Request a Consultation
Find out how Mackenzie Dental Centre can help you achieve your greatest smile!
Simply put, sleep apnea results in poor quality sleep. It makes people quite over-tired during the course of the day, and it’s a primary cause of daytime sleepiness.
Request a Consultation
Find out how Mackenzie Dental Centre can help you achieve your greatest smile!
Today, sleep apnea is a common complaint and common disorder. Patients experience a pause (or many pauses) in breathing while they sleep. These pauses can range from seconds to minutes. In fact, the pauses may repeat dozens of times in an hour. Usually, normal breathing will resume, sometimes with a snorting sound. The main problem with sleep apnea is that sleep is disrupted. As well, when breathing is paused, or becomes shallow, we slip from deep sleep into light sleep.
Simply put, sleep apnea results in poor quality sleep. It makes people quite over-tired during the course of the day, and it’s a primary cause of daytime sleepiness. This is why diagnosis is so important. And although excessive snoring is a prime indicator, not all symptoms are as evident with sleep apnea. For the dentist, common patient complaints can often point to sleep apnea - these would be symptom complaints like daytime lethargy; morning headaches; even dry mouth.
Interestingly, dentists are quite often the first medical professionals to be exposed to sleep apnea issues, mainly because patients see their dentist more often than their family physician. As such, patients with sleep apnea symptoms might well be sent to a Sleep Clinic for further diagnosis. Once assessed, patients can return to the dentist for treatment. At this time, depending on the severity of the condition, an oral appliance can be created that opens the airways while sleeping.
At the Mackenzie Dental Centre, our dentists serve the Vaughan, Maple, and Woodbridge communities. Dr. Lloyd Pedvis provides treatment for sleep apnea, based on the gravity of the condition. Indeed, in the case of a patient with mild sleep apnea, it may be as simple as changing sleeping behaviours; losing some weight; or even smoking cessation. For some, it may appropriate to wear a customized dental appliance while sleeping - something akin to an athletic mouth guard, which repositions the jawbone to improve airflow and breathing. 
Some patients experience Obstructive Sleep Apnea – this is when breathing interruptions occur for longer than 10 seconds during sleep time. Here, oral appliances have proven to be effective in the management of most patients. At the Mackenzie Dental Centre, the appliance is custom-made to reduce the negative effects of sleep apnea (or chronic snoring). Essentially, the oral appliance realigns the jaw during sleep time, and must be worn every night to achieve the desired results.
Oral appliances designed for sleep apnea are a viable option for relief. Needless to say, symptoms may return if the appliance is not used consistently, and as prescribed. What’s most important is a patient’s commitment and cooperation – this includes wearing the appliance as instructed, and maintaining a high standard of ongoing oral hygiene. Indeed, practical experience has shown that treatment success is directly related to each patient’s personal discipline and commitment.
Patients at the Mackenzie Dental Centre will find a healthcare team that is knowledgeable about every procedure and treatment at the clinic. With the Mackenzie team, patients can rest assured that they are in capable hands. To book an appintment with a dental clinic in Woodbridge Vaughan, contact us online.

Find out how Mackenzie Dental Centre can help you achieve your greatest smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, dental examinations will depend on the individual, and personal oral health needs. The objective behind a regular visit to the dentist is simply early detection – to identify small problems before they become bigger problems. For the majority of patients this will mean a dental examination every six months.
Read MoreA healthy patient, with a good oral health history, probably doesn’t need X-Rays at every clinic visit. However, in certain situations, the dentist may determine that more frequent X-Rays are necessary and required. Overall, dental X-Rays deliver little radiation, but where there is concern, a frank discussion may be appropriate.
Read MoreGum disease (Periodontal Disease) can range from simple inflammation of the gums to more serious damage of tissue and bone that surrounds the teeth. Unfortunately, in a worst-case scenario, teeth can be lost. The good news is that gum disease can be arrested or slowed down with proper personal care and with professional care from a dentist in Woodbridge, where it’s required.
Read MoreLaser dentistry procedures are virtually painless! Lasers can be used to replace a variety of dental tools that can cause some discomfort and pain for patients. Drills, needles, and scalpels can all be replaced by laser dentistry.
Read MoreDental emergencies can be very unexpected, and being informed about those that need immediate attention is very important for your health and comfort. A severe toothache or a knocked-out tooth should be looked at by an emergency dentist, who will take you through urgent care.
Read MoreFor the most part, laser dentistry is safe for a wide range of patients, but especially for those who might have a fear of having dental work done.
Read MoreIf you must visit a dentist on short notice, it is helpful to bring with you any identity documents, insurance documents, and a list of current medications. If you have been experiencing dental pain or dental trauma, briefly describe your medical history, including the details of the problem, such as the duration of the pain. This will help your dentist make a diagnosis and treatment plan for you.
Read MoreGetting dental implants in Vaughan is generally not painful due to the use of local anesthesia during the procedure. Most patients report feeling minimal discomfort during the surgery itself. After the procedure, there may be some mild soreness or swelling, but this can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. The majority of patients find the process much less painful than they anticipated.
Read MoreAt Mackenzie Dental Centre, our laser dentistry treatments are powered by the advanced Sirona SIROLaser®, a leading dental laser system designed to deliver precise, comfortable and minimally invasive care. Quite simply, we employ this technology because it enables us to perform a broad scope of procedures with higher accuracy, less discomfort, and faster healing than many conventional methods.
Read MoreYou can drop into Mackenzie Dental Centre any time during our operating hours if you are struggling with a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. Our emergency dentist in Vaughan, Dr. Pedvis, can effectively treat a wide range of dental emergencies, help with pain management and provide urgent care when available. If you are dealing with an emergency outside of our normal operating hours, call our team at (905) 417-8700 to see if an appointment can be made.
Read MoreLaser dentistry is meant to be more comfortable and less painful than traditional dentistry tools. Laser is popular among dentists in Vaughan for its precision with soft tissues and how it supports patients who struggle with dental anxiety, needles, and blood. Laser dentistry allows more patients to receive important dental care that they may otherwise avoid due to dental fears.
Read MoreOur Location
Proudly serving:
Woodbridge, Vaughan