Blog List – Classic
Living with OSA sometimes requires a sense of humor
Every major entertainment medium over the years has taken a shot at the snoring sufferer. Who hasn’t seen the movie scenes of grandpa snoring on the couch after dinner. Or the print ad of the two old guys asleep in their chairs at the club head thrown back with their mouths wide open snoring away. The jokes about how snoring and sleep apnea affect marital relations are so numerous it is impossible to pick just one as an example. This condition is well known as a cause of embarrassment. It ...Read More
Sleepiness as a Measure of Quality of Life
The vocabulary of life quality “Pep”, “Vigor”and “Energy” are inseparable from a discussion of sleep quality. Dr Richard Drake recently published this article which examines “tired” as a key indicator of a potentially deeper and more important condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea. “Tired and fatigued don’t always mean sleepy. If you had to choose just one word that best describes you most of the time, what would it be? One word. One thing....Read More
Smoking has Long Term Consequences
There may be 35 million older Americans with undiagnosed lung disease due to cigarette smoking, a new study suggests. They don’t meet the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but they still suffer significant lung disease and impairment, the researchers report in JAMA Internal Medicine. “We think we can increase their quality of life by treating them before they get worse,” said Dr. James Crapo, the study’s senior author from National Jewish Health in Denver....Read More
EMG testing as part of Bruxism diagnosis and treatment
A few weeks ago I was asked a very simple question ” Why does dentistry focus so much on tooth wear instead of seeking to identify and treat Bruxism as a disease?”. This question lead to a very spirited discussion. I had just completed a talk where I demonstrated Nox T3’s electromyographic (EMG) leads for testing muscle activity during clenching and grinding while asleep. This is accomplished with an electrode on the masseter and one on the zygomatic arch with a ground behind the ear...Read More
A Time Capsule from the Early Days of Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr L. Wayne Halstrom from Vancouver Canada is a pioneer of dental sleep medicine. Dr Halstrom holds several patents for appliances, bite registration techniques and treatment methodology. His vast experience in the field set the stage for many of today’s standards of practice. Recently Dr Halstrom puled the following video reel from the mid 1990″s out of the vault and made it available for viewing. It struck me that the description of the patients need is really no different t...Read More
Acid Reflux Disease and its Connection to OSA
Dr Jordan Stern in his recent article examines the impact of Acid Reflux on the ability of patients with OSA achieving and maintaining sleep. This is a very serious condition and presents in different ways for different patients. Stomach acid can eat away at the enamel on your teeth,” says Dr. Mark Castle, DDS, an ASBA Diplomate. “Your dentist may be the first to notice symptoms of the disease when he or she detects enamel loss.” A refferal to a sleep specialist or a gastroente...Read More
Education Key to Navigating Dental Sleep Medicine
Dr Erin Elliot co President of the American Sleep And Breathing Academy recently published an article that captured the essence of what the academy is trying to achieve. That is an ongoing and continuous educational experience for medical and dental teams trying to work together to provide care for their patients. Dental Sleep Medicine has been an area of dental practice for over 20 years. Dr Elliott reviews, in her article, the questions that each practitioner should ask before signing up for a...Read More
EU’s Approach to CPAP Compliance. “Use it or Lose it” (Your Drivers License)
Effective January of 2016 all drivers within the European Union when moderate or severe sleep apnea is suspected, will be referred for further medical advice before a driving license is issued or renewed. [1] Drivers currently under treatment for sleep apnea will require a medical review at least every three years for auto drivers (group 1) and every year for commercial drivers (group 2). What this new EU legislation will mean in practical effect is an OSA patient not demonstrating CPAP complian...Read More