Dentists are being given a bigger role in disaster relief efforts according to bills passed in congress.  Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak introduced HR903 which includes the following:

Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2009 – Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) revise the National Health Security Strategy to include increasing the preparedness, response capabilities, and surge capacity of dental facilities and effective utilization of any available mobile dental assets; and (2) provide that federal dental entities shall carry out activities under the public health and medical response training program.

One major area of concern following any type disaster, whether it be natural such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes or man made, such as a terrorist attack is the health of patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.   Disasters of all types cause people to either lose their belongings or lose electrical power for extended periods.  People suffering from sleep apnea who utilize CPAP machines to maintain their breathing during sleep are placed at severe risk during emergency events.

Dental sleep specialists can fit these patients with oral appliances to treat their obstructive sleep apnea.  This new legislation will allow emergency funding in these cases.

The importance of dentists in the aftermath of a disaster was proven after Hurricane Katrina.  With the help of donations The American Sleep Foundation was able to provide more than 1,300 OSA sufferers with treatment.

CPAP treatment is the gold standard for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.  However, vast numbers of patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the CPAP and over time most stop using the machine leaving them without treatment for their disease – and these are patients not living in disaster areas.

If you are unhappy with your CPAP or have stopped using it altogether please contact Stoneridge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to discover how an oral appliance can give you a good night’s sleep.