisalign has improved the smiles of millions of people worldwide, and it continues to do so in children, teens, and adults. 

The following are seven of the most common problems that Invisalign can help with: 

Crooked Teeth: Invisalign clear aligners are excellent at straightening teeth. With Invisalign, you can have straighter teeth in less than a year! 

Teeth Gaps: Some people have small gaps between their teeth, but Invisalign can quickly close these gaps. 

Overbites: Overbites occur when the upper teeth close too far over the lower teeth, making eating, speaking, and chewing difficult. Invisalign can reposition your teeth quickly so that you don't have an overbite. 

Underbites: When your lower teeth are in front of your upper teeth, you have an underbite, making your teeth more vulnerable to chipping and other types of damage. Invisalign's lower teeth are gradually repositioned to naturally sit in the proper position. 

Crossbites: Crossbites occur when some of your upper and lower teeth are positioned in front of each other. Invisalign can correct crossbites to ensure you correctly align your teeth. 

Openbites: You have an open bite when your upper and lower teeth do not meet. Your teeth can be brought closer together with Invisalign clear aligners, resulting in a more accurate bite. 

Crowded Teeth: If your jaws or arches are too narrow to accommodate all of your teeth, your teeth can start crowding, overlapping, and twisting into odd positions. 

Depending on your oral health needs and the severity and complexity of the problem, Invisalign can treat various bite issues. You can chew, eat, speak, and smile more comfortably and confidently with straighter teeth. 

Invisalign with Dr. Hu.
While it can seem challenging to decide what a person needs to restore their smile, Dr. Hu can help! At Dr. Hu's office, patients can create an individualized care plan, which will help them navigate through the process of restoring their smiles. For more information regarding treatment for crooked teeth, contact the Smiles of Alaska team. We are available through email at office@smilesofalaska.com or by phone at 907-349-6466. 

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3 Benefits of Dental Implants

1/21/2022

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Do you have any missing teeth? You might be trying to figure out whether dental implants, dentures, or something else is the best option for you. When it comes to making a decision, dental implants are always the best option. Dental implants are a long-term solution for a missing tooth (or teeth), with many advantages over other options. We've compiled a list of the top three advantages of dental implants to make your decision a little easier! 

Dental Implants Function Similarly to Natural Teeth! 

One of the most well-known advantages of dental implants is that they mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth. Dental implants are nearly undetectable when adequately placed. Unlike dentures that are removable and can cause discomfort to the wearer, dental implants are surgically implanted into the jaw and do not cause discomfort. 

Dental implants provide the most stability when they are implanted into your jawbone. With dental implants, you can keep eating your favorite foods, speaking typically, and basking in your newfound self-confidence! 


Dental Implants Enhances the Health of Your Teeth and Gums 

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Losing a tooth can significantly impact your mouth's overall health. When you lose a tooth, your gums begin to recede, causing the teeth to shift and eventually weakening your jaw bone, causing significant problems for the rest of your teeth. Dental implants help stabilize the jaw and keep the teeth around it from shifting. 

Dental Implants Are Extremely Dependable & Low Maintenance  

Because of the permanent nature of dental implants, they can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Fortunately, maintaining your implant is simple. Brushing and flossing the implant as you would your other teeth is all that is required!


Dental Implants With Dr. Hu

Dental implants are primarily considered the most effective and helpful treatment for tooth loss. You owe yourself to learn more if you have missing teeth that need to be replaced. For more information regarding treatment for damaged teeth or other dental issues, contact the Smiles of Alaska team. We are available through email at office@smilesofalaska.com or by phone at 907-349-6466. 

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Make Room for The Tongue!

1/21/2022

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Did you know you could be suffering from sleep apnea without even realizing it? Many people with sleep apnea are unaware of their condition until health problems arise. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea by your doctor, you may be surprised to learn that your dentist has several effective treatment options. Let's take a look at how dentists approach sleep apnea treatment. 

