CPAP therapy is considered often as the first choice to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Although this type of therapy is very effective, studies estimate that 40-60 % of patients do not continue to use their CPAP devices after the first year.

At the 19th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) in San Antonio, I attended a presentation discussing points to consider in helping patients stick to recommended treatment for apnea. Even though the study’s target was CPAP patients, I believe that the same factors would be likely to help patients continue with oral appliance therapy for snoring and apnea. Even though the compliance has been estimated to be much higher than CPAP therapy at approximately 80%, important points could help oral appliance users increase the likelihood to stick with their therapy.

Some of these points are:
- It is important for patients to know the f importance of treating apnea and the consequences of no treatment.
- If comfort is fairly high early in treatment, there is more chance of patients continuing with treatment long term.
- Close follow-up between prescribed dentist and patients is very important so as to help patients with any obstacles that are uncovered during use of appliances
- If patients are motivated to use the oral devices, they will have a better chance of success.
- If the patient embraces a healthy life style such as good eating habits, not smoking, etc, they often are more likely to adhere to recommended treatment
At our practice, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, we follow the guidelines of the AADSM which include close follow-up and guidance to help our patients with obstacles and to increase successful outcomes. Our wonderful staff is here as well to help with questions and concerns regarding this type of therapy.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM
for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois
1100 Sherman Ave. Suite 103
Naperville, Il 60563
1-630-369-5508
www.TiredofSnoring.com

You are not alone! Recent research suggests that as many as 40%-50% of patients don’t use their prescribed CPAP machines. For those that do use it, it is a wonderful treatment often changing their lives by helping them sleep well.

Unfortunately, for many others using this bedside air breathing device is a nightmare. Patients often struggle with the hoses and masks, and they hate to travel with them. Many patients are simply just too claustrophobic with them in place. And untreated apnea can be life threatening especially in the earlier adult decades.

Luckily, for thousands of individuals, professional oral appliance therapy is now considered the standard of care but the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for mild to moderate OSA and for others who can not tolerate CPAP.

This well researched therapy involves the fitting of a custom made night time oral appliance. Current research has documented that the compliance is far greater with OAT than CPAP because of increased comfort, lack of sleeping constraints, no noise levels, and ease of transportability. Documented research also has shown that even 75% of successful CPAP users who tried OAT would in future take the OAT route even if they had to pay for it in its entirety. However, medical reimbursement for such therapy is quite common.

Patients seeking this type of treatment should be referred to dentist specifically trained in sleep disorders. These dentists work with your physician as part of your medical team in your diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. Should you find you find oral appliance therapy an effective option for you, you may not only sleep better, but you will feel better knowing that you are treating this life threatening condition.

To find out more about oral appliance therapy visit www.FreeMeFromCPAP.com .

While preparing for a presentation on snoring, I came across some interesting facts. According to the National Association of Home Builders,
• it is estimated that by 2015, 60% of upscale home constructions will include increasingly requested “two –master bedrooms”! These extra rooms can be used for visiting in-laws, returning children and friends, and — in growing numbers — snoring spouses.

In my practice, I have found that it’s not unreasonable to estimate 30 % of our patients, before treatment, are sleeping in separate rooms.

Lack of sleep isn’t just an inconvenience for merely a few people.
Recent polls by the National Sleep Foundation found:
• 67% of people who were married or living with someone reported their partner snored.
• People who had a partner with any type of sleep problem such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and insomnia were more likely to say they had sleep-related problems themselves, including greater trouble falling asleep, more-frequent daytime sleepiness and fewer nights of satisfactory sleep.

These problems can lead to serious trouble. 13% of fatal car accidents are tied to drivers who drift off behind the wheel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . In the workplace, about $13 billion and 30 million workdays are lost each year because of sleep-related accidents on the job.

Does Your Snoring Make Your Bed Partner or Family Sick?
Sleep interruption caused by a spouse is “probably often the most common unresolved difficulty” in a marriage, Paul Rosenblatt, a professor at the University of Minnesota and author of the book, Two in a Bed: The Social System of Couple Bed Sharing. Snoring is not only affecting your sleep, but your bed partner and possibly you entire household, too. In fact, every time your wife/husband has to wake you up to tell you to roll over and stop snoring, you’re interrupting their sleep. The consequences of sleep deprivation often lead to serious health problems, including hypertension, stroke, diabetes, an increased risk for heart attacks and heart disease, depression and weight gain.

It’s rewarding for us not only to help the individual seeking help to get a better night sleep, but to be able tio bring couples back together in the same room peacefully. Sometimes patients are so quiet after treatment, that there spouses have actually awoken them up to make sure they are still breathing! We especially love to hear those stories.
You can start tonight and get the sleep you need to improve the quality of your life.

Dr. Sosenko is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the founder of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois. She offers snoring and apnea patient’s relief through professional oral appliance device therapy. Visit www.TiredofSnoring.com or call her office, 630-369-5225, for more information.

The internet is a fantastic source of information. And we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our information with other Sleep Professionals. This week you can see one of my latest guest blogs at The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s BlogSite. Featured is a patients wife, and how Oral Appliance Therapy saved their marriage and changed their lives. I’d love it if you clicked over and took a look. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine’s BlogSite. http://aadsm.blogspot.com/2010/04/hear-beckys-story-wife-of-snoring-and.html
Dr. Lydia Sosenko for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois
1-800-SNORING
630 369-5225
Naperville, Illinois

People often thing snoring is “no big deal”.
However, snoring is dangerous to your health.
Play Dr. Sosenko’s video, to quickly learn how snoring is dangerous and what
you can do to help yourself stop snoring.

