Welcome to Your Dental Home | Dental Designs by Alisa Reed | Spotlight

By Meredith Knight

Sleep apnea and snoring affect the health of millions of Americans. But Dr. Alisa Reed wants you to know you don’t have to be one of them. Sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into your lungs while you sleep. If you snore or even stop breathing during the night, if you wake with a dry mouth or a morning headache, if you feel drowsy and irritable during the day, you may have sleep apnea.

The invention of the C-pap machine allows many sleep apnea sufferers to finally get the healthful sleep they need. But for some it’s just too uncomfortable. For those patients, Dr. Reed can construct a custom dental appliances for sleep apnea that’s comfortable and fit neatly in the palm of your hand. (Perfect for traveling.) Or she can correct your collapsing airways with NightLase laser therapy.

NightLase is a remarkable, noninvasive procedure designed to open up your airway, reduce snoring, and lower the risk of apnea by stimulating the cells in your upper airway to produce collagen, tightening the tissues, and reducing the risk of them overrelaxing while you sleep.

“We don’t have to cut any tissue and patients report only a feeling of warmth and tingling similar to having a fine mist of hot water sprayed in your throat,” Dr. Reed said. “There’s no downtime after the procedure. Most patients don’t experience any side effects. And in most cases, patients begin noticing results immediately after their first NightLase session.” Dr. Reed recommends four to five 20-minute sessions about three weeks apart to shrink the tongue and lift the palate. Then, you’ll want to come in for a touch-up every six months to a year. You can even schedule it at the same time as your routine cleanings.

All Under One Roof

Together with Dr. Stacey Smith and their crackerjack team, Dr. Reed offers a full menu of general, restorative, and cosmetic dental services all under one roof with the latest dental technology, including lasers, intraoral scanners that create 3D images in minutes, and even near-infrared imaging technology to detect tooth decay sooner when it’s easy to treat. It’s your true dental home.

“Using the latest technology not only helps us provide the highest quality of dentistry but also extra comfort and convenience for our patients,” Dr. Reed said.” Dr. Smith and I both love learning about the latest dental advancements and log over and above our required continuing education each year.”

Cosmetic and Corrective Dentistry

There’s nothing more exciting for Dr. Reed than witnessing the life-changing impacts cosmetic dentistry can have on her patients. From simple teeth whitening to prep-less veneers and Invisalign clear tooth aligners all the way to full smile makeovers, she loves helping dreams come true for patients of all ages.

“Patients are often reticent to discuss how their smile affects their confidence,” Dr. Reed says. “Or they may not even realize how it’s impacts their self-esteem. Others are concerned that cosmetic work involves grinding down existing teeth, but cosmetic dentistry is much less invasive today. Our goal is to preserve as much of the natural tooth as we can while still giving you that smile you’ve always wanted.”

Patient Empowerment

Drs. Reed and Smith place an emphasis on patient education and enjoy their role as educators, helping patients of all age understand how their oral health impacts their general health. “Good oral health is essential to your overall well-being,” Dr. Reed said. “It can affect your cardiovascular health, the level of inflammation in your body, and even the quality of your sleep. For example, teeth tend to angle inward toward the palate and tongue as we age. This can affect the stability of the airway and contribute to obstructive sleep apnea and gum disease if left uncorrected.”

As teeth and bite naturally shift over time she recommends Invisalign treatment for much more than just smile aesthetics. “It’s common for teeth to shift to the front, which can cause chipping and wear down the enamel,” Dr. Reed said. “Using Invisalign for a few months corrects misalignment and overcrowding. This helps preserve the teeth and can keep you from having to undergo more extensive dental treatment in the future.”

Help for Missing Teeth

Did you know that missing even one tooth can damage your entire mouth? One of Dr. Stacey Smith’s passions is dental implants, the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. She uses advanced planning technology to help ensure the most precise and accurate dental implant placement, which is critical. Once in place, dental implants can last for decades.

“Dental implants mimic the look, feel, and function of natural teeth,” she said. “You care for them just as you do your natural teeth, they help preserve the health of surrounding bone and gums, keep your teeth from shifting, and unlike a bridge, they help keep adjacent teeth stable.”

No Insurance No Problem

Dental Designs by Alisa Reed offers a Lagniappe In-House Dental Plan available at both their locations. Find out more about this simple and affordable dental plan, meet the providers, and schedule an appointment at DentalDesignsbyAlisaReed.com.