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Dr. Stephen Carstensen, DDS

Bio

Steve Carstensen DDS FAGD FICD FACD
Diplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine

Steve earned his DDS from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1983, and is in private practice in Bellevue, WA. Beginning in 1988, he has been a continuous student at the Pankey Institute, was invited to join the visiting faculty in 1996, and serves on the Advisory Board to the L.D. Pankey Foundation. In 1998, he worked with his first dental appliance for sleep apnea, and in the past several years has helped hundreds of sleep apnea patients using oral appliance therapy. In 2006, he was awarded Diplomate status by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. Steve has spent countless hours volunteering in organized dentistry for local and state dental societies, Chaired the ADA’s Annual Session in 2010, and currently is a Director and Secretary/Treasurer of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

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Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Dentistry:
    Alligator Study Gives Clues to Regrowing Lost Teeth

    TUESDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- Dentists, as it turns out, may have one more reason than the rest of us to be wary of alligators. The toothy reptiles may one day put those who install implants, bridges and dentures out of their jobs.

    Alligators continually make new teeth to replace t...Full Article

  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    Should I avoid any activities if I have sleep apnea?

    If you are sleepy in the daytime, avoid everything, especially driving, where you need to be alert. Sleepy drivers kill thousands of people every year.

    Other bad effects of sleep apnea such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease come with their own risks. Talk to your doctor about

    ...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    What are the treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea?

    The most common treatment is a positive air pressure device, called a CPAP, that is a mask over the face connected with a tube to a small, quiet box - this puts a little air pressure behind the tongue to keep the breathing passages open.

    Most people who should use CPAP, however, don't. Alternatives

    ...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    How can I prevent plaque and tartar?

    While brushing well and flossing are the best ways of reducing plaque and tartar, there is more. Staying away from carbohydrates like breads, crackers, and sugary soft drinks will certainly help. Some unlucky people have a body chemistry that forms lots of tartar, so if you are one of those, only

    ...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    How can I prevent plaque and tartar?

    While brushing well and flossing are the best ways of reducing plaque and tartar, there is more. Staying away from carbohydrates like breads, crackers, and sugary soft drinks will certainly help. Some unlucky people have a body chemistry that forms lots of tartar, so if you are one of those, only

    ...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    What is sleep apnea?
    The short answer is stopping breathing during sleep.  What is important is how many times, for how long, and what problems the sleep apnea is causing.  Often the apnea is a result of collapse of the airway, causing the brain to go into panic mode to get the air flowing again.  When this happens...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    Does dental insurance cover screening methods for detecting oral cancer?

    One thing to think about is getting your medical insurance to cover this medical test. Potential oral cancer tissue is best found by a dentist or dental hygienist but this is a medical, not dental, condition. You can call your medical insurance coordinator and see what coverage you may have.

     Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    How is dental root amputation performed?
    Roots of teeth are complex things, and when the tooth has enough trouble around one root but other roots are strong and solid, the dentist can isolate that root and reshape the whole tooth from the bone up, taking the diseased root away.  The most important thing about it is to leave you able to...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    Will my tooth be sensitive after a root canal?

    Not for long, and not to the hot and cold triggers that many people find painful when their tooth is so damaged that it needs a root canal in the first place. Just like any injury takes time to heal, so does your tooth and the tissue around it. Depending on how badly damaged your tooth was, this

    ...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    How long will my tooth last after root canal therapy?
    Most people these days keep all their teeth for their entire life, and most teeth treated with root canals can last that long, too. Because they've had more treatment, they are weaker and need to be protected from too much pressure to avoid fracture, but with proper treatment, you should expect...  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    Why does a dentist have to drill a tooth cavity?
    Because some of the infection of the cavity is hidden below the hard-surface enamel. The dentist has to remove some of the enamel just to get access to the decay to remove the infection. There are nerves in the tooth under the enamel surface; that's why your tooth has to be made numb to be comfortable.  Full Post
  • Stephen Carstensen, DDS
    Stephen Carstensen, DDS answered:
    Does teeth whitening solution remove tooth enamel?

    There is one kind that does, it uses an acidic solution. These are never sold by dental professionals, but you can find them on the Internet and in some stores. The professional materials use a form of hydrogen peroxide that is completely safe for your tooth and has no bad effect on your enamel

    ...  Full Post