The Fundamentals of Sleep Apnea

When sleeping, however, the muscles in the throat and mouth can relax. Sleep apnea occurs when fatty tissues relax to the point where they fall back into the upper airway, blocking oxygen flow into the body. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which an individual experiences periodic breathing pauses while sleeping. Breathing pauses of this length usually last 10 seconds. Gasps, snorts, or even choking sounds may accompany sleep apnea breathing stops while attempting to re-inhale. During sleep, the body's muscles relax in an attempt to perform self-repair, keeping the body healthy and energized. 

Sleep Apnea Treatment With Oral Devices 

CPAP therapy, or continuous positive air pressure therapy, is the most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea symptoms. However, CPAP is not the only treatment option for sleep apnea. After meeting with your doctor and dentist, your doctor will fit you for CPAP and oral appliances. Each sleep apnea solution has a one-of-a-kind design tailored to the patient's specific mouth measurements. 

The main goal of dental devices is to keep the patient's airway open and clear while they sleep. This way, the airway cannot collapse and prevent airflow if it remains open while sleeping. However, just because your dentist provides you with a dental device doesn't mean you won't need CPAP therapy. Dentists all over the country agree that CPAP therapy is an effective way to treat obstructive sleep apnea!

How Do Apnea Dental Devices Help With Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Sleep apnea dental devices, as previously stated, keep the patient's airway open for uninterrupted sleep. This is accomplished by bringing the lower jaw forward slightly and holding the tongue in place during sleep to prevent it from falling back. There is a lower risk of airway obstruction if the tongue is held firmly in place. Some dental sleep apnea devices can do both of these things simultaneously.

Smiles of Alaska Offers Dental Sleep Medicine

Contact the Smiles of Alaska team for more information on diagnosing sleep apnea and the various treatment options. Our email address is office@smilesofalaska.com, and our phone number is 907-349-6466. Our sleep medicine-focused family dentistry practice with offices in Soldotna and Anchorage, Alaska. We are excited to help our patients live their lives to the fullest!

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An Overview of Sleep Apnea

1/21/2022

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What is Sleep Apnea?

A sleep study can tell you which type of sleep apnea you have. "Apnea" comes from Greek, meaning "without breath." Obstructive, central, and mixed apnea are the three types of apnea; obstructive apnea is the most common. Regardless of the root cause, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during the night and often for a minute or longer. 

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the soft tissues around the throat collapse during sleep, obstructing the airway. This includes the tongue reverting to its original position, continuing to obstruct the airway. This obstruction occurs when the jaw is underdeveloped, leaving insufficient room for the tongue. By fully developing the jaw bones and thus eliminating the obstruction, epigenetic science can make room for the tongue. 

Is Sleep Apnea Rare?

According to the National Institutes of Health, sleep apnea is as common as adult diabetes. Being a man, being overweight, and being over the age of forty are all risk factors. On the other hand, sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including children. Despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant and deadly consequences, the vast majority of sufferers remain undiagnosed and thus untreated due to a lack of public and healthcare professional awareness. 

Sleep Apnea Treatment 

Around 80% of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) go their entire lives without being diagnosed. This lack of diagnosis means that these people suffer from snoring, pauses in breathing while sleeping, and other sleep apnea symptoms, are not being treated. A sleep test is one of the first steps in receiving a diagnosis for sleep apnea. Polysomnography, or sleep testing, can be done at home or in a sleep clinic. 

Smiles of Alaska Offers Dental Sleep Medicine

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Contact the Smiles of Alaska team for more information on diagnosing sleep apnea and the various treatment options. Our email address is office@smilesofalaska.com, and our phone number is 907-349-6466. Our sleep medicine-focused family dentistry practice with offices in Soldotna and Anchorage, Alaska. We are excited to help our patients live their lives to the fullest!

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Anchorage Hours
Friday - Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Sunday by appointment

Soldotna Hours

Tuesday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm

Anchorage location:
12570 Old Seward Highway Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99515 

Contact/mailing Information:
Dr. Jerry C. Hu, DDS
125 N. Binkley St.
Soldotna, Alaska 99669



Anchorage phone: 907-202-9685
Soldotna phone: (907) 262-6466
Toll Free: 1-888-975-3888
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fax- (907) 260-3459
office@smilesofalaska.com

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