You just can’t escape the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation.
You can’t find sleep and you’d give anything for a solution. NOW.
The proper treatment option for you is out there – just waiting to be found.
The frustration is building. You would give anything just to sleep. Night after night, you toss and you turn, staring at the ceiling and willing sleep to come. You can’t fall asleep, you can’t stay asleep and you wake up way too early each morning. You dread each morning not wanting to face another day with sand in your eyes and irritation in your face. Your personality is changing. Your health is failing . . . .
You want an answer and you want relief. More than anything you want a solution.
CPAP - - - SomnoDent MAS™ - - - Orthodontic Treatment
CPAP. An answer to your prayers or just another annoyance?
Read more . . . .
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. That’s what CPAP stands for and if you suffer from sleep apnea, chances are your health care provider has recommended CPAP as your ‘solution’. Usually, this is the initial answer prescribed by any sleep centre or medical provider. The specially designed mask is intended for wear during the night and covers your mouth and nose while you sleep. Using pressure, the mask sends air flow through your nasal passages and this influx of oxygen prevents the collapsing of your throat while you sleep. This allows for the patient to breathe freely and eliminates the ‘apnea’ from happening during the night.
CPAP has been linked to additional benefits. When the patient wears the mask properly, it can reduce and sometimes eliminate snoring which allows your bed partner a better night sleep. It has also been recognized in the decrease of additional symptoms such as headaches, irritated eyes and nasal dryness. Offering a temporary solution only, the device must be worn each and every night.
While the CPCP device is a treatment option that is recommended frequently, it is an option that is just as equally detested. A large percentage of users have reported, after using the appliance for an extended period of time, that they actually hate the device. Here is why:
CPAP has close to a 100% success rate when it is used as its intended and when the directions are followed properly and accurately. That translates into wearing the mask correctly and consistently night after night after night. Therein lies the problem; the appliance is tremendously difficult to commit to. For it to be effective, your nose and mouth need to be fully covered and the device needs to be worn all night long. Most patients report wearing the appliance for less than 4 hours every night and when that is the case, the success rate of CPAP decreases to between 23% - 45%.
In addition, there have been numerous other problems encountered due to the use of the sleep appliance. Facial breakouts are more common because of the irritation on the skin due to the straps of the appliance. The device lends itself to a runny nose, irritated eyes & nose, sore throat and dryness of the mouth. Individuals using CPAP find problems with the device if they suffer from allergies, are prone to sleeping on their stomachs or tend to breathe through their mouths. After wearing the device for a time and coming to find the treatment isn’t working for them, most patients eventually find benefit from using an oral appliance..
Common Inquires – Frequently Asked Questions about CPAP
What is CPAP?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. As you sleep, a machine is used inthe prevention of snoring and aids in correcting sleep apnea symptoms.
How does it work?
CPAP forces continuous air flow through your nose. A steady stream of oxygen prevents your airway from collapsing when your muscles relax during sleep. This results in a continuous oxygen level throughout the night.
Can CPAP cure sleep apnea?
No. CPAP will not cure sleep apnea. It’s simply a temporary solution that prevents the suffering of sleep apnea symptoms.
Do I need a prescription for CPAP?
Yes. To purchase a unit you do require a prescription.
Are there different types of CPAP machines?
Yes. Three basic types exist:
- CPAP – delivers one continuous level of pressure
- APAP – starts out at a low pressure, senses when you are encountering a sleep apnea episode and increases the pressure to accommodate
- BiPAP – employs an increase in pressure when you inhale and a decrease in pressure when you exhale
Are there alternatives to CPAP?
Yes. Sleep apnea can be modified with a change in certain patient’s diet or lifestyle. Oral appliances – a device used to re-position your jaw and/or tongue - are available. In severe and extreme cases, surgery is required.
Do I have to use CPAP every night?
Yes. To optimize the benefits of CPAP, instructions must be precisely followed. This includes wearing the appliance each and every night. Missing even one night can result in an episode of sleep apnea.
What if I have to travel?
The CPAP machine is able to be relocated. Talk to the airline before flying, to make arrangements or to verify their policy. Plan to make it part of your carry-on luggage as the CPAP machine may be damaged if included in your checked luggage.
If you plan on a camping trip or other travels by car, there are options when it comes to CPAP machines. Certain units can operate with batteries or function when plugged into your car battery.
Will my insurance cover CPAP?
Insurance policies vary from company to company but most will cover CPAP. Because sleep apnea is a critical condition, linked to various health problems, it’s in their best interest to cover this unit as a preventative measure.
If you suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea or if you are a heavy snorer, contact us today. There are treatment options available and we will ensure the right treatment is identified to help you manage your sleep apnea.
With experience, compassion and understanding, Dr. Durham or Dr. Strickland can help you in determining and treating your sleepless nights. He will provide you with a thorough analysis, accounting for everything from your age to your symptoms, your gender to your medical history to your current emotional state. Dr. Durham or Dr. Strickland will determine the cause of your sleepless night and he will find a solution that is right for you.
