The 5 W's of Dental Sleep Medicine Sleep Apnea

What is Dental Sleep Medicine? Dental Sleep Medicine refers to the branch of dentistry devoted to the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea with an oral appliance similar to a retainer. When a patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, they are usually prescribed a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine which functions like a reverse vacuum cleaner to keep the airway open.

It consists of a mask fitted over the mouth and nose which is attached to a compressor-like machine via a hose through which room air is forced. Compliance is shown to be very low due to common complaints of the machine being too noisy, the mask irritating the face, claustrophobia due to wearing the mask, inconvenience of being tethered to a machine and inability to sleep in all positions. In many cases, oral appliances are an effective alternative to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea.

Why do airway testing? A specially trained dentist utilizes airway testing with a Pharyngometer and Rhinometer to verify airway size and collapsibility as well as to predict success with an oral appliance. This technology utilizes sound waves in acoustic reflection much like a fish-finding device. The Pharyngometer measures the cross-sectional airway in the throat to determine where there is an obstruction and whether movement of the lower jaw with an oral appliance will be effective in clearing that obstruction. The Rhinometer measures the nasal airway and determines whether there is blockage in the nose. This is critical because oral appliances are unable to open the nasal airway and should not be used if the obstruction exists in the nasal passages only. Airway testing with the Pharyngometer/Rhinometer is crucial for predicting before treatment even begins whether the oral appliance will work or not.

When can we treat with Oral Appliances? Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the tongue falls back into the throat and blocks the airway. Partial obstruction typically causes snoring and complete obstruction causes a cessation of breathing in addition to snoring. Oral appliances are designed to bring the lower jaw forward and thereby bring the tongue forward to open the airway. Oral Appliances were approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a first line of therapy for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Patients with severe sleep apnea who cannot or will not wear a CPAP machine can also benefit from oral appliances but they are not as effective as CPAP therapy. It is still better than no treatment at all.

Where is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosed? Only a physician can make a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and classify its severity. For many years, diagnosis had to be made from an overnight sleep study, Polysomnography or PSG for short. This study is conducted in a hospital or sleep laboratory.

Just recently, unattended home sleep studies such as the Watch-Pat 100 are available to physicians and dentists and approved by the FDA for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea. Diagnosis still must be made by a physician but the advantages of being able to conduct the study in the patient's own bedroom can often provide a familiarity which lends itself to increased patient comfort and decreased anxiety.

Dentists treating sleep apnea can also use the Watch-PAT 100 to verify the effectiveness of an oral appliance. No patient should be given an oral appliance without the follow-up of an unattended sleep study or repeat PSG.

Who is practicing Dental Sleep Medicine? This field requires a commitment to education and a commitment to technology. Most dental school curriculua do not offer any training in this arena. Numerous books have been written on this subject and many continuing education courses are offered in this area.

Utilization of airway equipment and follow-up testing are imperative for the dentist to treat this properly. Guessing at severity of sleep disorder, jaw-position or effectiveness of oral appliances can be at the very least frustrating and potentially life-threatening.

Dr. Dawne Slabach is a General Dentist, Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, with a focus on the treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea as well as TMJ Disorders (TMD). For more information, please visit

http://www.sleepapneacolumbus.com

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Sleep Apnea Dentist San Diego

Many of the underlying causes of sleep apnea can presently be tackled with by a sleep apnea dentist; there is even a medical branch known as dental sleep dentistry that has known an increase in the number of specialists over the last decade.

Medical practice has shown that sleep apnea may be caused by certain dental and mandibular problems that can be corrected by the surgical or non-surgical intervention of a dentist. Thus, there are all sorts of dental appliances used for the maintenance of a proper opening of the airways and only a sleep apnea dentist can recommend and design one for you.

In case the apnea patient suffers from a jaw deformity or mandibular deficiency that prevents the correct opening of the airways in a deep relaxation state, a sleep apnea dentist will have to create a special appliance to be worn at night.

Such a device would either pull the tongue forward or adjust the position of the jaw so that the air flow may pass unhindered towards the lungs. It should be said nevertheless, that the apnea dentist solutions usually work for the mild and moderate sleep breathing cessation problems, as the more severe cases require other forms of medical intervention.

After close medical investigations a sleep apnea dentist will tell you what type of oral device best matches your condition. The two most popular such devices include the splint and the mandibular advancement device.

The former holds the tongue in a position that allows the air to pass unhindered; this is mainly used for people who suffer from apnea caused by too large a tongue as compared to the diameter of the airways. The latter is a device that forces the jaw in a lower position, thus creating enough room for the air flow; the only problem with the mandibular device consists in the eventual jaw pain after its usage.

Regular visits to the sleep apnea dentist may be necessary particularly if you experience discomfort after the trial period is over. If you don't get used to an oral apnea device within a fortnight, contact the sleep apnea dentist and see how you can improve the situation. Do not purchase any type of apnea appliance since such items require a certain size and molding design that is unique for each individual. A general model will surely be very uncomfortable, even if you'd think it a real bargain.

Steve Hill is a webmaster from Birmingham, he has interests in a number of websites including: stuttering, stuttering therapy, sleep apnea

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Sleep Apnea Auto Accidents and Breathing

So you ask, "What do automobile accidents and breathing have to do with each other?" Well you might be surprised to know that the number one cause of automobile
accidents on North American roads each year is tired driving. Unfortunately, obstructive sleep apnea is a huge contributing factor. It deprives people of the rejuvenating sleep that their bodies require. Disruptive sleep fill with arousals, increasing heart rate and high blood pressure does not allow the solid sleep your body requires. Did you know that people suffering from this sleep disorder are seven to twelve times more likely to be involved in an auto accident because of their excessive sleepiness? Limited sleep slows your response time. In fact, sleeping only four hours a night results in reaction times that are equivalent to someone who has a blood alcohol level of .08%.

