Dental Sleep Medicine, Columbus OH

Cosmetic Dentistry, Hilliard OH

November 30, 2010

Aggressive Heart Disease Linked to Sleep Apnea

According to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have more “bad” plaque in their coronary arteries.  Obstructive sleep apnea is may be associated with obesity and is caused when the upper airway becomes obstructed during sleep causing the sleeper to stop breathing.  Heavy snoring […]
Do you like it?94
Read more
November 29, 2010

Sleep Apnea Screening and Your Dentist

At your next dental appointment you may be asked some questions that your dentist has never asked before.  Among these questions: Do you snore? Do you feel tired all day long? Ever fallen asleep while driving? Do you wake up with headaches and a sore throat? Answering yes to several of the screening questions similar to the ones listed may […]
Do you like it?46
Read more
November 16, 2010

Can Sleep Apnea Change the Brain?

According to Italian researchers people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have more than being sleep deprived to blame for their daytime lapses.  The challenges in cognition may be actually caused by structural deficits, or changes in the gray matter of the brain that are brought about by the nightly oxygen deprivation that comes with OSA. Dr. Vincenza […]
Do you like it?88
Read more
November 12, 2010

Sleep Apnea Causes Pennsylvania Representatives Death

Untreated sleep apnea linked to death. Treat OSA using oral appliance therapy in Columbus, Ohio.
Do you like it?61
Read more
November 5, 2010

Time Change Gives Little Rest for Sleep Apnea Sufferers

Spring forward, Fall back.  Time once again for the time to change.   On the night of the time change, Saturday, November 6, remember to turn your clocks back one hour. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends using this extra hour of sleep to rejuvenate your physical and mental health. Nancy A. Collop, MD, FAASM, Director of the […]
Do you like it?56
Read more
October 28, 2010

Facial Changes Linked to CPAP Use

A small study out of Japan recently showed that using nasal CPAP for just three years showed changes in the jaws and teeth.  The lead author of the study, Dr. Hiroko Tsuda noted that “the whole front area of the maxilla was pushed back…” and that “these changes may affect the profile, tongue space and OSA symptoms”.  This study has […]
Do you like it?21
Read more
October 20, 2010

Sleep Apnea Treatment Reduces Death

The journal Sleep and Breathing found that sleep apnea treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization and death for advanced heart failure patients.  The study included 18 patients with advanced heart failure and sleep apnea. Eleven patients underwent CPAP therapy using the machine for at least four hours per night, 70% of the nights.  Seven patients tried a two week trial […]
Do you like it?65
Read more
October 8, 2010

Is It Dementia or a Sleep Disorder?

Sleep disorders affect patients ranging from the very young to the very old.  While children with undiagnosed sleep apnea are at risk of being diagnosed with ADHD and treated with drugs, the most elderly in our population may exhibit symptoms that also lead to a wrong diagnosis – dementia or Alzheimer’s. A blog posted this week on the New York […]
Do you like it?67
Read more
October 6, 2010

A Clean Mouth is A Sexy Mouth According to Survey

Based on a new survey conducted by Waterpik a clean mouth is a turn-on.  The survey suggested that partners preferred good oral hygiene over date night standards such as dimming the lights, candles, wearing perfume or listening to mood music.  According to Kelton Research “the results of this study reinforced some of what we already knew- that most consumers simply […]
Do you like it?62
Read more
September 17, 2010

Biggest Loser Contestants Linked to Sleep Apnea

This year marks the 10th anniversary for the popular reality television show, The Biggest Loser.  The new season premiers on  on NBC on September 21st.  Last year, SleepEducation blog reported that all 16 contestants on the show suffered from obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity increases the risk for obstructive sleep apnea.  A high BMI (body mass index) and a large neck […]
Do you like it?24
Read more
September 14, 2010

Football, Migraines and Sleep Apnea

Minnesota Vikings player Percy Harvin collapsed on the practice field on August 19th and according to NBC his heart stopped for 10 seconds after he was taken to a hospital.   At first complications from his frequent migraine headaches were suspected. However, a few days after being released from the hospital Harvin underwent an overnight sleep study which he said showed […]
Do you like it?70
Read more
September 2, 2010

Oral Appliance Treatment for Sleep Apnea Vs. the Internet

While trolling through the internet the other night I discovered many websites, forums and user groups that discuss the ongoing battles that patients seem to have with the CPAP machines they use to treat their obstructive sleep apnea.  I notice that the traffic on these sites seems to spike in the middle of the night – when everyone should be […]
Do you like it?77
Read more
August 27, 2010

Severity of Sleep Disordered Breathing Linked to Obesity

A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia attributes the increase in severity of sleep disordered breathing (i.e. obstructive sleep apnea) cases to increases in obesity levels. The researchers from the University of Newcastle reviewed almost 15,000 diagnostic sleep studies made between 1987 and 2007.  The median body weight of patients increased by 11% for men and 16% for […]
Do you like it?75
Read more
August 24, 2010

Dentists and Disaster Relief

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 […]
Do you like it?40
Read more
August 2, 2010

What is Sleep?

Most animals sleep.  All mammals (including human beings), birds, even fish and reptiles spend periods asleep.  According to the medical dictionary:  sleep is a physiologic state of relative unconsciousness and inaction of the voluntary muscles, the need for which recurs periodically.  This means that every day our bodies need to sleep, it is during this time and our bodies are […]
Do you like it?84
Read more
July 22, 2010

Sleep Apnea Can Depress Your Partner

A new study reported in the journal Sleep and Breathing shows that sharing a bed with a loud snorer can cause depression.  Treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) responsible for the nocturnal noise allows your partner to feel better as well. The study involved 36  couples wherein one partner suffered from mild to moderate sleep apnea.  Each patient with […]
Do you like it?25
Read more
June 29, 2010

Sleep Apnea and the NFL

When we think about professional athletes we usually picture them as perfect physical specimens with no health issues.  This doesn’t seem to be the case with football players and sleep-related breathing disorders.  A study in the journal SLEEP found that NFL players have a higher risk of these disorders than the regular guys who watch the games from the couch. […]
Do you like it?83
Read more
June 23, 2010

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Worse for Middle Aged Sufferers

Obstructive sleep apnea affects all age groups – from children to the elderly.  A study recently published in the journal CHEST found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may have more of an effect on the health of those who develop the condition during middle age as opposed to those who develop the problem when they are older. The study looked […]
Do you like it?29
Read more
June 7, 2010

Sleep Apnea Treatment Using Oral Appliance Effective Over Long Term

Research discussed at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine showed that using an oral appliance to treat obstructive sleep apnea remained an effective treatment even after years had passed.  The daytime sleepiness and fatigue were reduced and quality of life remained improved .   Test subjects were followed between 31 and 53 months after beginning […]
Do you like it?20
Read more
May 22, 2010

Snoring in the Spare Room

According to some estimates up to 30% of snorers are sleeping in a separate bedroom from their spouse.  Paul Rosenblatt, author of Two in a Bed: The Social Systemof Couple Bed Sharing states that sleep problems are “probably the most common unresolved difficulty” in marriages.  67% of people who were married or living with someone report that their partner snores […]
Do you like it?21
Read more