Donaldson & Guenther Cosmetic Dentistry - Located in Ann Arbor, MI » Sleep apnea http://dgdent.com We practice dentistry as a fine art Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:29:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Free from headaches and afternoon sleepiness http://dgdent.com/blog/2010/05/13/free-from-headaches-and-afternoon-sleepiness/ http://dgdent.com/blog/2010/05/13/free-from-headaches-and-afternoon-sleepiness/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 20:09:10 +0000 mbeasley http://dgdent.com/?p=277 This week we have had exciting and dramatic results for patients using their oral sleep appliance for sleep apnea and snoring. It is such a good feeling to know we have helped them get better sleep and be on the road to recovery. In most cases we have reduced apneic episodes by 50%, and some even more!

To have a patient call and be so excited about feeling great in the morning free from headaches and afternoon sleepiness!  There is hope beyond CPAP!

]]> http://dgdent.com/blog/2010/05/13/free-from-headaches-and-afternoon-sleepiness/feed/ 0 Oral Sleep Devices for snoring and sleep apnea http://dgdent.com/blog/2008/11/07/oral-sleep-devices-for-snoring-and-sleep-apnea/ http://dgdent.com/blog/2008/11/07/oral-sleep-devices-for-snoring-and-sleep-apnea/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:21:14 +0000 admin http://dgdent.com/blog/2008/11/07/oral-sleep-devices-for-snoring-and-sleep-apnea/ About 50% of adults snore. Half of these people have a sleep disorder called sleep apnea which can have very serious health consequences if left untreated. Most recommended treatments involve a mask that fits over the nose and mouth called a CPAP breathing device. Surgery in the back of the throat has also been a treatment for those severe cases of sleep apnea or those not wanting to use a CPAP. Where surgery or CPAP is not an option for the individual, an oral sleep device (OSD), or oral appliance, has been shown to be effective for mild to moderate apnea. Your physician is the best health care provider who can advise you in this decision.

An OSD is a dental device, which is precisely fitted to your mouth by an experienced dentist. The OSD holds your lower jaw down and forward, thus keeping the tongue from falling back into the throat and blocking your airway. It is like the position used in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Dr. Guenther has been successfully fitting these oral sleep devices (OSD) for several years. Our office gets referrals from your pulmonary physicians and ENT physicians after a sleep study has been done and your doctor has determined if an oral sleep device is a viable option. Dr. Guenther then examines your teeth and oral structures to determine if you are a good candidate for the oral device.  Impressions of your teeth are taken and a recording of the most ideal jaw position is registered. This information is then sent to the dental laboratory where the custom device is fabricated. At your second appointment, the OSD is fitted and adjusted in your mouth to be comfortable and in the most ideal position for effective opening of your airway.

The two oral devices used in our practice are the TAP 3 thermal acrylic and the Sonomed Mas. Both of these devices are made of high quality materials and can be easily adjusted to bring the lower jaw position further forward or back depending on joint comfort or lack of effectiveness. A yearly follow up appointment is highly recommended to ensure that your device is working properly.

Since a dentist is providing treatment for a medical condition, we encourage patients to explore coverages with their own insurance, due to the fact that each insurance carrier views this method of treatment differently.  We supply our patients with supporting documentation to assist in the reimbursement of this device.

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