Millions of people all across the globe suffer from sleep disorders and more than half of them have sleep apnea. It is a condition characterized by interrupted breathing or pauses in breathing during sleep. As the patient runs out of breath, he wakes up in the middle of the night feeling restless and gasping for air. The patient’s bedmate also complains of a loud snore. If you inspect the patient’s mouth, you will notice some sort of irregularities in the tongue, teeth, and soft tissues in the mouth. The irregularities are evident in people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. It is a must to treat sleep apnea as not doing so can lead to serious health complications such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac-related diseases. Traditional Approach to Treat Sleep ApneaThe traditional approach to treating sleep apnea is through the use of CPAP therapy. A mask or a nosepiece is attached to the hose and hooked up to the CPAP machine. It will deliver pressurized air to the patient during sleep to prevent the airway from collapsing. While the CPAP machine works, many sleep apnea patients are not compliant with its use because of the following reasons:
Oral appliance for the treatment of sleep apneaThe oral appliance has been changing the way sleep apnea is treated and managed. It is now one of the leading and most preferred treatment approach to sleep apnea. There are various types of an oral appliance and they function like a mouth guard. A new oral appliance called O2Vent Optima is customized to fit the patient’s mouth. It reduces the possibility of airway collapse and helps in mouth breathing with or without the use of CPAP therapy. The oral device is made from compact nylon and it functions by moving the jaw forward to keep the patient’s airway open and allow the air to flow through. The advantage of this oral device is it maintains the oral seal and keep the jaw in a stable position. To maximize the effectiveness of the oral device, it incorporates a proprietary airway technology by passing the obstructions from the tongue, soft palate, and nose. The device works best for people who tend to breathe through their mouth when sleeping secondary to nasal obstruction. It manages mouth breathing and normalizes ventilation. When compared to other oral appliance, this new oral device is lightweight and less complex. So, patients won’t have a hard time using it. The use of oral device for sleep apnea is one of the emerging trends in sleep medicine. If you have been suffering from sleep apnea and have tried some of the traditional treatment and management approach but to no success, then you should see a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine. A thorough assessment will be done and after which, the dentist will create a customized oral appliance, which you need to wear religiously.
A new dental appliance for the treatment of sleep apnea Read more on: Dental Sleep MBA Blog from https://www.aviweisfogel.net/dental-appliance-for-treatment-sleep-apnea/
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Sleep apnea needs to be addressed as it may lead to other serious health conditions when left unmanaged. Fortunately, sleep apnea patients have a vast choice for managing their condition and we are going to tackle some of them. We will start with the basic and most common of all; the CPAP or continuous positive airflow pressure. CPAP – Continuous Positive Airflow PressureFor moderate to severe sleep apnea, sleep experts recommend the use of a CPAP device; a mask-like machine that covers the mouth and nose. The patient should wear the mask during sleep as it provides a constant stream of air keeping your breathing passages open while you sleep. Although it is effective, many sleep apnea patients don’t like to use it because of the annoying sound and discomfort. As time passes by, CPAP makers did some update to significantly improve the design and function of the machine. Today, you can find a lighter, quieter, and more comfortable CPAP machines. Tips when using CPAP1. See to it that the device fits you perfectly. Custom-made oral appliancesMany sleep patients prefer to use oral appliances over other sleep apnea treatment methods. Why? Oral or also known as dental appliances are more comfortable and convenient to use. They do not produce annoying sounds too. Custom-made oral appliances approved for sleep apnea treatment are usually made from acrylic and they are worn inside the mouth just like a mouth guard. Avi Weisfogel is known for his presentations on the matter. They can also be worn around the head and chin to reposition the lower jaw. Some of the commonly used oral appliances are mandibular advancement device and tongue retaining device. They open the airway and bring the lower jaw forward and keep the tongue from blocking the airway. Should you wish to try using oral appliances for your sleep apnea, all you have to do is to visit a dentist that specializes in dental sleep medicine. The dentist will thoroughly assess your sleep apnea and will create a custom-fitted oral appliance to address your needs. Getting the right fit is a must to prevent potential side effects such as soreness and permanent change in position of the inside structure of the mouth. Sleep apnea implantsA pacemaker system is inserted which stimulates the muscles to keep the airway open so that you can breathe effortlessly while you sleep. It is perfect for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea, especially in people with central sleep apnea. It is a relatively new treatment approach approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. However, sleep apnea implants are expensive. SurgeryIf you have tried all other sleep apnea treatment methods and nothing seemed to work, then the last resort is surgery. As you know, surgery carries risk of complications and infections.