Dr. Sosenko would like to help you stop snoring.
You can contact her Naperville Office, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois at 1-800-SNORING.

Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois is conveniently located in Naperville, Illinois. Our practice is 5 minutes south of I-88 and Naperville Road, 3 minutes from the downtown Naperville shopping district. Our office has ample parking to meet the needs of our patients.

for Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM of Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois

One of our patients stopped in with a copy of this article for me, while I also received numerous emails from patients, friends and family.

Here’s the first paragraph:
By KRIS MAHER for the Wall Street Journal

For the 18 million people with obstructive sleep apnea, the remedy is far from perfect: bulky and expensive masks that some compare to sleeping in scuba gear.

As the number of people with sleep apnea is expected to rise, doctors and medical device makers are trying new treatments. New masks, while still bulky, aim to be more comfortable. Dentists have begun prescribing an appliance that draws the lower jaw forward to create more space in the airway. ( for the rest of this very informative article, please follow this link: The New Face of Sleep )

For all of you that can not tolerate your CPAP, you are not alone!
You have an alternative, Oral Appliance Therapy. I have been successfully helping sleep apnea and snoring sufferers for over 6 years. Oral Appliances are:
~comfortable
~convenient
~affordable
~FDA-approved
~physician recommended
~physician used
~EFFECTIVE

Call my office today to schedule a consultation today, and get the sleep you need!
1-800-SNORING
630-369-5508

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois
Treating sleep apnea and snorning patients throughout the Chicagoland area, including Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Batavia and Plainfield.

Everyday, we receive calls to our office regarding many oral appliance myths. In the next few blogs, we would like to give you the facts on the 5 most common myths we hear.

MYTH
#1 Oral Appliances are too Expensive.

FACT
#1 Professional oral appliances are custom-made mouthpieces, FDA approved, and
last for years. Fees include all Doctor Treatments up to release date. Oral
Appliance costs are comparable to CPAP.

In fact, most medical insurance covers Oral Appliance Therapy, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko is familiar with over 20 oral appliances(OA’s). OA’s may be used alone or in combination with other means of treating sleep apnea, such as weight management, surgery and CPAP. There is no one particular appliance that will work for every patient.

As a specially trained dentist in the treatment of OSA and oral appliance therapy, Dr. Sosenko considers many factors before choosing which appliance may be best suited for each individual. After your PCP or sleep physician confirms your diagnosis and decides that you are a candidate for OAT, Dr. Sosenko begins with a very comprehensive examination of your oral cavity. Along with evaluating your PSG results, she discusses lifestyle factors and sleeping habits such as:

Manual dexterity
Travel destinations (3rd world countries, etc.)
Preferred sleep positions
Oral cavity restrictions (anatomical structures)

Would you like more information on Oral Appliance Therapy and treating your sleep apnea?
Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING – or visit our website, www.tiredofsnoring.com.

Professional oral devices for apnea and snoring work in the majority of cases to prevent or reduce high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and decrease snoring. However, due to natural changes in tissues within airway passages and around the neck caused from weight gain and age, some individuals may see snoring creep back during sleep. There are several positional devices available that will keep a person from rolling on their back and eliminate snoring or further reduce residual snoring. We would recommend the comfort and support of the Dr. Parker Pillow, or the REM A TEE anti snore t-shirt only after an evaluation of a patient’s sleep patterns and snoring levels are measured to disclude obstructive sleep apnea. Once obtained, these devices are very handy and easy to use as an additional treatment.

Visit the Rem-A-Tee site for more information: Rematee Positional Sleeping Solutions for snoring, apnea and maternity

You may follow this link to Dr. Parker’s website and take a look at the Dr. Parker Pillow and how to use. Visit Comfort House Sleep Site Here to view a Dr. Parker Pillow.

Please visit Dr. Sosenko, at her Naperville office, to discuss with her the options you have in treating your sleep apnea and snoring!
1-800-SNORING (in Northern Illinois) or 630 369-5508

You’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or you snore. You may have tried a CPAP, but just can’t tolerate it. Maybe you don’t even want to try a CPAP and are looking for an alternative treatment for your sleep apnea. You’ve seen ads in the papers and magazines for Mouth Guards, and you think this sounds like the perfect option for you.

So, what’s your next step? Finding a Dentist that can fit you for an oral appliance. In Illinois alone there are 10,035 licensed dentists. Which should you choose, you wonder? Are all Dentists trained, qualified and certified to fit and give care to sleep apnea sufferers? The fact is that most dentists are not trained in sleep apnea! The recommended guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have recommended that oral appliance therapy should be performed by dentist specifically trained in sleep disorders. Due to the potential long term side effects that may occur as well as be prevented or managed, strong recommendations are given for the medical community to refer oral appliance therapy to members, preferably diplomates of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Currently in Illinois, there are 11 certified diplomates of the AADSM.

Choose your Dentist wisely, look for D.ABDSM, letting you know your Dentist is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. This Dentist will have received continuing training specializing in sleep medicine. You can feel safe and assured you will be treated by a leader in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine.

For more information, please contact our office, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, 1-800-SNORING in Northern Illinois or 630 369-5508.