Free E-Book Download 'All About Sleep Disorders'.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
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Oral Appliances (Somnomed)
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Snoring & Sleep
Apnea Treatment... SomnoDent MAS™ |
An Oral Appliance that fits in the palm of your hand. An Oral Appliance that is a recognized and confirmed treatment for sleep apnea and snoring. The SonmoMed is a rare and unique appliance that is exceptionally comfortable and allows the patient to open and close their mouth like normal.
An successful and proven way to STOP snoring
Unlike any other treatment devices on the market today, the SomnoDent MAS™ is a precise, custom-designed instrument, helping people in their endeavor to stop snoring.
The SomnoDent MAS™ is an oral appliance that fits over the lower and upper teeth. With a fit similar to a sports mouth guard, it is in essence, entirely different than a sports mouth guard, in that it is a diligently manufactured, clinically tested medical device. In mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, the device is extremely effective in the prevention of snoring and treating sleep apnea.
A combination of oral terminology make up the term SomnoDent MAS™. “Mandible” is the medical expression for your lower jaw while “splint” refers to an oral appliance worn over your teeth. The name SomnoMed Mandibular Advancement Splint, or SomnoDent MAS™ was therefore established.
The logic in choosing SomnoDent MAS™ is as easy as 1-2-3
1. It’s comfortable. It is the most comfortable and discreet mandibular advancement splint available
2. It’s effective. Its effectiveness to treat snoring and mild to moderate OSA has been clinically validated. (Note: success in all cases cannot be guaranteed.)
3. It’s good value. Given the quality, comfort, likelihood of success, manufacturer’s warranty and long life of the appliance, it provides true value for money.
With SomnoDent MAS™ - comfort is a priority
With a majority of mouth guards, there is usually discomfort, irritation and aggravation. With SomnoDent MAS™ you won’t find a more secure and comfortable MAS. It is custom made to fit your mouth - your specifications – and it doesn’t impinge on your tongue. You have the power to open and close your jaw, just as you would without the appliance.
To optimize your health and get answers to your snoring-, sleep apnea-, insomnia-, and all sleep disorder questions, your search is over.
Contact Dr. Durham or Dr. Strickland today at (912) 257.4733.
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
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Orthodontic Treatment
Still, you can’t find sleep. Your sleeping problems are preventing you from the rest you require and so desperately need. You are at a loss. The answer you may be looking for could be found in an orthodontic treatment.
Individual’s jaws grow at varying and gradual rates; your jaw growth is a continual process. Your lower and your upper jaws tend to develop at different rates. Because of this, your breathing is impacted and it is a major contributing factor in your sleep deficiencies. Aside from your gradual growth, you could have altered or injured your jaw’s position in an injury or it could be the result of a birth defect. Sleep apnea can also transpire because of buck teeth or a critical overbite.
Major improvements with orthodontic treatment.
Through the re-positioning of your jaw, you can potentially benefit from orthodontic treatments. You will find relief due to the widening of your breathing passageway through the expansion of your upper and lower jaw.
The pattern of your teeth and bite can be significantly changed through orthodontics. The work orthodontics provide today differs considerably from that in the past. Chances are, if you had any work done over the past 30 years or so, the exact opposite has been achieved in relation to the position of your jaw. Traditional orthodontic methods created generations of people with sleep problems, based on the fact that the jaw was moved backwards. With a more progressive approach, today the lower jaw is moved forward and ultimately, the situation is corrected.
Correcting a variety of jaw and facial irregularities is the purpose behind orthodontic treatments. This correction then results in an improvement in breathing and ultimately, sleeping. This can be achieved either with or without surgery – it’s all dependant on the severity of the work required.
The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to modify a variety of facial and jaw irregularities, resulting in an improved ability to breathe and therefore, sleep. These modifications can be achieved both with and without surgery - depending on the severity of the work required.
Gain Control of Your Nights - - - and Your Days
The implications to your health and overall life can be devastating if your sleep deprivation is left untreated. Loss of sleep seems harmless enough but if neglected it can progress into serious medical problems. It is essential to your body, mind and spirit that you choose a dentist qualified, educated and specifically trained in the treatment of sleep disorders.
Dedicated and committed, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland take their responsibility of advancing knowledge, improving skills and constantly educating about sleep disorders, extremely seriously.
It’s time you gain control. Control of your nights and your days. Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland are committed to helping you categorize your problem and determining which treatment option is right for you. Control is just a call away. Your search is over. Call us today.
To optimize your health and get answers to your snoring-, sleep apnea-, insomnia-, and all sleep disorder questions, your search is over.
Contact Dr. Durham or Dr. Strickland today at
(912) 257.4733
Let us know about your sleep problems - fill out our 'Sleep Disorder Evaluation Form'
Back to Top l About CPAP l Oral Appliances (Somnomed) l Orthodontic Treatment
