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The Water Cooler
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Shift work disorder?
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<blockquote data-quote="ratski" data-source="post: 2581351" data-attributes="member: 936"><p>Well, I am biased because that is what I do.</p><p></p><p>So, take what I say with that in mind.</p><p></p><p>The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) established new Practice Parameters recently that state that oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, as well as those who “prefer them to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, or who do not respond to, are not appropriate candidates for, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP.”</p><p></p><p></p><p>The literature shows that for Mild and Moderate Sleep Apnea, the Oral Appliance is equally effective as the CPAP. </p><p></p><p>For severe Sleep Apnea, the CPAP treatments are still the most effective. </p><p>However, if someone is severe and not going to wear their CPAP, doing the Oral Appliance is the next line of treatment.</p><p></p><p>I have treated all ranges of the spectrum from Mild to really severe with very good success.</p><p></p><p>However, not just any dentist can treat this condition.</p><p>Or, I should say, not every dentist that treats this condition understands what they are doing.</p><p>There are many different varieties and styles of appliance and several different theories of treatment.</p><p>The biggest problem that I see in the field is that there are alot of "weekend continuing education" events that some guys take and then think that is all they need to understand and treat this.</p><p></p><p>That is NOT the case.</p><p></p><p>I've been actively doing this for about 2.5 years.</p><p>I've been wearing the oral appliance for about the same amount of time.</p><p>Makes a big difference for me.</p><p>During the time I've been actively treating sleep apnea with the oral appliance I have done A LOT of learning.</p><p>There is SO MUCH to learn and understand.</p><p>So, I stress, if you talk to a dentist about the oral appliance, make sure that he/she really knows what they are doing.</p><p></p><p>DO NOT, and I say again, DO NOT let the ENT make the oral appliance.</p><p>No offense if there are any ENTs reading this, but the appliances that they are using have been shown over and over to NOT work.</p><p></p><p>Now to cost.</p><p>I hate to say it, but that depends on A LOT of factors.</p><p>What kind of medical insurance you have.</p><p>Are you on Medicare?</p><p>How much of your deductible has been met.</p><p>What kind of appliance is going to be used.</p><p></p><p>The math that I've run on some of the treatment cases puts the out of pocket costs about the same over the three year life span of either the CPAP or the Oral Appliance.</p><p></p><p>Some of the advantages that the Oral Appliance has over the CPAP:</p><p>Easier to travel with.</p><p>No power requirements. </p><p>You can use it ON the plane or in the Hunting Camp!!! (no need to scare away all the deer. Don't be THAT guy!!!)</p><p>Small, compact, easily portable.</p><p>Comfortable</p><p>No hoses to wrap around your neck</p><p>No kids calling you "Bain" from Batman.</p><p></p><p>Dave</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ratski, post: 2581351, member: 936"] Well, I am biased because that is what I do. So, take what I say with that in mind. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) established new Practice Parameters recently that state that oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, as well as those who “prefer them to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, or who do not respond to, are not appropriate candidates for, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP.” The literature shows that for Mild and Moderate Sleep Apnea, the Oral Appliance is equally effective as the CPAP. For severe Sleep Apnea, the CPAP treatments are still the most effective. However, if someone is severe and not going to wear their CPAP, doing the Oral Appliance is the next line of treatment. I have treated all ranges of the spectrum from Mild to really severe with very good success. However, not just any dentist can treat this condition. Or, I should say, not every dentist that treats this condition understands what they are doing. There are many different varieties and styles of appliance and several different theories of treatment. The biggest problem that I see in the field is that there are alot of "weekend continuing education" events that some guys take and then think that is all they need to understand and treat this. That is NOT the case. I've been actively doing this for about 2.5 years. I've been wearing the oral appliance for about the same amount of time. Makes a big difference for me. During the time I've been actively treating sleep apnea with the oral appliance I have done A LOT of learning. There is SO MUCH to learn and understand. So, I stress, if you talk to a dentist about the oral appliance, make sure that he/she really knows what they are doing. DO NOT, and I say again, DO NOT let the ENT make the oral appliance. No offense if there are any ENTs reading this, but the appliances that they are using have been shown over and over to NOT work. Now to cost. I hate to say it, but that depends on A LOT of factors. What kind of medical insurance you have. Are you on Medicare? How much of your deductible has been met. What kind of appliance is going to be used. The math that I've run on some of the treatment cases puts the out of pocket costs about the same over the three year life span of either the CPAP or the Oral Appliance. Some of the advantages that the Oral Appliance has over the CPAP: Easier to travel with. No power requirements. You can use it ON the plane or in the Hunting Camp!!! (no need to scare away all the deer. Don't be THAT guy!!!) Small, compact, easily portable. Comfortable No hoses to wrap around your neck No kids calling you "Bain" from Batman. Dave [/QUOTE]
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