September 2nd, 2010 amogell
While trolling through the internet the other night I discovered many websites, forums and user groups that discuss the ongoing battles that patients seem to have with the CPAP machines they use to treat their obstructive sleep apnea. I notice that the traffic on these sites seems to spike in the middle of the night – when everyone should be sleeping. The folks posting on these sites complain of dry mouth and headaches and coughs and sinus problems and a myriad of other problems associated with using their CPAP.
One posting caught my eye simply because the idea expressed was extremely dangerous. One individual was searching for an option other than CPAP and wondered about oral appliance therapy. Another member of the forum suggested the “cheap route” of purchasing a $1 boil and bite football mouthguard instead of being fit for an actual oral appliance. Fortunately another member of the group immediately posted the facts – that an over-the-counter mouth guard is only designed to protect the teeth during sports. An oral appliance designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea is designed to move the jaw forward and, in doing so, keeps the tongue and soft tissues of the mouth from blocking the airway during sleep. Oral appliance therapy is usually covered by medical insurance or Medicare (for those over 65) just like CPAP treatment.
Obstructive sleep apnea is an extremely dangerous disease and can be life threatening – don’t attempt to self-treat using products purchased over the internet or using advice from chat rooms. Here at StoneRidge Dental we work as a team with your sleep physician. Please contact my Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation – discover whether oral appliance therapy may be the perfect alternative to treat your obstructive sleep apnea.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
August 27th, 2010 amogell
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia attributes the increase in severity of sleep disordered breathing (i.e. obstructive sleep apnea) cases to increases in obesity levels.
The researchers from the University of Newcastle reviewed almost 15,000 diagnostic sleep studies made between 1987 and 2007. The median body weight of patients increased by 11% for men and 16% for women over that time period. For every unit increase in body mass index (BMI) the number of sleep related breathing events (stopping breathing during sleep) increased by 5.5 events per hour for men and by 2.8 events per hour for women.
Weight loss is the obvious answer but is a slow and difficult process for most patients. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is vitally important and should not wait until weight loss attempts have failed. For patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or for patients with severe sleep apnea that cannot tolerate CPAP therapy, an oral appliance may be the most effective treatment for you.
Oral appliance’s for treating obstructive sleep apnea are custom made in a dental laboratory and work by repositioning your lower jaw during sleep to keep your airway open. In Columbus, Ohio please contact me at 614-476-6696 to arrange your consultation to discuss oral appliance therapy for your obstructive sleep apnea.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
August 24th, 2010 amogell
Dentists are being given a bigger role in disaster relief efforts according to bills passed in congress. Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak introduced HR903 which includes the following:
Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2009 – Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) revise the National Health Security Strategy to include increasing the preparedness, response capabilities, and surge capacity of dental facilities and effective utilization of any available mobile dental assets; and (2) provide that federal dental entities shall carry out activities under the public health and medical response training program.
One major area of concern following any type disaster, whether it be natural such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes or man made, such as a terrorist attack is the health of patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Disasters of all types cause people to either lose their belongings or lose electrical power for extended periods. People suffering from sleep apnea who utilize CPAP machines to maintain their breathing during sleep are placed at severe risk during emergency events.
Dental sleep specialists can fit these patients with oral appliances to treat their obstructive sleep apnea. This new legislation will allow emergency funding in these cases.
The importance of dentists in the aftermath of a disaster was proven after Hurricane Katrina. With the help of donations The American Sleep Foundation was able to provide more than 1,300 OSA sufferers with treatment.
CPAP treatment is the gold standard for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. However, vast numbers of patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the CPAP and over time most stop using the machine leaving them without treatment for their disease – and these are patients not living in disaster areas.
If you are unhappy with your CPAP or have stopped using it altogether please contact Stoneridge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to discover how an oral appliance can give you a good night’s sleep.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
August 2nd, 2010 amogell
Most animals sleep. All mammals (including human beings), birds, even fish and reptiles spend periods asleep. According to the medical dictionary: sleep is a physiologic state of relative unconsciousness and inaction of the voluntary muscles, the need for which recurs periodically. This means that every day our bodies need to sleep, it is during this time and our bodies are repairing injuries, growing and producing new bone, muscle and nerve tissue. New research is also showing that sleep is required for new learning to become “memorized” by our brains.
The amount of time our bodies need to sleep varies with age – babies sleep up to 18 hours per day while most adults should average 7 to 8 hours. When our sleep is disrupted, whether by lifestyle (not going to bed on time) or by a sleep disorder, it places severe stress upon the body. Sleep deprivation affects millions of people globally and can eventually lead to: memory problems, obesity, increased risk of certain diseases such as diabetes, headaches or migraine, mood and attention problems, slower healing and even heart disease.
Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea cause the sleeper to stop breathing for 10 seconds or more during sleep. This occurs many times each night and is caused by the soft tissues of the tongue and throat relaxing, collapsing and blocking the airway during sleep. The sleeper lacks deep, healing sleep because of constant awakening during the night to fight for breath. Sleep apnea sufferers do not realize this is happening – they only realize they are not rested in the morning and experience severe sleepiness during the day. Loud snoring is common in sleep apnea patients.
If you wake feeling exhausted or suffer from extreme sleepiness during the day you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. As a dental sleep medicine specialist in Columbus, Ohio my team and I can work with your physician to treat your obstructive sleep apnea with an oral appliance that allows you to breath easily during sleep. Please contact my office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a sleep disorder consultation. A restful, restorative night’s sleep is possible with oral appliance therapy.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2010 amogell
A new study reported in the journal Sleep and Breathing shows that sharing a bed with a loud snorer can cause depression. Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) responsible for the nocturnal noise allows your partner to feel better as well.
The study involved 36 couples wherein one partner suffered from mild to moderate sleep apnea. Each patient with OSA was given a sleep study and their partners were screened for depression and daytime sleepiness.
Researchers treated the OSA patients using a surgical technique. The patients and their spouses were then given the same tests when they returned a couple of months after the surgery. The patients testing showed a reduced number of stoppages of breathing during sleep. The spouses also showed lower scores on their depression assessments.
The study shows that reducing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea can make your partner less depressed. While surgical intervention was used in this study it is normally considered an extreme treatment option. There are highly effective, non-invasive treatments available for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
The “gold standard” of sleep apnea treatment is the CPAP machine. However, the majority of patients abandon using the CPAP device over time.
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea involves a custom fabricated oral device that gently moves the mandible into a position that allows the airway to remain open during sleep. Recent studies have proven that patient compliance with oral devices is high over the long term – meaning that most patients find the oral appliance easy and comfortable to use.
Please contact your Columbus, Ohio dental sleep medicine office at 614-476-6696 to discuss your options for treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. You will be helping yourself and helping your partner to a better night’s sleep.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
June 29th, 2010 amogell
When we think about professional athletes we usually picture them as perfect physical specimens with no health issues. This doesn’t seem to be the case with football players and sleep-related breathing disorders. A study in the journal SLEEP found that NFL players have a higher risk of these disorders than the regular guys who watch the games from the couch.
The study included 137 NFL players. They each performed an at-home sleep test which measured whether or not they stopped breathing while they were sleeping. Results indicated that 19% of the football players had sleep apnea. Five percent of them had moderate to severe cases.
The players also completed a sleep questionnaire. All of the players in the study reported snoring. Daytime sleepiness and breathing pauses while asleep affected 25% of the players. Past studies of football players have shown that linemen in particular have a higher risk of sleep apnea than other players. This is because they are typically larger, with a high body mass index and large neck sizes. Both factors are contributors to obstructive sleep apnea. This particular study did not confirm the previous data about the linemen being at higher risk than the other players however.
Football fans remember Reggie White who was a Pro Football Hall of Fame member who died suddenly. Reports suggest that sleep apnea may have played a role in his death and the NFL trainers encourage larger players to get tested.
Left untreated obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and even death. If you snore, have a high body mass index or a large neck size you should be screened for possible sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. The disorder is treated using CPAP therapy or a custom oral appliance that helps keep your airway open as you sleep.
While the CPAP is the normally prescribed treatment, the majority of patients find sleeping with the machine uncomfortable and stop using it. Oral appliance therapy, on the other hand, has a much higher rate of compliance for patients over the long term.
Please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 to find out how oral appliance therapy can help you sleep, and breath, more soundly.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
June 24th, 2010 amogell
Opening your mouth during a dental checkup reveals a great deal about your general health and well-being. Your teeth and gums can tell the story of your overall health to a trained eye. Loose teeth, for example, may point to osteoporosis; cavities and gum disease may signal underlying heart disease or diabetes; a scalloped tongue may point to obstructive sleep apnea. A large number of systemic conditions like heart disease are linked to symptoms in the mouth and since most people only see their physician for a checkup once a year, your dentist may be the one to pick up on new health concerns.
Beyond picking up existing conditions that may affect you, regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments can help prevent many of these problems. Oral bacteria from gum infections have been shown to travel to many parts of the body – affecting the heart and other organs. For pregnant women regular dental checkups and cleanings are a must. The bacteria in the mouth have been found in amniotic fluid and may affect birth weight and pre-term birth.
Diabetes patients are at risk on several levels. Blood sugar levels and oral sugar levels are linked. Oral bacteria thrive on sugar and high levels lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Unfortunately diabetes lowers patients’ resistance to infection so treating gum disease in diabetic patients is more difficult. Blood sugar levels are more easily maintained in patients who do not suffer from active periodontal disease.
While your Columbus cosmetic dentist, Dr. Mark Levy is screening you for new cavities and possible gum problems, he will also be looking for mouth sores, loss of the bone that supports the teeth and signs of oral cancer.
Regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments are an important part of your overall health routine. By preventing problems before they start and through early detection of underlying health issues – regular visits with Dr. Levy can save your health care dollars and save your health.
If regular dental checkups are not already part of your health-care routine please contact us today to schedule your appointment. Columbus, Ohio cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Levy and his team welcome new patients. Please let us know if you have questions regarding your dental care and any underlying medical issues. If you have been avoiding regular dental care because of fear we offer sedation dentistry that allows you to get the treatment you need without anxiety – ask about your options.
Posted in Oral Heath Care, Sleep Apnea, sedation dentistry | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2010 amogell
Obstructive sleep apnea affects all age groups – from children to the elderly. A study recently published in the journal CHEST found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have more of an effect on the health of those who develop the condition during middle age as opposed to those who develop the problem when they are older.
The study looked at two groups of patients – one group that developed OSA before they turned 50 and another group that developed OSA at 60 years of age or older.
The researchers looked at sleep study results, daytime sleepiness and treatment outcomes.
The results showed that the group that developed OSA before age 50 had more underlying cardiovascular disorders and had a higher body mass index – they gained weight. Weight gain and heart disease are common results of untreated obstructive sleep apnea. The older group also required lower CPAP levels for treatment and reported less daytime sleepiness.
Whatever the age, OSA is a dangerous disease that requires treatment. Unfortunately, most patients cannot tolerate the most commonly prescribed treatment – the CPAP machine. Oral appliance therapy for OSA, on the other hand, is effective and has been proven to have a much higher level of patient compliance over the long run. Oral appliance therapy involves a custom fitted device that is worn while you sleep. The appliance is designed to keep your airway open and stable, allowing you a restful, refreshing night’s sleep.
If you suspect you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, snore loudly at night or have already been diagnosed and are seeking an effective treatment contact your Gahanna, Ohio dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy at 614-454-3488 to schedule your appointment to find out if oral appliance therapy is right for you.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
June 7th, 2010 amogell
Research discussed at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine showed that using an oral appliance to treat obstructive sleep apnea remained an effective treatment even after years had passed. The daytime sleepiness and fatigue were reduced and quality of life remained improved . Test subjects were followed between 31 and 53 months after beginning oral appliance therapy.
A second part of the study attempted to eliminate “positional” apnea by causing patients to change their sleeping position using a harness. While the harness approach was effective for some subjects, only one person agreed to wear it after the one month trial.
In contrast, the study “showed excellent long-term compliance with oral appliances as well as a high efficiency and very positive effect on blood pressure and cardiac rhythm,” said lead author Dr. Luc Gauthier.
If you or a loved one suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and are unhappy with your quality of life using CPAP treatment contact Dr. Mark Levy to discuss your treatment options. Our Gahanna, Ohio office is conveniently located to serve you. Call us today at 614-454-3488.
Posted in Sleep Apnea | No Comments »
June 4th, 2010 amogell
Eating late at night is an easy way to gain weight but midnight snacks have been found to be bad for your dental health as well. A study published in the August issue of Eating Behaviors reveals that eating food late at night contributes to tooth loss. Surprisingly, this outcome was not dependent upon the types of food eaten. The researchers believe that the reason for increased dental problems could be due to reduced saliva flow at night.
During the day our saliva is constantly bathing our teeth and washing away food particles. At night production of saliva dries up. The study about dental health and late night snacks was conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and Copenhagen University in Denmark. Using data from a World Health Organization medical study called MONICA (MONItoring trends and determinants of CArdiovacular disease) they looked at the oral health, eating behaviors and general health of the subjects. They discovered that about 8% of them were night-time eaters (they ate after dinner or woke at night to eat).
Even after taking into account the type of food eaten at night, whether it contained sugar or carbohydrates (both favorite foods of oral bacteria which cause gum disease), the people who ate at night lost more teeth than people who didn’t eat at night. To prevent tooth loss if you are a night time eater, the researchers strongly suggest that everyone should have only water during the final hour before bedtime and then brush their teeth.
If you are a midnight snacker living in the Columbus area contact Dr. Mark Levy today to schedule a consultation and discuss ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. If you are nervous about visiting the dentist remember that Dr. Levy uses various ways to reduce your anxiety including sedation dentistry. Call 614-476-6696 today to find out more about a more comfortable way to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile!
Posted in Oral Heath Care, Sleep Apnea, sedation dentistry | No Comments »
