Sleep Apnea
A sound sleep is more than just a simple pleasure: it is the basis of a healthy life. Recent studies have shown that snoring and Sleep Apnea are associated with many serious conditions. Left untreated, they are contributing factors for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke , diabetes, depression and many more. They also affect our ability to function on a day to day basis and our children as well. It affects us with daytime fatigue, irritability, poor behavior, ability to concentrate and affects relationships.What exactly is Sleep Apnea?
When the muscles that control the upper airway relax, some people begin to snore. When the airway becomes completely blocked and the person temporarily stops breathing, this is an episode of “Obstructive Apnea”.Each Apnea event may last for a few seconds or up to a couple of minutes or more. This can be repeated throughout the night,even hundreds of times causing the lack of rest.Snoring is the sound of obstructive breathing that occurs when the airway is narrowed,restricted or collapses.As a result,air is forced to move rapidly through the airway causing unsupported structures in the throat to vibrate.
Fortunately, there are solutions to help with this serious issue. A sleep study confirms the diagnosis and the past standard of care has been to use a CPAP machine. This is a large mask,worn over the face that forces air down the throat with the intention of keeping the airway open. However many individuals have trouble wearing the device and ultimately stop wearing it.
We are fortunate that there is an alternative to the CPAP device, for those who cannot tolerate wearing it.
We have the ability to fabricate a dental appliance that enables us to open the airway and eliminating the need to wear the uncomfortable and noisy CPAP machine.
We,at Kaminsky Dental Associates, also are proud to announce that we now have the latest technology that enables us to fabricate the dental appliance in a manner that is customized for each individual and allows us to measure the exact position that will enable the maximum air flow to help eliminate the apnea episodes.
Acoustic Pharyngometer
The Eccovision® Acoustic Pharyngometer allows us to quickly and easily measure a patient’s pharyngeal airway size and stability from the Oral Pharyngeal Junction to the Glottis.
The Pharyngometer graphically displays the relationship between the cross-sectional area of the airway and distance down the airway in centimeters.
Studies have shown a clear relationship between the existence of OSA and a narrow, collapsible, airway. The Pharyngometer accomplishes these measurements using acoustic reflection technology, similar to a ship’s sonar.
Sound waves are projected down the airway and reflected back out in such a way that the Pharyngometer software can analyze and quantify changes in the airways cross-sectional area. The test is minimally invasive and takes 2-5 minutes to complete.
Sleep Disorders Dentists use the Pharyngometer to screen patients prior to diagnosis. A narrow airway reading on the Pharyngometer correlates to higher Apnea Hypopnea Indices once the person is diagnosed. After diagnosis the pharyngometer helps to show us how the airway changes in response to mandibular advancement. It has been concluded that the pharyngometer was accurate in ruling out patients who would not benefit from oral appliances 95% of the time.
Acoustic Rhinometer
The Eccovision® Acoustic Rhinometer allows for quick and easy measurements of nasal patency. The device gathers information using acoustic reflection.
Sound waves are sent up the nasal passageway and they are reflected back out in such a way that the Eccovision® Acoustic Rhinometer can accurately map out the topography of the nasal airway. This allows us to clearly identify the location and severity of any obstruction in the airway. The test is completely non-invasive and takes 30 seconds to complete.
The SGS Eccovision Acoustic Rhinometer is used daily by many ENT and pulmonary physicians as part of screening and evaluation procedures for patients who present with; Deviated Septum, Allergy, Congestion, Nasal Resistance, Nasal Polyps, Hypertrophied Turbinates and any other type of upper airway obstruction or resistance.
We are proud to be the only area office to offer this cutting edge technology that will enable us to fabricate a simple device worn at night that will improve our patients health traumatically.
We also have the latest devices that will allow our patients to have a sleep study performed in the comfort of their own homes and beds and will aid in the ability to diagnose the exact problem that causes the snoring and Sleep Apnea.
Please feel free to contact us so that we can help you get back to functioning at your best on a daily basis by helping to eliminate this disease that can affect our lives tremendously.