The following article Sleep apnea and the treatment and management options is republished via Avi Weisfogel Blog from https://www.aviweisfogel.net/sleep-apnea-and-the-treatment-and-management-options/ For someone suffering from sleep apnea, the discomfort of not having a complete sleep is immeasurable. As you know, sleep is the body’s way of recuperating from the day to day grind. Not having enough sleep can lead to not only discomfort but other forms of illnesses too. Which is why it is important to address the problem the soonest time possible. Fortunately, further advancement in the field of sleep medicine was made. Today, treatment and management for sleep apnea are made convenient, accessible, and patient-friendly. The traditional approach to managing sleep apnea is CPAP, but a more comfortable and better treatment management options are being developed which could potentially replace CPAP. Positive Airway Pressure TherapyTo date, positive airway pressure therapy (PAP Therapy) is one of the most effective ways to manage sleep apnea. It has the ability to reverse the damaging health effects of sleep apnea. However, one of the primary concerns for PAP therapy is compliance. Many sleep apnea patients complain of discomfort while using the mask. As a matter of fact, some don’t even consider the treatment at all. For this reason, sleep medicine experts are looking for a more practical sleep apnea treatment. Inspire upper airway stimulation is one of the promising developing sleep apnea treatments. It uses a pacemaker technology to stimulate the muscle of the throat. It causes the throat muscles to contract and keep the tissues from collapsing into the airway. How it is done? Through surgery, a pulse generator is implanted in the body. Once the device senses the breathing of the patient, it will send an electrical signal to the throat muscle. As a result, the muscle will pull up and backward keeping the airway open. It is a more comfortable and convenient option than positive airway pressure. Once the patient sleeps, the device will automatically function. No uncomfortable mask to wear during sleep. Another promising sleep apnea treatment is a dental/oral device. As a matter of fact, it is more comfortable, effective, and viable sleep apnea treatment. No need to wear a mask and most importantly, no need to undergo a surgical procedure. There are now dentists who are experts in dental sleep medicine. If you are a sleep apnea patient, the dental sleep specialist will create a custom-fitted dental appliance, which you need to wear during sleep. It will keep the airway open by repositioning the tongue and moving the mandible a bit forward. This will not only improve your breathing during sleep but also improve the overall structure of the mouth. Will this mean that positive airway pressure therapy is no longer beneficial? It is still needed, but the emerging treatment options for sleep apnea only goes to show that patients can now choose a treatment and management modality that suit their needs, level of comfort, lifestyle, and budget. Sleep apnea is dangerous, especially when not managed. It could lead to conditions that could be detrimental to your health. Which is why it is important to address it the soonest time possible. Dr. Avi Weisogel, Dental Sleep SpecialistContact Dr. Avi Weisfogel here https://www.aviweisfogel.net/ The following blog post What the future holds for sleep apnea treatment? is republished from Avi Weisfogel Blog from https://www.aviweisfogel.net/what-the-future-holds-for-sleep-apnea-treatment/ Obstructive sleep apnea more commonly known as sleep apnea affects millions of people all across the globe. Various methods were used to address the problem and one of which is positive airway pressure therapy. However, this treatment modality is not the right fit for all patients and luckily Avi Weisfogel knows how to treat it. Alternatives for Improving Sleep ApneaFortunately, there are alternative methods for improving sleep apnea. They are the following: 1. Hypoglossus Nerve Stimulation – It is a different approach to managing sleep apnea. A small device is implanted in the chest which can be turned on and off by the patient. What the device does is it monitors the patient’s breathing during sleep. It has the ability to stimulate the nerve that keeps the airway open. A research was made and showed improvement on patient’s sleep apnea symptoms. Hypoglossus nerve stimulation is perfect for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Traditional sleep apnea treatment and management approach1. Positive Airway Therapy – It is one of the classic methods of managing sleep apnea. The PAP system is recommended for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. A nasal or full face mask is worn by the patient during sleep. It delivers pressurized air to the upper airway so as to prevent it from collapsing during sleep. Should you wish to try wearing oral appliance to manage your sleep apnea, the next step you should do is to find the best dental sleep specialist in your area. Look for certificate of training and credentials as only the highly trained dental sleep specialist can handle your case in the most effective way. Contact Dr. Avi Weisfogel for more information on treatments for sleep apnea. Treatment options for sleep apnea was initially seen on Avi Weisfogel from https://www.aviweisfogel.net/treatment-options-for-sleep-apnea/ Avi Weisfogel is an expert in the dental sleep medicine industry with an extensive background managing the growth in dental practices and introducing strategies to increase return on investment. Dr. Avi Wesifogel founded Dental Sleep MBA in order to teach dentists how to make more money in their practice by treating sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. Avi Weisfogel is an internationally known expert on dental sleep medicine and founded the International Academy of Sleep. The blog post Avi Weisfogel Presentations and Resources See more on: https://www.aviweisfogel.net/ from https://www.aviweisfogel.net/avi-weisfogel-presentations-and-resources/ |
Avi Weisfogel
Dr. Avi Weisfogel has been treating sleep patients since his first week as a general dentist, . Avi Weisfogel's keen interest in marketing and business for dentists led him to join most of the marketing clubs that dentistry has to offer. No matter how successful he became at marketing implants and full mouth rehabs, Avi could not find a successful marketing strategy that led to a constant stream of oral appliance patients. That all changed in 2010 when he left his general practice to open a company dedicated to sleep. Though it took two years and millions of dollars, Avi developed a system that literally created 250-300 oral appliance patients per month. Dr. Avi Weisfogel has been teaching this system for the past year and a half on his own and now has joined with Barry to create the International Academy of Sleep, setting its sights on reaching more dentists, physicians and patients with this model that improves the health care distribution in the world of sleep medicine. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |