Life saving treatment using Dental Appliances as CPAP Alternatives give excellent results comparable to CPAP with higher patient acceptance.
United States of America (Press Release) June 10, 2008 --
The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine held its 17th annual meeting on June 6-8 in Baltimore. The objectives of the AADSM annual meeting are to teach participants a basic knowledge in dental sleep medicine including understanding of the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea in men and women, the elderly as well as young children and adolescents. There are numerous oral appliances that can be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea and snoring as well as diagnostic tools available for sleep apnea dentists. There is no specialty of Dental Sleep Medicine but The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine does convey Diplomate status to dentists who have shown knowledge and experience in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea as well as showing a thorough understanding of the field of sleep medicine. The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine gave its board certification exam.
Dr Atul Malhotra of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School gave an excellent presentation on the Cardiovascular Complications of Sleep Disorders. He presented data that showed almost everyone requires 7-8 hours of nightly sleep and that for optimal neurocognitive function people may require 9 hours of sleep for every 24-hour period. An article he quoted from the Lancet by Spiegel et al showed that induced sleep deprivation in normal men resulted in increases in cortisol levels and elevated sympathetic activity. The study also showed impaired glucose tolerance with sleep deprivation. Another study by Patel et al in The American Journal of Epidemiology (2006) showed weight gain to result from shortened sleep duration.
Sleep deprivation and/or inadequate sleep can lead to impaired brain function, increased cardiovascular problems as well as metabolic complications. Hypertension risk increases with obstructive sleep apnea and evaluating patient’s sleep may become an essential part of treating high blood pressure. Treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP or with CPAP Alternatives offered by dental sleep medicine has been shown to have positive effects on hypertension. Treatment of Sleep Apnea has also been shown to help refractory hypertension. Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea should be considered an essential element in treating hypertension based on the data presented.
Material presented from Lavie, in Sleep Medicine Review showed that the cyclical intermittent hypoxia from sleep apnea cause an increase in free radicals and Homocysteine that can change gene expression and reduce Nitric oxide. It can also lead to increased inflammatory products and to increased adhesion molecules. The effect of these changes is endothelial dysfunction or the start and exacerbation of vascular diseases. Studies have shown that treatment with both CPAP and oral appliances are beneficial. CPAP is considered the gold standard of treatment but oral appliances are a first line treatment choice as well for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral appliances are considered an alternative for CPAP in patients with severe apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Patients who are interested in learning more about Dental Sleep Medicine or using oral appliances as cpap alternatives can visit http://www.ihatecpap.com
Dr Ira L Shapira a general dentist from Chicago formed I HATE CPAP LLC to help educate the public about dental sleep medicine and the dangers of sleep apnea. He feels that his site gives important information that will save lives. This is especially true for patients who have abandoned their cpap machines and not sought alternative treatment. Many patients are unaware that there are alternatives to cpap.
Some people have commented that the phrase I HATE CPAP is inflamatory or that it is negative advertising. It is actually an emotional appeal to connect with patients who risk their lives by not treating their sleep apnea. Dr Shapira believes CPAP is an amazing treatment that will save lives. He is concerned that the majority of patients who are prescribed CPAP do not use it at all or wear it for a sufficient amount of time to adequately treat their disease.
It is vital that dentists treating sleep apnea work with sleep physicians and that follow-up polysomnography ensures efficacy of treatment.
Dr Shapira has been involved in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for over 25 years. He practices in Gurnee, Illinois and has recently formed Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates and will be opening offices in Skokie, Bannockburn, Chicago and other Chicago suburbs. While he was not a presenter at the meeting he did share with several doctors photos of his “tongue tapper” that can be used to increase the efficacy of many types of dental appliance that treat snoring and sleep apnea. The tongue tapper can be added inexpensively to other appliances.
Dr Atul Malhotra of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School gave an excellent presentation on the Cardiovascular Complications of Sleep Disorders. He presented data that showed almost everyone requires 7-8 hours of nightly sleep and that for optimal neurocognitive function people may require 9 hours of sleep for every 24-hour period. An article he quoted from the Lancet by Spiegel et al showed that induced sleep deprivation in normal men resulted in increases in cortisol levels and elevated sympathetic activity. The study also showed impaired glucose tolerance with sleep deprivation. Another study by Patel et al in The American Journal of Epidemiology (2006) showed weight gain to result from shortened sleep duration.
Sleep deprivation and/or inadequate sleep can lead to impaired brain function, increased cardiovascular problems as well as metabolic complications. Hypertension risk increases with obstructive sleep apnea and evaluating patient’s sleep may become an essential part of treating high blood pressure. Treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP or with CPAP Alternatives offered by dental sleep medicine has been shown to have positive effects on hypertension. Treatment of Sleep Apnea has also been shown to help refractory hypertension. Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea should be considered an essential element in treating hypertension based on the data presented.
Material presented from Lavie, in Sleep Medicine Review showed that the cyclical intermittent hypoxia from sleep apnea cause an increase in free radicals and Homocysteine that can change gene expression and reduce Nitric oxide. It can also lead to increased inflammatory products and to increased adhesion molecules. The effect of these changes is endothelial dysfunction or the start and exacerbation of vascular diseases. Studies have shown that treatment with both CPAP and oral appliances are beneficial. CPAP is considered the gold standard of treatment but oral appliances are a first line treatment choice as well for mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral appliances are considered an alternative for CPAP in patients with severe apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP.
Patients who are interested in learning more about Dental Sleep Medicine or using oral appliances as cpap alternatives can visit http://www.ihatecpap.com
Dr Ira L Shapira a general dentist from Chicago formed I HATE CPAP LLC to help educate the public about dental sleep medicine and the dangers of sleep apnea. He feels that his site gives important information that will save lives. This is especially true for patients who have abandoned their cpap machines and not sought alternative treatment. Many patients are unaware that there are alternatives to cpap.
Some people have commented that the phrase I HATE CPAP is inflamatory or that it is negative advertising. It is actually an emotional appeal to connect with patients who risk their lives by not treating their sleep apnea. Dr Shapira believes CPAP is an amazing treatment that will save lives. He is concerned that the majority of patients who are prescribed CPAP do not use it at all or wear it for a sufficient amount of time to adequately treat their disease.
It is vital that dentists treating sleep apnea work with sleep physicians and that follow-up polysomnography ensures efficacy of treatment.
Dr Shapira has been involved in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for over 25 years. He practices in Gurnee, Illinois and has recently formed Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates and will be opening offices in Skokie, Bannockburn, Chicago and other Chicago suburbs. While he was not a presenter at the meeting he did share with several doctors photos of his “tongue tapper” that can be used to increase the efficacy of many types of dental appliance that treat snoring and sleep apnea. The tongue tapper can be added inexpensively to other appliances.
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