Sleep apnea is one of the most under-diagnosed life threatening medical disorders in our society today. Despite the lack of attention, tired driving and obstructive sleep apnea are statistically more dangerous than drunk driving. Once you know the statistics, driving down the highway can be a scary proposition.

This sleep disorder is also directly implicated as contributing to heart disease, cerebrovascular insult, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and obesity. The list truly goes on and on. If you suffer from bruxism, or awake multiple time through the night, or have morning headaches or if your bed partner has witnessed you snoring and then gasping for air, the likelihood that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea is very, very high. It is not necessary for you to have any or all of the aforementioned to have sleep apnea. Realize that not everyone that has apnea is tired. Some people have symptoms with very mild apnea while others don't have symptoms with sever apnea. Bottom line, don't let how you feel make the determination. This is one area that "guilty until proven innocent'" is probably sound advice.

One very good screening tool that has been shown to be predictive of sleep disordered breathing is called the Adjusted Neck Circumference screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Here is the formula: ANC = NC + H (4) + S (3) + C/G (3). ANC is Adjusted Neck Circumference, H is Hypertention, S is Snoring, C/G is Choking/Gasping. The way it is used is that the neck circumference (measured in centimeters) is adjusted if you have hypertention (4 cm added), or a habitual snorer (3 cm added) or chocking or gasping most nights (3 cm added). A low clinical probability corresponds to an adjusted neck circumference of less than 43 cm, an intermediate probability (4 to 8 times as probable) to a neck circumference of 43 to 48 cm, and a high probability (20 times as probable) for a neck circumference of more than 48 cm.

The gold standard for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is CPAP therapy; however oral appliances can be equally affective, particularly in mild and moderate sleep apnea. If you suspect you have sleep apnea, take it seriously and talk with your physician or a dentist that is trained in the treatment of sleep apnea. It could be a conversation that saves your life.

Dr. Joe Gatti is a Lawrence KS dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry and treatment of sleep apnea

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Joe_Gatti

Finding a Good Dentist in San Diego

During the early days, there were only some limited solutions to any kind of a tooth related problem, but today, the advent of high-end technology and science has definitely made things much easier and simpler. In fact, thanks to this technological revolution, today any sort of a health problem has an answer and if you are suffering from aggravated or simple tooth problem, you can take the help of a dentist in Chula Vista and he will guide you to solve the problem.

Whatever dental problem one might suffer from, the best thing to do is to consult a dentist as he will be able to prescribe the right technique to tone down the problem and will also suggest good medicines that will help to reduce the risk of the dental problem that one is suffering from. There are various kinds’ of teeth or dental problems that one can suffer from and in fact, in today’s fast lifestyle, facing a dental problem is not a very big thing. Consumption of high amount of caffeine, heavy smoking, fast food all lead to some or the other dental problem. In fact, once any kind of a dental problem is detected, it is best to get things sorted in the very first stage rather than waiting for it to get aggravated and then create further problems.

Therefore, if you realize that your tooth is giving you some trouble, you should immediately consult a dentist. Now to do this you will definitely need to do some research on the dentist you want to consult, so that you remain assured that you are going to a great dentist in Chula Vista, who can fix your dental problem. Once your dental problems are fixed, you can easily sport that gorgeous smile of yours’ without any hesitation and pass that smile to make others feel great.

For more information about Dentistry, visit our Chula Vista Dentist Office Website

 

Visit a Good Dentist, Chula Vista

When somebody had quoted that health is wealth, he was so apt in saying that. One’s health is definitely the greatest and the most valuable asset and one has to make sure to take proper care of this invaluable asset. With the passing of time and the rise in competition, people’s health has been affected and therefore, today one has to make sure that he remains prim and proper and fit and fine to remain active in this highly competitive world. Health includes everything from head to toe. Therefore, one has to make sure that all their body parts are functioning aptly and that if they have any kind of a physical disorder, they should immediately consult a good doctor. Now, when we talk about all the body parts, there is one such part that is multitasking. This is the set of teeth that we all have. It is because of these teeth that we can chew our food and at the same time, these sets of teeth make us look beautiful by helping us to pass that dazzling smile. In fact, who does not want to pass a gracious smile? However, any kind of a tooth problem can lead to many health hazards and therefore, one has to make sure to visit a good dentist, who can solve any sort of a dental problem.

 

For more information about Dentistry, visit our Chula Vista Dentist Office Website

 

Chula Vista, Eastlake and Bonita Dentist

At Bonita Del Rey Dental Care we specialize in cosmetic and family dentistry. We are located in Chula Vista, California; we pride ourselves on offering the best personalized care and the most reasonable fees in Chula Vista, Eastlake and Bonita!

Check out our Website


http://bonitadelrey.com

Single Tooth Anesthesia Chula Vista Eastlake San Diego.

Single Tooth Anesthesia comes to Chula Vista Eastlake Dentist San Diego

San Diego' Cosmetic dentist Aldo M. Espinosa D.D.S, is pleased to announce that they've arrived at the future of dental anesthesia.

The Bonita Del Rey is one of only a few San Diego dentists to use this system.

Using a new computerized system called Single Tooth Anesthesia, the precise quantity of anesthetic is administered with a tiny needle, will numb just the precise area that is being worked on in any dental procedure. After, the patient can carry on their day without the typical numbness and embarrassing drooling typified by traditional, widespread anesthetic.

Make an appointment and try it out.
(619) 482-3264

Or Visit there website and read more...
http://www.bonitadelrey.com/Pain_Free_Anesthesia.html

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